Workforce Barriers Faced by the Healthcare Sector

Designing Digitally

04/28/2020

Workforce Barriers Faced by the Healthcare Sector

The healthcare industry is one of the most intricate and often burnout-inducing work sectors in the world. Finding new and reliable employees and cutting costs while at the same time striving to improve patient care seem like concepts in direct opposition to each other. Human resource (HR) managers are faced with even bigger challenges when it comes to implementing efficient and effective healthcare training programs, mainly because the costs are usually high.

These workforce barriers the healthcare industry face can become even more deep-seated in the case of a worldwide pandemic. For these reasons, it's becoming increasingly important that healthcare employee training is complemented with flexible, on-demand, and at-your-own-pace eLearning experiences.

Training Challenges in Healthcare

  1. Recurrent Burn-Out

With staff shortages affecting the healthcare industry all over the world, long work hours, and crowded ER rooms, burn-out is the number one issue faced by healthcare employees. Healthcare training programs based on eLearning modules can help alleviate the immense pressure health workers are under. By adhering to an online learning course workers will be able to perform at higher standards while getting the much-needed rest. An efficient learning program could present microlearning modules in a relaxed go-at-your-own-pace style, with learning through play as the main theory behind it.

  1. Increasing Demand for Healthcare Workers

One of the most noticeable barriers in healthcare is the increasing demand for medical professionals. In the next ten years, job demand in this field will increase by 14%. This means that the healthcare industry will have to train new medics, RNs (registered nurses), and other staff members fast. One of the most effective ways of doing this is by figuring out new healthcare training solutions. The eLearning industry is leading the way towards faster, stronger, and more in-depth learning paths for learners all over the world. Have a look at some examples, to get a better idea about this subject.

  1. High Turnaround

Since the demand for high-skill health workers is high, it follows that turnaround levels are also high. Employers are struggling to hold on to their workforce as healthcare professionals are presented with multiple opportunities. Offering health employees the chance to participate in online healthcare training programs shows them that you care about their professional development. Using personalized learning paths will allow them to grow at their own speed and according to their own level of skill. And, finally, enabling learning through play will lower their stress levels and empower them to enjoy their learning experience.

  1. Growing Skills Gap

The growing skills gap in the healthcare sector is alarming. This is due to the fact that 50% of RNs will reach retirement in 2020. Concomitantly, the US is predicting a shortage of 100,000 doctors by 2030. Starting a learning and development (L&D) department for your organization will ease medical professionals into a culture of professional development. Your medical staff will be well-equipped to face stress and long work hours if they know they have the knowledge and skills to successfully complete their tasks.

Healthcare Training Solutions

  1. Survey Your Workforce

Knowing your workforce is the first step in retaining and loyalizing them. Depending on the size of your medical organization you might want to set up meetings, one-on-ones, or delegate department managers to take the pulse of their team on a weekly basis. You'll want to be up to date with the level of skill and knowledge each employee has, what their abilities to work with technology are, and even what type of online training programs they might enjoy.

Read also: How Mobile Learning Improves Training for Healthcare Professionals

  1. Use the Right Technology

Half of the world's working folks are millennials and all of them are tech-savvy. Chances are your workforce contains a predominant percentage of millennials. You can use eLearning, virtual reality, augmented reality, and other training delivery methods to help staff learn and grow.

  1. Invest in Your Staff by Investing in L&D

Investing in a new department might get costly at the onset, but it has long-term benefits. Offering extra healthcare employee training through online, VR/AR, or other tech-oriented devices will help your company close the skill gap and make sure your workforce is well-trained to face new barriers the industry might encounter in future.

Read also: How Is Virtual Reality Revolutionizing the Healthcare Industry?

Conclusion

Career advancement opportunities are essential in the medical field. As the shortage of staff grows, so does the need for better healthcare training solutions. Contact our team for a free quote or consultation today!