Every healthcare professional desires to advance their career to new heights. Not only does this goal bring benefits for the healthcare professional himself, but also every patient under his care. The medical industry is changing rapidly, with scientists and researchers always discovering more effective ways of treating and helping people. As the industry evolves and improves, so must its workers.

Fortunately, there are many ways for a healthcare professional to continue growing in their area of expertise. Apart from holding the right qualification for your chosen medical field, you must know that employers are looking for specific soft skills in the professionals they hire. The value you can provide to your employer does not only depend on your qualification but also on your soft skills to a large extent. Your soft skills affect your ability to handle challenging situations and how you interact with your patients, colleagues, and seniors. These skills can often influence your job performance and career progression more than technical skills.

So, what are the top skills you need to excel as a healthcare professional? Let’s find out:

1. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Regardless of the career option you choose in the healthcare industry, you will be interacting with fellow doctors, patients, and other healthcare professionals as part of your job. Did you know? Fostering positive relationships with colleagues you interact with helps you perform your job role effectively and keep the organization running smoothly. The ability to get along well with others helps you at every step of your career, whether you are just starting or are in a leadership position at your organization.

• KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDUSTRY

With time, the healthcare industry is becoming increasingly competitive. If you wish to excel, you must make sure that you continuously update your knowledge in your chosen field of interest. To start with, you must obtain the right qualification. For most senior-level roles, you will require a bachelor’s degree as a minimum requirement to be eligible to apply. In contrast, a master’s degree can help you stand out from other applicants.

When choosing the right master’s degree program, many professionals find it challenging to decide whether an MPH vs MHA will be a suitable option for them. Suppose if you wish to work in research, disease prevention, health promotion, and education. In that case, an MPH is a better option as it involves studying health issues and policy and research methodologies. On the other hand, if you are interested in leadership and organizational management in healthcare organizations, an MHA is a suitable choice.

• COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Communication skills are essential in any industry but even more so if you work in healthcare. As a healthcare professional, you are responsible for explaining to patients their medical condition, its impact on their lives, and what their treatment will involve. You must communicate this information openly yet sensitively while avoiding any complicated medical jargon.

Good communication skills also help you interact with your colleagues better. Healthcare workers must work as a team to provide excellent care to patients. You must be able to work with experts from different fields and any juniors with limited medical training.

• CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING

Given the physically and mentally challenging situations they work in, healthcare professionals need excellent problem-solving skills. In this industry, the list of things to do is always long, while time and resources are limited. Critical thinking involves taking into account the information, evidence, and experience you have on hand to find the most effective solutions in each situation. Individuals who are not afraid to take on new challenges and find unique ways to conquer them often make great leaders in the healthcare industry.

• TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Healthcare professionals must learn to manage their time effectively if they wish to succeed in their careers. While working in this field, you will often find yourself working beyond your capacity. In such a situation, you must find ways to use your time most productively every single day. One way to do it is to prioritize your work and use personal checklists and spreadsheets to know what must require priority preferences. You must also take time to understand your organization’s available resources and find solutions together as a team to make the best use of them.

• IT KNOWLEDGE:

Technology is taking over every industry, and healthcare is no exception. It is essential for healthcare professionals of today to possess IT knowledge. Today, most healthcare facilities and hospitals have electronic medical records to store information about each patient to secure and easily accessible whenever needed. Being proficient in these EMR systems is a requirement for most healthcare roles. Moreover, suppose you plan to work in medical billing and coding. In that case, you need to be familiar with the coding software used by your employer.

• ATTENTION TO DETAIL

The healthcare industry relies heavily on detail. Having an eye for detail helps medical professionals provide patient care and avoid costly medical mistakes. From early on in their career, professionals receive training to become active listeners. They must pay close attention to details about the patient and their medical condition and even lookout for any non-verbal cues to be given the best possible treatment. The same applies when interacting with colleagues and peers. Healthcare professionals must be fully present in each of their encounters and note any critical information to avoid any problems later on.

• COMPASSION

Professionals who enter the healthcare industry for job security or money often find it difficult to advance in the field. The people who thrive the most in the industry are genuinely passionate about serving others and helping them live better lives. Whether you directly provide care to patients or work in an administrative role, having compassion is a quality you must possess.

CONCLUSION

In the highly-competitive, rapidly-changing world of healthcare, it takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and commitment for any healthcare professional to excel in their career. However, it would help if you didn’t let this discourage you. As long as you are continually striving to improve your skills in the above areas, you will likely continue achieving your career goals.