Significant Growth in Healthcare Technology Roles

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As the healthcare industry is now seeing constant technological advancements and an ever-improving IT infrastructure, the demand for tech-driven roles in healthcare is high. The current healthcare IT market is valued at around 167.7 billion, and it is expected to grow by about 16.5% from 2023 to 2030. 

The integration of technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) is fueling growth too. And as digitalization in healthcare and the rising demand for advanced care solutions grows, so too does the need for those with advanced technical skills to fill certain roles. 

The sudden and rapid growth of remote healthcare services alone has proven that there is a critical need for more advanced technical support. However, there is also a growing geriatric population, an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, and increasing health and medical expenses that are boosting the demand for advanced tech solutions. 

Additionally, with the government recognizing the need for better infrastructure and IT solutions, this is also expected to drive growth and the need for more people to fill advanced tech roles in healthcare.  

This article will take a closer look at some of the recent advancements in the medical sector that are driving the need for more tech-driven roles as well as some of the top healthcare tech jobs that are in high demand today. 

Tech is Changing Healthcare's Future

With the rapid growth of healthcare technologies, it’s almost as if the industry has been revolutionized overnight. Now, hospitals around the world are quickly transforming into high-tech facilities using groundbreaking technology that was once imagined as the stuff of science fiction. But it’s real, and it is quickly becoming the new norm.

For example, the El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, CA, is using something called robotic radiosurgery, which delivers radiation with better precision than top surgeons. Massachusetts General in Boston has an annual research and innovation budget of over one billion dollars, allowing them to experiment with and develop some of the most advanced technologies in healthcare. 

A children’s hospital in Philadelphia has implemented CAR T-cell therapy, which uses a patient’s own immune system to destroy cancer cells. And Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore has two state-of-the-art medical centers that have advanced operating rooms, intraoperative MRI capabilities, and numerous other cutting-edge technologies. 

These are just a few very specific examples, but across the healthcare industry, there are numerous advanced technologies that are disrupting healthcare — in a good way. Some of those changes include:

Information Sharing

This might seem like a simple tech solution, but it has revolutionized the healthcare industry. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, healthcare systems were out of date and far behind other industry standards. But once the pandemic hit, the advancement of healthcare systems was expedited to meet demands, and now, IT and data-sharing solutions are much more high-tech and allow for much better efficiency. 

Point-of-Care (POC) Technology

Point of Care (POC) technology, which enhances interactions between patients and doctors by providing advanced decision-making and diagnostic support, is another key technology changing the landscape of healthcare. This kind of technology is particularly helpful when dealing with patients who have chronic diseases and need more attentive and advanced care, like diabetes.  

Self-Management

The advancements we are seeing are not only to help healthcare professionals, but they are also helping individuals manage their care on their own as well. Wearable tech, for example, enables people to track their own healthcare vitals so they can take control of their own health. This technology allows patients to see more clearly how they can adjust their behaviors to improve their health. This in turn can reduce their risk of developing chronic health problems. 

Pharma-Free Care

There are numerous online healthcare platforms popping up that enable people to get the medicine and treatments they need without ever leaving their homes. Of course, certain conditions still need to be treated by a professional, but not all of them. Providing access to treatments and medicines online cuts costs for patients. It also helps alleviate workloads for clinicians so they can free up time for patients that do need more attentive care. 

These are just a few of the changes that are occurring in healthcare settings thanks to the rapidly changing landscape of the medical sector due to new technologies. Next, we’ll look at some of the specific innovations that medical professionals are using to improve patient care.  

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The Latest Innovations in Healthcare Technology

In addition to the advancements and changes happening in the healthcare industry listed above, there are countless other innovations changing the healthcare landscape. And with so many new technologies, it further proves the need for more workers who have advanced tech skills to continue helping the healthcare industry grow and move forward. 

Below are some of the most exciting innovations in healthcare today.

Bionic Prosthetics

While losing a limb is still a trying situation, the long-term trauma of such a situation can be less severe thanks to advancements in bionic prosthetics. Previously, a prosthetic relied on the movement of other parts of the body to function, and they were not as capable or even as comfortable. 

But with bionic prosthetics, movement occurs through the use of electronic signals sent through sensors placed on or near the amputated limb. This allows for more natural functioning. For example, if you have a prosthetic hand, you would contract the muscles in your arm, and your brain sends signals to the sensors that then cause the prosthetic hand to open or close.  

Glucose Tracking Contact Lenses

Traditionally, those with diabetes had to wear monitors to track their glucose levels, which may feel inconvenient for the patient. But soon, patients will be able to track their glucose through the use of advanced contact lenses. 

These lenses are fitted with microtechnology that can check a person’s sugar level through their tears. That data can then be transmitted to a remote device and the patient can be notified of their blood sugar status. 

DNA Origami

DNA origami is an exciting new technology that enables doctors to more effectively manipulate the molecules in the body. Specifically, it allows doctors to fold DNA, which in turn changes how proteins in the body are processed. This can then alter other processes in the body, including stopping harmful processes from happening altogether, such as the growth of cancer cells. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Perhaps one of the most trending and talked about advancements today is artificial intelligence (AI). AI is at the forefront of numerous industries, changing the way people think and work. But some of the most innovative and beneficial uses of AI are occurring in the healthcare industry. 

AI is helping doctors better track trends in a patient's health, which helps with earlier diagnosis of diseases. AI can also spot things that doctors cannot, which helps them catch things that might have otherwise been missed in a patient’s files or test results. 

Beyond improving diagnostics, AI is also helping on the business side of things by helping with task automation and helping hospitals and other facilities run more efficiently to reduce the chances of error. Artificial intelligence is even helping in the HR setting by improving hiring processes. 

Virtual Reality

People have been using virtual reality (VR) for years now, but it’s just now starting to make its way into the medical scene. Surgeons, for example, can use VR to create detailed three-dimensional scans of a patient's body, which allows them to practice their techniques before trying them on the patient in real life. This is a major innovation as it can significantly improve surgical outcomes. 

VR can also be used for educational and training purposes for all healthcare staff and students studying to be doctors. Instead of imagining scenarios, they can train and practice in more life-like settings using VR headsets. Even patients can use VR to understand more about their bodies and what is going to be done to them to improve comfort and compliance before surgery. 

Every day it seems like new tech inventions are hitting the market, changing how we think with regard to patient care and what is possible. This is why it’s necessary to start pushing for more tech-driven roles in healthcare. We need individuals with STEM skills to help the healthcare industry better navigate these new advancements and propel the medical sector into the future. 

Photo by Christina Morillo

Careers in Healthcare IT

If you are interested in working in healthcare with a tech-focused career, perhaps one of the most accessible fields to enter is information technology (IT). IT is somewhat of a generalized term these days that encompasses many different areas of study, and it is also one of the most in-demand careers. 

Those who pursue a degree in data or information science open the door to a wide range of career possibilities in the healthcare industry. There is also a lot of room for advancement in the IT field. 

Some of the top jobs in healthcare IT today include:

• Health information technician: In this position, you would use your IT skills to record, organize, and maintain patient data 

• Clinical analyst: The primary function of a clinical analyst is to review a facility's electronic networks and computer systems to determine how best to improve digital processes. 

• Cybersecurity: Professionals in cybersecurity are in high demand these days as companies deal with larger amounts of data. In this role, you would work to ensure that all data is secure to help reduce the risk of security breaches, identity theft, and other cybercriminal activity. 

• Medical manager: This is like an IT administrative role. As a medical manager, you would manage hospital facilities and help coordinate health services. 

• Software engineer: Those who work as software engineers consult or work full-time with hospitals and other medical facilities to develop computer programs to help them best achieve their goals. 

Other Tech-Driven Roles in Healthcare

Of course, there are so many other tech-focused careers that you can pursue if you want to work in healthcare. And as infrastructure changes, grows, and advances, it is likely that new jobs will be created to meet the demands of those changes. 

So, if you want a job in healthcare tech, the following are other career paths to consider:

• Data Analyst;

• Product Designer;

• AI Engineer;

• Product Manager;

• Programmer Analyst;

• Chief Information Officer.

Wrapping Up

The above-listed jobs are just a few of the many different opportunities available today. As technology continues to transform the healthcare industry, demand will increase, and new opportunities will open up. 

In general, careers in STEM are becoming increasingly popular, which means there are countless universities, colleges, and even online programs that offer courses, certifications, and degree programs to help you pursue your interest in healthcare technology. 

While you used to be able to get a job in IT without much experience, the field is much more competitive today. So if you want to pursue a career in tech in the healthcare industry, you’ll need to earn a degree and gain relevant experience. 

However, keep in mind that it’s also important to develop your soft skills when working in tech. Many of the jobs listed above will still require you to interact with others on a daily basis, for example. So to increase your chances of getting hired, you should also work on developing communication and problem-solving skills. 

And, of course, you’ll want to vary your software knowledge as well. Healthcare IT is quickly becoming a competitive field, so you’ll want to know as much as possible to stand out amongst all the applicants. Not all healthcare companies and hospitals use the same systems, so the more systems you know and understand, the better.