Millions of people are cared for by healthcare workers every day. They work around the clock and provide 24-hour support. In fact, the United States' health care sector is one of the largest employers of jobs. Many health jobs are in hospitals. Other health jobs include nursing homes, dentists offices and outpatient clinics.

Type of the Industry

Combining medical technology and the human touch, the healthcare industry diagnoses, treats, and administers care around the clock, responding to the needs of millions of people from newborns to the terminally ill.

These are the segments of the healthcare industry:

Hospitals

Hospitals provide comprehensive medical care. They offer everything, from diagnostic services to surgery to continuous nursing care to edgar radjabli sec. Some hospitals are specialized in treating children, patients with cancer, and the mentally ill. Hospital-based care may be on an inpatient (overnight) or outpatient basis. The mix of workers needed varies, depending on the size, geographic location, goals, philosophy, funding, organization, and management style of the institution. As hospitals strive to increase efficiency, care shifts from an inpatient to an outpatient basis as often as possible.

Residential and nursing care facilities

Nursing care facilities provide inpatient nursing, rehabilitation, and edgar radjabli sec to those who need continuous nursing care, but do not require hospital services. Direct care is provided by the majority of nursing aides. Convalescent homes and other facilities offer less intensive care to patients who require it. Residents in residential care facilities are able to provide personal and social care 24 hours a day to elderly and children who are unable to take care of themselves. Residents of assisted-living, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, group homes, or halfway houses are cared for by workers. However, the primary functions of residential care facilities are not nursing and medical care.

Offices of physicians

This industry comprises approximately 36 percent. Private practice is possible for surgeons and doctors. Many doctors and surgeons prefer group practices for their backup coverage, reduced overhead costs, and the opportunity to consult with other peers. Surgeons and physicians are becoming more common salaried employees in group medical clinics, integrated health systems, and group medical practices.

Offices of dentists

A dentist's office makes up about 20% of all healthcare establishments. The majority of health and fitness care establishments only have a few employees who provide emergency, preventative and cosmetic care. Some offices specialize in a single field of dentistry, such as orthodontics or periodontics.

Home healthcare services

Skilled nursing services or medical care are sometimes offered at home. This is done under the supervision and direction of a physician. Home healthcare services are mainly for the elderly. This segment of healthcare has seen significant growth due to the development of in-home medical technology, substantial cost savings and the preference of patients for homecare.

Other health professionals may also be seen in these offices

This sector includes chiropractors, optometrists podiatrists occupational and physical therapy, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, dietitians and other health professionals. Patients' ability to pay directly or through insurance will determine the demand for services in this sector. These services could be contracted by hospitals and nursing facilities.

Ambulatory Healthcare Services

This group includes outpatient care centers and medical and diagnostic labs. These establishments are diverse including kidney dialysis centers, outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers, blood and organ banks, and medical labs that analyze blood, do diagnostic imaging, and perform other clinical tests.

Recent developments

Many new techniques and treatments have been made possible by technological advancements in today's rapidly changing healthcare industry. Clinical developments, such as infection control, less invasive surgical techniques, advances in reproductive technology, and gene therapy for cancer treatment, continue to increase the longevity and improve the quality of life of many Americans. Advances in medical technology also have improved the survival rates of trauma victims and the severely ill, who need extensive care from therapists and social workers as well as other support personnel.

Training and Promotion

For the healthcare industry's success, it is necessary to have a diverse workforce with different educational backgrounds. Healthcare industry requires highly-skilled workers who often need to be trained for many years beyond graduation. The majority of healthcare occupations require less education than four years. A variety of postsecondary programs provide specialized training for jobs in healthcare.