What to consider when pursuing a career in healthcare

Popular television shows like Grey’s Anatomy and ER make a career in healthcare seem fun, exciting, and even glamorous. What’s important to remember, though, is how crucial it is for healthcare professionals to be kind, empathetic, and courteous to their patients. A new study from USA Rx revealed the top concerns Americans have when seeing a medical professional, reminding those pursuing a job in healthcare what to continually keep in mind. 

The top concerns

Naturally, many people may have concerns when consulting with a doctor because of a lack of trust and familiarity. Among the 1,015 people surveyed for the USA Rx study, 26% said that the biggest concern was whether they’d be able to ask follow-up questions from a doctor. Twenty-five percent said they were concerned about confidential information leaking, and 25% also said they were worried about getting inaccurate information from a doctor. Twenty-four percent of respondents overall said they were concerned about getting impersonal or generic responses to their questions.

The study also showed that Black and African American respondents were much more likely to have concerns like this when getting advice from a doctor – with 51% of those surveyed saying they were most worried about being able to ask follow-up questions and 49% having concerns about confidential information being leaked.

White and Caucasian respondents were the least likely to have concerns among the races and ethnicities surveyed, though the top concern among White and Caucasian (25%), Asian and Pacific Islander (35%), and Black and African American respondents was the concern about follow-up questions. Among Hispanic and Latino respondents, the top concern was the possibility of having confidential information leaked (33%). 

Face to face

Given the fact that so many respondents had specific concerns about consulting with a doctor, it’s entirely understandable that a majority preferred in-person visits over virtual ones. Broken down by generation, 73% of baby boomers noted this preference, 71% of Gen Zers said the same, and 60% of Gen X and millennial respondents agreed. Enthusiasm for virtual doctor visits was generally low across the board, with just 15% of baby boomers saying they preferred virtual and 12% of Gen Z respondents saying the same.

Broken down by race and ethnicity, the study showed that Hispanic and Latino respondents were most likely to prefer in-person visits (65%), while 63% of White and Caucasian respondents said the same, as did 62% of Black and African American respondents and 59% of Asian and Pacific Islander survey takers. 

Putting faith in professionals

Every patient a healthcare professional sees has a unique story and background. Aspiring healthcare professionals must consider the variety of patients they will see each day and how important it is to listen and respond with intent to ensure patients are receiving the best care. 

As healthcare becomes more aware of how personal bias affects care, health professionals must treat each patient with the utmost respect and attention, giving them a space where they feel comfortable discussing their concerns and asking questions. 

A job in healthcare can be challenging yet rewarding. As aspiring healthcare professionals learn and practice, their skills should sharpen, giving patients less reason for concern and better healthcare experiences overall. 

— Article by Sean Kelly, an analyst researching the latest industry trends for College Recruiter