The Penn Foster Blog

As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and caused the US unemployment rate to spike to levels even higher than those seen during the Great Recession, Dr. Robert Jordan knew his nonprofit organization, Constituent Services Worldwide (CSW), was uniquely positioned to help the Greater Washington, D.C. area in this time of need. Formed after Dr. Jordan’s two-term administration as an elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner ended in 2011, CSW is a “multi-faceted Public Benefit Corporation designed to be a catalyst for government initiatives and resource for private sector clients.”

Patient-centered care has been a buzzword for years. It’s so commonly used that it’s hard to tell what the phrase means anymore. Yet, true patient-centered care is more important than ever. As patient preferences change and the healthcare industry grows, providers must meet a whole new standard of care.

New urgent care centers are popping up all over the United States. These walk-in clinics provide convenient care for millions of patients every year. To keep wait times low and maximize efficiency, urgent care centers rely heavily on medical assistants and employees in health administrative roles. Find the right employees for your clinic by seeking and training ambitious healthcare support staff.

Telemedicine isn’t a new concept in the healthcare industry, though until recently, in-person visits were the standard method of connecting with a provider. But since the start of the pandemic, telehealth has experienced a surge as patients and providers seek a socially distant option for appointments. For busy veterinary practices, offering this service in place of wellness visits can allow veterinarians and veterinary technicians to effectively see and treat more clients, potentially increasing revenue and allowing the practice to thrive throughout and after the pandemic.

Despite the pandemic, the veterinary healthcare industry has been overwhelmed with patients and appointments. While other sectors, from healthcare to manufacturing, have been forced to furlough workers veterinary practices have had to hire more team members to meet their clients’ needs. With a deficit of trained, skilled veterinary assistants, practices are feeling the strain of increased appointments and teams are stretched thin attempting to keep up.

As the pandemic continues to change the healthcare landscape, frontline workers are more heavily relied-on than ever before. For retail pharmacies facing increased workloads due to a growth in demand for prescription drugs, in addition to taking on more direct-care work before and during the spread of COVID-19, the need for skilled pharmacy technicians is great. But finding the right applicants to fill open positions isn’t always easy. In order to minimize the cost of constant turnover by increasing employee retention, a focus on training and certifying pharmacy technicians is a must.

For over 125 years, Penn Foster has taught working learners and partnered with skilled trades organizations to help tens of thousands of students gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed on their career paths. Part of this Penn Foster mission is to provide comprehensive courses, applicable technology, and a wide array of flexible services aimed at the needs of the working learner- which anymore, should include an emphasis on interactivity.

With all the buzz over telemedicine and instant healthcare, you might think that millenials are looking for convenience above all else. It’s a reasonable assumption. It’s also not true. When making healthcare decisions, millenials want a provider who really cares about them. In short, millennials are looking for good customer service from healthcare providers. To meet the needs of this generation, you must train support staff to make customer service their focus.

Contrary to expectations, veterinary medicine has been one of the few industries to thrive - and even grow - amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. While many companies, large and small, have been forced to furlough employees or cut hiring budgets, veterinary practices have had to add new team members to handle the influx of new patients. In addition to the number of new pet owners, the veterinary industry has also seen a boom as pet parents are home more often to keep a diligent eye on the strange behaviors of their animals. With the influx of clients - from new pet owners to those who want to ensure their companion stays as healthy as possible - well trained and skilled veterinary staff is a must to ensure your practice’s success.

The healthcare industry has been one of the hardest hit since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While thought to be recession proof, 1.4 million healthcare jobs were lost in April, following up the 43,000 that were originally displaced in March. But, as states slowly reopen and new safety protocols are put into place, healthcare jobs are making a revival - but not in the ways they existed before. Physicians and nurses aren’t the most in-demand roles that need to be filled; rather support positions are where the opportunities lie for workers and employers alike.