The Penn Foster Blog

One of the many ways the US felt an impact of COVID-19 has undoubtedly been a large jolt to, and spotlight on, the infrastructure of the nation’s healthcare industry. In a matter of months, prior assumptions and behaviors regarding how Americans work within the healthcare industry, and receive care as patients, came into question as we were forced to reimagine and reshape job productivity and patient care. Doctors across the nation are newly relying on telemedicine to allow them to see a greater number of patients remotely. The bandwidth and workflow within each individual medical facility across the nation has been uniquely pressured and challenged.

Ever since the world stopped last March, we’ve anxiously waited for an end to, or at least a respite, from the pandemic. We watched the medical field undergo massive changes, working harder than ever, with an increased need to fill many medical roles while simultaneously developing new and essential skills. However, now that the vaccine rollout is well under way, many of us are left to wonder what the future of healthcare will look like in a post-vaccine world.

The initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic saw a dire need for skilled, highly trained healthcare workers. While there was an increase in healthcare jobs last summer, there has been a significant decrease in recent openings which could be attributable to the fact that the vaccine rollout has begun to reduce cases and hospitalization rates. However, a shortage remains in vital middle skilled and support positions. The current lack of qualified applicants for these jobs is adding continued stress on healthcare facilities and resulting in diminished patient care. The impacts of the pandemic on the workforce are likely to be evident for some time to come, but utilizing education and job training to upskill displaced, or emerging, workers into healthcare positions can ease the burden the country is currently experiencing. Instead of workers pursuing new, often lengthy educational avenues, a learn-and-earn model can play a vital role in filling in-demand positions, while engaging the economy through gainful apprenticeships and vocational training.

Veterinary medicine typically draws a particular personality type, usually those who possess a strong sense of compassion. While this is an asset to those animals in need, showing strong emotions is not always a benefit in a professional setting. When we allow our emotions to control our responses and behaviors, we inflict our feelings upon our co-workers causing a rippling chain reaction. Equally, when we suppress our feelings, we create a cold disconnect that manifests negatively in other forms. Neither extreme is beneficial to a functioning, successful practice with employees invested for the long haul. Penn Foster’s latest webinar discussed the importance of emotional intelligence in vet practices, and life in general, with industry leaders Shawn McVey and Dr. Annika VanNoy from Pathway Vet Alliance.

In today’s skilled trades industry, we seem to have reached an interesting crossroads in which employers are struggling to find and retain skilled workers, while workers are struggling to find practical and financially accessible training options. Apprenticeships are a great solution for both parties, providing organizations with the well-trained workforce they need, while allowing workers to make money while they learn.

Talent within the skilled trades industry is seemingly becoming harder to find as time goes on. The root of the problem may lie in a lack of sufficient training solutions that upskill today’s trades workforce to keep pace with modern needs. Learn how Penn Foster’s trades programs are constantly being updated to stay on the forefront of today’s business needs.

When more women join our labor forces, the economy benefits. As the Washington Center for Equitable Growth has repeatedly pointed out, there is a significant relationship worth identifying between a country’s per capita Gross Domestic Product and the women’s labor force participation rate in that country. However, it’s no secret that in the US, a number of industries seem to have remained male-dominated over time, the skilled trades industry long being one of them. In 2018, fewer than one in 20 construction trades workers were women, according to a study by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Recently, we spoke with Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian” and founder of Fear Free, about the impact Fear Free certification can have on veterinary practices, veterinary technicians, and their clients. Founded in 2016, Fear Free provides online and in-person education to veterinary professionals, pet professionals, animal welfare communities, and pet owners.

The demand for trained medical assistants was already high, and steadily growing, before the COVID-19 pandemic had even reached the United States. In the aftermath of 2020’s blow to the bandwidth of the healthcare system, leaders are now faced with additional challenges when it comes to recruiting and hiring within their struggling healthcare organizations.

Traditionally, when we think about a local veterinary clinic, we’re thinking about the small, privately-owned practice run by a local veterinarian. But the concept of the veterinary hospital has changed over the last decade due to the increase in corporate-owned hospitals and clinics. It’s estimated that there were about 5,200 corporately owned clinics across the United States at the end of 2019 - and that number is only expected to grow. The growth and widespread success of corporate veterinary companies like Banfield and Mission Veterinary Partners isn’t just due to having access to a larger budget than smaller clinics; they offer a trusted standard of care that can work in a hospital in a rural town or a small clinic in a bustling city. Further, these big-name hospitals offer a variety of benefits to clients and employees that is also standardized. Private practices can take note of what corporate veterinary hospitals are doing well and implement changes at scale.