The term “freelancer” comes from the Medieval period when mercenary knights sold their lances to the highest bidder.
Isn’t history interesting? But our topic today doesn’t have anything to do with the past.
With remote work becoming the norm, healthcare is tapping into this resource.
In 2023, expect the gig economy to add to its current 5.7% share of our GDP. In a big way!
Along those lines, let me reveal additions to this growing trend.
How Freelancers Can Create Alternative Healthcare Options
Questions around medical freedom and patient choice were widespread this year.
Not only in healthcare circles, but also on social media and inside individual homes. This should be a wakeup call to the industry.
For more entrepreneurial providers, freelance healthcare presents an opportunity.
Reasons professionals are providing their expertise this way:
- 40% of medical groups lost doctors in 2022 due to burnout
- In an MGMA study, 58% of medical practices stated staffing was their greatest concern in 2023
If you know a hospital leader personally, these statistics won’t be breaking news to you. Because staffing issues have probably come up during one of your conversations.
Where do healthcare freelancers fit in?
They fill in much needed gaps, so their value proposition should be leveraged during interviews. And because our society is more familiar with the process of freelancing, the age of the solopreneur is now a reality.
Low startup costs and productivity software further allows this transition to be a smoother one for new entrepreneurs.
Next, we’ll look at top positions and how demand might shift in the future.
Most in Demand Positions
Private practices are hiring these individuals because hospitals and medical systems can offer better new hire incentives. Adding to this conundrum is the fact that reimbursement is down and inflation is up.
Various roles are being sought, but I want to direct your attention to the 3 most requested.
In-demand roles:
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Projected job growth of 45%
- Median salary $100k+
- Still able to work part-time at a physical location
- Role takes advantage of the telehealth option
Physician’s Assistant (PA)
- 31% projected job growth
- $115k salary
- Critical in rural and underserved communities
- Telehealth is an option for the role
Medical transcriptionist
- Salary up to $51k
- Popular with a continued shift to EHR
Loads of patients are turning to smaller practices, attracted by the additional time an MD spends with them. Healthcare’s response to COVID here in the States is also a variable in this shift.
As more of these professionals realize the leverage they have, pay could also potentially increase as demand grows.
Elijah Wordsmith and Freelance Healthcare
To summarize, there are three main benefits to the U.S. healthcare system:
- Cost effective for medical businesses
- Fills much needed staffing slots
- Gives patients more choices
Get noticed online by those hiring freelancers through the power of healthcare content writing.
HIPAA and medical terminology are two areas we both have experience with. Patient privacy is always considered when crafting online messaging.
Elijah Wordsmith content writing “verbalizes” the more individualized care prospective patients receive from your remote expertise. That’s done through a dedicated blog and webpage copy.
Let’s discuss your main content marketing goal and get your freelance services to stand out online!