Upskilling is the process of adding to and strengthening your job skills to better position you for career development and opportunities. In today’s competitive job market, it’s important to know how to continually upskill so you’re on a steady growth trajectory. Stagnation spells disaster even for top talent. Here’s how you can avoid that pitfall and maintain ongoing growth.
Identifying In-Demand Skills
Healthcare, life sciences, and healthcare technology landscape is in constant flux, with advancements happening at an unprecedented pace. To stay competitive, professionals in these fields must prioritize continuous learning and upskilling. This is especially critical for contract workers who need to seamlessly transition between roles and adapt to the unique demands of each new project. Building a diverse skillset ensures they can confidently tackle any challenge and remain valuable assets in this dynamic market.
To navigate this evolving landscape effectively, professionals need to be aware of emerging trends and technologies. Some of the key areas to focus on in the healthcare and life sciences industries include:
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering is the process of applying engineering principles to medical technologies. Advanced prosthetics, surgical robots, and vital sign tracking are all examples of biomedical engineering innovations. Steady professional development in this area necessitates ongoing education to keep up with the latest inventions.
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics occurs where molecular biology and information technology intersect. This specialization explores how genes impact medicine, the process of blood typing, and gene identification. Relevant job skills include programing, data analysis, and machine learning.
Telehealth
This technology was already in its early stages by 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telehealth adoption significantly. Post-pandemic telehealth adoption has remained high as both patients and providers have now recognized the conveniences and possibilities of this innovative approach to medicine. Providers that are equipped to skillfully utilize telehealth technologies are perfectly positioned to take advantage of new job opportunities in this area.
Electronic Health Records
Electronic health record (EHR) systems have revolutionized healthcare, transitioning from niche technology in the 1960s to a cornerstone of modern medical practice. By 2021, the vast majority of office-based physicians in the U.S. had adopted EHRs, with certified EHRs leading the way.1 This widespread adoption highlights the critical need for healthcare professionals to be proficient in using these systems.
One of the most widely used EHR systems is Epic. With its comprehensive features and robust functionality, Epic has become a dominant player in the healthcare industry. Gaining expertise in Epic can significantly enhance your career prospects and open doors to a wide range of opportunities.
Looking to gain Epic experience? Consider joining our MedixDirect program! This program offers comprehensive training and placement services, connecting talented individuals with Epic-related roles in top healthcare organizations.
Even with established systems like Epic, EHR technology continues to evolve. Staying abreast of the latest updates and advancements is crucial for healthcare professionals to maintain a competitive edge and deliver optimal patient care.
Upskilling Methods
There are many strategies for upskilling in the healthcare and life sciences industries. Assuming that you already have a core degree or educational background in your chosen field, you’ll need to chart your own unique course to further your education and strengthen your skill set in relevant areas.
Online Courses
Online learning is optimal for busy professionals who are already employed in their field of interest. Remote learning opportunities provide the chance for self-paced learning in a flexible environment. Courses, coursework, and quizzes are accessible anywhere with an internet connection, including homes, offices, and libraries.
Popular virtual academies, such as Udemy and Coursera, offer a wealth of opportunities for upskilling in the healthcare and life sciences fields. On Udemy, you can take bioinformatics courses in genetics and next-generation sequencing, docking and mol dynamics simulation, bulk RNA-seq data analysis, and more. Coursera can connect you to courses such as AI in Healthcare from Stanford University and Health Informatics Specialization from Johns Hopkins University. You’ll also find courses to strengthen essential soft skills, such as Mental Health and Resilience for Healthcare Workers from the University of Toronto. Best of all, some of these courses are free.
Certifications
Every segment of healthcare and life sciences has its own preferred certifications. Your specialization and career path will determine which certifications best suit your needs. Almost any certification will provide some measure of upskilling, so you should feel free to continually grow your list of credentials. Achieving new, innovative certifications demonstrates your dedication to learning and career advancement, which will help you stay competitive among your peers.
The Center for Professional Innovation and Education, or CfPIE, offers an extensive range of pharmaceutical and medical device certification programs, covering everything from clinical compliance to medical device document management. The American Health Information Management Association, or AHIMA, offers certifications in coding, health information, documentation integrity, health data analysis, and healthcare privacy and security. You can gain certifications relevant to healthcare information and management systems or digital health transformation strategy from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, or HIMSS.
Demonstrate your commitment to delivering superior telehealth services with a telehealth certification from Accreditation Commission for Health Care, also known as ACHC, or Utilization Review Accreditation Commission, also known as URAC.
Every program is different, but most require a relevant educational background and the ability to pass a test on the content area.
Workshops and Training Programs
Keep your finger to the pulse of your industry by following magazines, blogs, podcasts, and other relevant publications. These will serve as an excellent source of information on upcoming conferences, workshops, and training programs relevant to your field. Life Science Network maintains a robust calendar of workshops and webinars. The National Institutes of Health is an excellent resource for identifying training opportunities for healthcare professionals at all stages of their careers.
The Importance of Continuous Learning
Today’s healthcare, life sciences, and healthcare technology talent need to maintain an ambitious growth mindset to keep pace with the evolution of these industries. Only through continuous learning can you stay relevant, keep pace with change, and attain career advancements. Make upskilling a lifelong habit to unlock the best opportunities in your career path.
Find the Right Partner for Career Growth
Unlock your career potential with Medix. We connect talented professionals like you with exclusive opportunities not found elsewhere. Beyond job placements, we provide valuable resources such as talent experience surveys and MyPrint soft skills assessments to help you understand your strengths and areas for development. Our dedicated team offers ongoing career guidance to support your growth every step of the way.