Health Professions Study

PAE units are uniquely able to take advantage of the opportunities and sidestep the challenges created by profound shifts in the marketplace. Health care reform has changed the way that health systems provide care and how patients consume care. Evolving expectations change hospitals’ staffing demands, increasing the need for (allied) health professionals. PAE units are able to capitalize on this growth by expanding existing health profession programs or investing in new ones.

Creative disruption is a way of thinking that emphasizes the growth opportunities unlocked for those organizations that identify them early, and act accordingly. The market agility and focus on working professionals of PAE units, position them to capitalize on the structural changes resulting from health care reforms. As health professions are some of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, your program portfolio should tap into student and labor market demand.

The PAE Forum identified the Health Professions Growth Portfolio of long-term opportunities to explore: Health Informatics, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. Explore these specific sections or download the study as a whole.

The growth portfolio: Health informatics

Health informatics is both an interdisciplinary skill set and a profession. As a skill set, it appeals to clinicians, IT staff, and administrators who lead colleagues in technology use.As a profession, it attracts health IT workers interested in careers in information strategy and implementation.

Employers are demanding new skills from health informaticists: to design user interfaces, improve interoperability, and analyze data.

As expectations expand and more programs enter the market, new accreditation standards and professional certifications seek to establish a baseline curriculum for programs and standard competencies for practitioners.

The growth portfolio: Mental health counseling

As a result of legislative and other demand drivers, EAB research indicates demand for mental health counselors is at the beginning of a long-term growth curve.

While legislation creates access to care, the need for mental health support is growing nationwide, particularly among veterans, first responders, and college students.

As a result, PAE units considering the mental health market have two program options: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the Master of Social Work.

The growth portfolio: Therapy professions

Physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) are the “blue chips”—programs that are expensive to start, but with a strong probability of high ROI. These two programs are distinct, yet have similar demand drivers and exacting accreditation standards.

PT and OT programs have seen substantial growth in the last few years, but these programs require considerable upfront investment to launch.

For accreditation, programs require specialized laboratory space, sizeable faculty recruitment, andplentiful clinical placements.