What does the hospital industry include?

The hospital industry, also referred to as acute care, is a variety of services that treat patients for short-term conditions. The goal of acute care is to have patients leave a facility able to live their lives independent of medical assistance. This type of care is vast and can include many different types of ailments. Acute care facilities include hospitals, out-patient surgical centers, emergency medicine, trauma centers, urgent care and clinics. Healthcare workers and the positive impact they bring can be found in a variety of settings. From inpatient hospital settings to doctor’s offices to outpatient clinics, there are opportunities to experience working in a care environment.

What are the advantages of working in a hospital?

Making a difference

You can have a great impact on patients’ lives, whether you’re working at the bedside or behind the scenes.

Projected job growth

People will always need medical care, and now is very good time to work in healthcare. The large baby boomer population requires more medical services, which is a positive force for healthcare job security.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the healthcare industry will add approximately 2.4 million new jobs by 2026, which is more than any other occupational group.

The need isn’t limited to workers with advanced degrees.  You join the healthcare industry quickly as there are a variety of in-demand entry-level positions.

Variation

Working in a hospital setting will provide the opportunity to see a variety of patients from all walks of life experiencing all types of health conditions. Most hospitals are mid to large organizations that employ many people, so interacting with a variety of other healthcare professionals is typical and can provide for room to grow.

Being part of a team

Regardless of the role in the hospital, you will work in combination with doctors, nurses, medical assistants, lab technicians, pharmacists and more, all to achieve the same goal: improving and maintaining patients’ health.

Excellent Job Stability

Due to the growth of the population comes an ever-greater demand on healthcare services. A career in healthcare is the entrance to an industry that is almost always short-staffed and constantly searching for new people.

Good salaries are generally a feature of working in a hospital. Salaries and benefits are dependent upon the specific facility, job title and location.

Opportunities for career advancement are often available within organizations or with experience having options to move to a different hospital or work in private practice or outpatient setting.

Here are a few facts to explain the scope of the US hospital system in 2021:

• There are about 8,000 hospitals in the US
• There are about 1 million staffed beds within those hospitals
• Over 36 million patients were admitted to the hospitals

The need for acute care in hospital settings is growing, especially with the aging population in the US. There are more patients with chronic diseases who are living longer. There are also new strains of flus and other communicable diseases that require hospitalization.