It's the start of a new year, and everyone is looking forward and setting goals for 2017. For nurses, there are not only personal and professional goals to consider, but overall industry trends than can impact your year. Here are a few of the healthcare trends that will likely impact nursing in 2017.
The Affordable Care Act
The healthcare industry has spent the last five years adjusting to the changes the Affordable Care Act brought with it, but the legislation's future is unclear with a new administration stepping in on January 20.
When the ACA was enacted, the flood of newly insured patients caused some issues for medical facilities, and also led to an increase in the already spiking need for nurses. Whatever happens to the ACA, it will certainly impact nurses, and everyone else working in the medical field, so it will be important to keep an eye on this legislation.
New Technology
So your facility is now working with an electronic health records system (EHR). That's a big step forward as far as technology and healthcare are concerned, but it absolutely won't the last step taken to bring patient care further into the 21st century.
From advances in the EHR systems, to personal health trackers, to the Internet of Things, changes in technology will continue to impact healthcare in 2017, and as a result, your jobs as nurses. It will be in your best interest to increase your familiarity with up-and-coming technologies and various EHR systems to stay ahead of the game.
Nutrition as Part of Overall Health
As more and more people look to nutrition as a way to maintain or achieve overall health, they will also look to their trusted medical professionals to help them out in that area. Of course nutrition advice isn't going to take the place of actual medical treatment, but patients are looking for their healthcare resources—doctors and nurses included—to focus on their overall health and wellness, and that will impact the way we think about the whole patient care experience.
Now it's only January, so we'll be watching these trends grow and change throughout the year, but when it comes to your own professional growth, there's action you can take right now. Click below to learn more.