Trends in Healthcare Hiring

In these tough economic times the question on everyone's minds is "Where are the jobs?". We keep hearing that healthcare is among the fastest growing professions, but what does that mean for you? Right now, one of the biggest trends in the healthcare industry is a move away from hospitals and long-term care facilities and towards letting people receive care in their own homes. This applies to both the elderly needing assistance, and people of any age who need help recovering from injuries, long-term illnesses, or surgery.

A quick glance at the major job search websites confirms this trend. Monster.com says, "Home healthcare is hiring rapidly." Careerbuilder says, "Whether it's occupational therapists, speech therapists or physical therapists working with patients who require this type of medical support, the rehabilitation industry is in demand."

Over and over, I see Home Health Aides being the most in-demand workers. Related to this is the role of Mental Health Aides. Really, any sort of therapy or assistance position is popular. The more training you can receive in this area, the better you'll appear to an employer. We Care Online's training programs begin at $157.50, and with 20 hours of class time, you can be ready to enter this rapidly growing profession. Mental Health Aide training is a little more involved at 60 hours of class work and $292.50, but the need for skilled workers is great and the jobs are out there.

Here are a couple articles with more information on the trends.

• Fastest Growing Jobs in Healthcare
• 2011 Health Care Trends

Trends in At-Home Care

While the majority of We Care Online students work in residential long-term care facilities (as Certified Nurse Aides, etc.), a growing number are choosing to work in the home health care field. The demand for in-home care is increasing, too, and with it, more people are paying attention to the unique issues that surround home care. One in particular is the issue of ensuring that home-care residents receive the same level of care as those in formal facilties, and that they receive the same protections from abuse and neglect. It's not a pleasant topic, but a very important one. Residents in long-term and assisted care facilities have many protections in place, but the relatively new field of home health care is not currently held to the same standards. This past week, Minnesota senator Al Franken introduced a bill that "would require states to pass a Home Care Bill of Rights that protects consumer rights, safety and access to information." It's a first step in the effort to ensure that all people are granted the same protections when receiving care and assistance.

Later this week, we'll take a closer look at the trends in home-health care. If you currently work as a Home Health Aide, or are considering a career in this field, check back here on Thursday for more on the subject!

A Little Piece of Inspiration

I saw this video making the rounds online and just had to share it here. Anyone who works in the healthcare industry knows that the job is so much more than just punching the time clock and going through the motions. You're touching lives and providing comfort. We all have our bad days, but I hope this short video can give you a little inspiration and lift as you go about your day. 

New class: Spanish for Healthcare Providers

According to census data, the Hispanic and Latino population is one of the fastest growing groups in the United States. From 2000 to 2006, the Hispanic growth rate (24.3%) was more than three times the growth rate of the total population (6.1%). With this rapid population growth comes an increased need for people who can communicate in Spanish. It is particularly important for healthcare workers to be able to speak the language of their patients. To fill this need, We Care Online is pleased to announce the latest addition to our classes: Spanish for Healthcare Workers.

This eight week beginner course is tailored to the needs of students with limited or no previous experience studying Spanish (and for those who have been without practice for a significant period of time). The class involves 24 hours of online learning and will introduce you to the basics of the Spanish language and provide information about the cultural differences you may encounter. The class gives you a focused introduction to healthcare vocabulary and will teach you basic phrases so that you can effectively communicate with Spanish speakers. It's an eight-week class and costs $157.50 (plus the cost of a textbook). In eight weeks you can boost your skills and make yourself an even more valuable employee. The class opens on October 24 and is open enrollment, so you may start at any time after the 24th. Sign up today!
 

cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo shared by ::: Mer :::

Healthy Snacking Through the Holidays

We're coming in to the holiday season and while it's great for cooler temperatures and fall colors, it can be a major strain on your waistline. Holidays mean social gatherings, and social gatherings always mean food. Halloween is one of the worst possible holidays for a health-conscious person. Candy, caramel apples, popcorn balls - what's a person to do?

Your best bet is to fill up on healthy snacks so that you can pass on the junk food altogether. Or, if you can't resist, you'll at least have a better chance at sticking to a smaller portion. There are so many healthy options out there, and almost all of them fit easily in a snack baggie or reusable plastic container. Skip the soda machine and stay away from the fast food joint around the corner. Your waistline--and your wallet--will thank you! Having your own snacks handy also makes it easier to take five minutes to stop and visit with the people in your care.

Drinking water is always a good idea. Furnaces and heaters tend to dry out the air, so it's easy to get dehydrated even if you're not sweating a lot. Also, water blunts hunger and makes you feel a little more full, so you're less likely to eat a diet-busting portion of snacks. Need more ideas?

Check out these links:
10 Healthful Snacks That Won't Break The Calorie Bank

Super Snacks: 5 Best Snacks for Mood

The Best Snacks to Take to Work (50 recipes!)


cc licensed flickr photo shared by Juushika Redgrave

Job Skills: Health Unit Coordinator

The demand for Health Unit Coordinators is growing, and while We Care Online has a class that can teach you the skills to be an effective HUC, none of that matters until you have a job offer. How can you get from training to employment? The first step is to have an eye-catching resume. A resume is your first impression with a potential employer, and you don't want a human resource manager to say "good enough", you want a "Wow"!

Many people turn to an internet search when it's time to write a resume. That's a good starting point, but unless you go further, you'll end up with a resume identical to everyone else.

Let's take this one for example:
http://www.samplesofresume.org/coordinator/health-unit-coordinator-resume.html

It's generally good (despite a few typos), but doesn't really have that wow factor. For starters, it's too long. All that contact information at the top? Far too much! These days most employers will contact you by phone or email, so lead with your name in a slightly larger font, then include your phone number and an email address below it.

Objective? Skip it! Your objective is to get the job you're submitting a resume for, so prove that you're the best candidate and don't waste the hiring manager's time with general goals or objectives. Skills? Yes, this is where it gets good. This is your one shot to tell the person reading your resume that you are the best candidate for the job. Start by reading the job posting carefully. Pay attention to the words they use and make sure those words are in your skill list. For example, if the post says "responsible for multi-line phone system" and you have experience with a switchboard, say so! You don't need to address every single point in a job posting, but the more you can show you're qualified for, the better.

The best way to stand out from the crowd is to give the hiring manager specific reasons why he or she should pick you. Anything you can do to quantify or put a number to your skills will help. Don't just say you managed the workflow for a busy front office. Say you managed calendars for a staff of 15. Don't say you have good time management skills. Give an example of several things you successfully juggled on a daily basis. Say just enough to get your point across, but don't overwhelm the reader with too many details.

Pick four or five of your absolute best examples and use those for your bullet points. Skip the generic responses ("good oral and written skills", "computer literate") and instead be specific. Good with computers? List software or operating systems that you know. Good with words? Mention how you wrote reports or a quarterly newsletter at a previous job.

Finally, if you're just entering the work force and don't have years of work experience to draw on, don't panic. Many of the skills essential to the Health Unit Coordinator position are skills anyone uses while in school. Time management, computer tasks, formal writing, etc. Focus on the unique skills and talents that set you apart from every other candidate and you'll really boost your chances at getting a callback.
 
Photo credit:  cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo shared by MBayTeenPrograms

It's Flu Shot Season

cc licensed flickr photo shared by USACE Europe District

If you're anywhere near a pharmacy or a television, you've probably been bombarded with flu shot messages. From late summer through the winter everyone from public health officials to commercial pharmacies are clamoring for your attention. Despite (or maybe because of) all the media coverage, there are still a lot of misconceptions about the pros and cons of influenze vaccination. As a health care worker, it's in your best interest to have the latest and most accurate information. Here are a few things to remember about the much-hyped flu shots.

1. It is important to get a new flu shot every year.

A shot from last year won't protect you anymore. Why? There are many different strains of influenza. Health officials predict the most common or virulent strains and create a new vacciene each year to target these strains. Also, immunity fades over time, so while a flu shot might have kept you healthy last year, it won't offer much protection this year.

2. It's important for everyone to get a flu shot.

While at-risk populations like the elderly and pregnant women are highly encouraged to get vaccinated, the best way to prevent the spread of influenza is for as many people as possible to get a flu shot. The flu is spread when one individual becomes sick and passes on the virus to another. If you boost your immunity with a flu shot, you are less likely to contract the flu, and your body won't have any flu germs to pass along. More vaccinations mean fewer people will harbor and spread influenza, and that's good news for everyone!

3. It's important to get your shot as soon as possible.

Since the vacciene works by triggering an immune response, you need to allow time for your body's natural defense system to get up to speed. A flu shot can take up to two weeks to reach its full effectiveness. The sooner you're vaccinated, the sooner your body can get to work at protecting you.

For more information, please visit the Center For Disease Control and Prevention's Seasonal Flu information page.

Have you gotten your flu shot yet?

New Trends in Long-Term Care: Home Care vs. Nursing Homes

Assisted living facilities are often thought of as the place where people go when they can no longer live independently. While this is largely true, a recent series on National Public Radio brought attention to the fact that assisted living residents can be a much more diverse population than previously thought. Instead of the stereotype of frail, elderly residents, many people are simply "short timers" in need of a little extra assistance before they can return home. 

While it's true that many people come to nursing homes when they are unable to take care of themselves due to age-related issues, there are many other people who are only meant to be temporary residents. Among this group are people needing physical therapy and those recovering from major surgeries. As this series shows, nursing homes are not always a final desination. Many people only need temporary 'round-the-clock assistance, and are fine with returning to independent or semi-independent living once their immediate needs are met.  In addition, residents have a right to live at home and to have a say in where and how they will receive care.

This shows, more than ever, the need for skilled Home Health Aides who can provide the necessary part-time home care. More and more studies are showing that it is not only more comfortable for individuals to remain in their homes, but that it is much more cost effective. As the article notes, "One study by the AARP Public Policy Institute found that nearly three people can get care at home for the same cost of one in a nursing home." Three times the care for the same cost! Because long-term health care is often funded through government programs, keeping costs down is in everyone's best interests.

In addition, a growing number of skilled nursing facility residents are petitioning for the right to return to home or apartment living. There are many sides to this issue, but it's of great importance to anyone working in the healthcare field. To learn more about the issues facing residents and those who care for them, you can find the entire NPR series here: http://www.npr.org/series/131105200/home-or-nursing-home