Healthcare roles that are on the front lines, providing direct care to patients, aren’t the only roles in the medical sector experiencing growth. Data shows that back-end work, such as that of medical and health services managers, is also fast-growing.
Many medical roles that provide support “behind the scenes” are experiencing faster-than-average growth, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A few of these occupations include:
- Medical Record Specialists
- Medical and Health Services Managers
- Medical Assistants
If you’re interested in working in a back-end healthcare role, requirements may differ. For example, some roles may require the completion of an advanced degree. For example, bsn to msn programs can open up a range of back-end opportunities in the nursing sector.
If you’re seeking more information on healthcare roles that take you behind the scenes, this article is for you. It delves into the different types of nursing jobs that take place away from the bedside, what they do, and how fast they’re growing.
What is a frontline worker?
Frontline workers are defined as individuals who work in essential sectors, such as healthcare and emergency services, providing direct services. There would be a worker in a position where they directly interact with individuals or a community on behalf of their organization.
Frontline workers are most commonly the first point of contact for people seeking services. Within the healthcare sector, this would be patients seeking care. A few examples of frontline workers in healthcare include:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Occupational therapists
- Paramedics
- Physiotherapists
- Pharmacists
- Psychologists
In the healthcare industry, alongside providing direct services to patients and clients, they are also expected to address inquiries and resolve issues. Many frontline positions also require a high level of customer service and communication skills.
Because frontline workers, especially in healthcare, often face high levels of risk and exposure, back-end roles may be more appealing. Data reveals that workplace violence against frontline healthcare workers is on the rise, and has hit unprecedented levels since the COVID-19 pandemic.
How are back-end roles different?
If you want to work in healthcare but you’re concerned about the risks that frontline positions face, you should consider working in a back-end role. Many behind-the-scenes roles in healthcare provide critical support to frontline workers and are vital to the overall healthcare industry.
The back-end roles are just as important as frontline positions and are also experiencing a surge in demand. A few examples of how back-end roles operate within the healthcare industry include:
- Administration
- Information technology
- Logistical support
- Payroll
- Records management
- Research
Back-end workers make it possible for frontline workers to treat and manage patients. The administrative and operational tasks handled by back-end roles are critical to the success of healthcare systems.
5 back-end healthcare jobs
If you’re looking for fast-growing roles in healthcare that take you away from the bedside, our list below is a great place to start. It outlines the position, what they do as a back-end role, and the job outlook from 2023 to 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Medical record specialists
If you want a job away from the bedside and love dealing with data, it might be worth considering a career as a medical record specialist. Also known as a health information technician, they are responsible for maintaining, retrieving, and preparing medical records.
Medical record specialists play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy of patient data, ensuring all the information is correct and protected. Without accurate information, frontline workers, such as doctors, would not be able to treat patients.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the role is expected to grow by 9% over the next decade. This is faster than average, making it a great opportunity if you want to contribute to the country’s healthcare system from behind the scenes.
Medical assistants
Depending on the organization, medical assistants can take on back-end work. For example, this includes administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments and managing patient records.
Medical assistant roles are currently experiencing a huge surge in demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the job outlook for the role will grow much faster than average—15%—over the next decade.
Clinical laboratory technologists & technicians
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the job outlook for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians will grow over the next decade. It is estimated that it’ll grow as fast as average at 5%.
While this isn’t as fast as some other back-end positions, there’s still a rising demand for the role. This is because clinical laboratory technologists and technicians play a critical role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
For example, these technologists and technicians are the professionals who perform medical laboratory tests, evaluate the results, and send them to frontline workers, such as doctors. More than 7 billion clinical lab tests are performed every year, and they play a crucial role in diagnosing, treating, and monitoring patients.
Medical scientists
If you love research and you want to further the medical landscape from behind the scenes, a career path as a medical scientist is worth considering. They typically work in offices or laboratories, conducting research aimed at improving overall human health.
Medical scientists play a crucial role in furthering research to improve the quality of care provided by frontline workers. The job outlook is also expected to grow by 11%—much faster than average by 2033.
Nurse administrator
Nurse administrators are a type of specialized nurse, as described by Nurse Journal, who brings their experience, knowledge, and skills obtained through prior clinical practice and higher education to provide operational management and leadership to nursing staff.
Essentially, nurse administrators are nursing team leaders who operate behind the scenes, managing staff and administrative work. For example, their duties may include:
- Representing nursing staff in meetings
- Scheduling nursing shifts
- Formulating and managing budgets
- Developing policies and procedures
Becoming a nurse administrator does require experience as a frontline nurse and higher education (such as earning a master’s degree). The job outlook is also expected to grow at a much faster-than-average rate of 32% from 2019 to 2029.
Why are healthcare roles growing?
The demand for employment in the healthcare sector is increasing due to various factors, with one of the primary causes being the country’s aging population. The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million to 82 million by 2050, a 47% increase.
The U.S. population is older today than it has ever been, and the aging demographic will require more healthcare workers to treat and support them. The older generation of Americans is also experiencing higher rates of complex and chronic diseases and conditions, such as obesity, putting further strain on the healthcare industry.
This is driving the demand for more workers in every sector of healthcare, from frontline workers to back-end roles. Similarly, the demand is in every field of healthcare, from primary care to mental health and dentistry.