The COVID-19 virus pandemic changed everything. So much so, that after the different waves that the country has experienced, according to some studies there are medical specialties that will be more in demand after the virus is controlled.
ABOUT THE STUDY:
Merritt hawkins reviewed more than 3,000 physician-recruiter and employer-recruiter interactions. However, the review had some limitations. For example, the report covers physician-recruiter and employer-recruiter interactions between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020, and touches only the beginning of the pandemic.
Still, Merritt Hawkins says the world’s most sought-after medical health specialties after COVID-19 will be:
- Family Medicine
- Nurse practitioner
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
- Internal Medicine
Family doctor, one of the most requested medical specialties for the fourteenth consecutive year
This year’s report indicates that the family doctor was the most requested specialty for the fourteenth consecutive year. Which highlights the demand for primary care. They add that the shift to telehealth, driven by COVID-19, will likely affect compensation structures for primary care physicians.
Increased demand for medical specialties
On the other hand, Perritt Hawkins reports that 78% of their search engagements were to specialists. You would have to compare that with 67% 5 years ago. Driving demand are some pre-COVID-19 trends, including an aging population in need of care for organs, skeletal system and mental health.
However, the pandemic will increase the demand for specialists, the report says.
“Demand for physicians at the forefront of virus care, including ER physicians, pulmonologists / critical care physicians, and infectious disease specialists, is projected to increase as a result of COVID-19,” the report reads.
More hospitalists and infectious disease specialists will also be needed
Merritt Hawkins anticipates that the healthcare system will also need more hospitalists, specialists in infectious diseases. As well as emergency medicine physicians and pulmonary / critical care specialists.
He noted that “they will be necessary to maintain the health of the population in case COVID-19 cases persist and prepare for the next pandemic or public health emergency.
Why more infectious disease specialists?
Perhaps there was a picturesque moment when some thought that medical advances had diminished the demand for infectious disease specialists. But the pervasive and deadly nature of COVID-19 makes that thought moot. Even before the coronavirus, we saw outbreaks of HIV and Ebola, as well as an increase in cases of hepatitis C and tuberculosis. We also have more immunosuppressed patients, including cancer and transplant patients, who are susceptible to infectious diseases.
Finally, during the pandemic there were NOT enough psychiatrists to meet the mental health demands. So with the sharp rise in depression and stress around the world, we will likely need more psychiatrists to tackle the problem.
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