As the previous sections have discussed, scholarly publishing is a popular choice within the health sciences. If you are interested in pursuing a career in the health sciences, then you have the option of specializing in medical publishing, pharmaceutical publishing, or health technology assessment.
While it is relatively early in the 21st century, the field of health information has changed significantly. The explosion of the internet and the widespread adoption of digital media have led to a paradigm shift in how we access and use health information. Thanks to the increased access to information, more people are becoming involved in their own healthcare. This, in turn, is prompting a change in how we practice medicine and train our future physicians. In short, there are a lot of opportunities in the health sciences for someone with a niche area of interest.
The Changing Landscape of Health Information
The field of health information has changed dramatically since the inception of modern day digital media. Back in the 1800s, most people received their health information from healthcare professionals (e.g., doctors, pharmacists, and other health science professionals). For the most part, these professionals would gather the patient’s medical history and examine the patient to diagnose current illnesses and/or prescribe treatment regimens. In some cases, patients would travel to a healthcare facility (e.g., a hospital) to receive healthcare services, and during this time, the healthcare provider would document the patient’s medical information and observations. In modern day terms, this would be equivalent to a visit to the primary care physician followed by a referral to a specialist for further evaluation and treatment.
Back then, a lot of the information would be handwritten by the doctor, and since there were no digital media available, this information would then be transferred to a loose-leaf notebook for the doctor to consult at his/her leisure. These days, with the exception of some indigenous populations, nearly everyone obtains their health information online. And, as previously mentioned, the internet has made that information easily accessible and highly portable. Furthermore, many healthcare providers prefer to use electronic health records instead of handwritten journals to store their notes and observations about a patient, and the ease of entry and searchability make it much easier for the healthcare provider to find the information they need when they need it. This applies regardless of whether the notes are stored locally on an individual’s computer or remotely on a shared network drive.
The Growth of Online Networks
While the internet has been around for more than two decades, it has only been in the last few years that the world wide web has become a dominant force in the field of health information. Thanks to social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, patients now have the ability to connect with healthcare professionals and other patients who are also dealing with the same issue. This connection can take the form of a simple question, “How do I cure my insomnia?” to receiving a direct response from a sleep specialist regarding the best way to treat one’s insomnia.
Thanks to the web, patients have the ability to find the information they need quickly and easily, and since the information can be accessed from anywhere, they don’t necessarily need to be at a healthcare facility to receive the care they need. This is one of the main reasons why healthcare providers are shifting towards online healthcare platforms.
Open Access Publishing
Thanks to the rise of the open access movement, all healthcare professionals and health students have the ability to access and read the scholarly articles published in reputable medical journals. This openness fosters transparency within the healthcare industry and allows the reader to judge the quality of the work independently.
When an article is published openly in a reputable journal, the author(s) are typically required to make the article freely available to the public. This could mean that the article is published in a traditional, subscription-based journal and made available for everyone (i.e., non-subscribers) or it could mean that the article is published in a hybrid model, where paid subscribers gain access to the full text of the article while non-subscribers are provided with limited access. In both cases, anyone with an internet connection has full access to the published work and can download a copy of the article for personal or educational use.
Niche Specialties Within The Health Sciences
As stated above, there are many opportunities in the health sciences for someone with a niche area of interest. However, it is important to note that these are primarily entry-level jobs that pay poorly. For the most part, people end up in niche specialties because there is little opportunity for advancement. If you have a specific area of interest within the health sciences, then you should probably consider becoming a general practitioner or an affiliated doctor with a large group practice. While it is unlikely you will achieve any significant wealth from a career in the health sciences, at least you will be able to put food on the table.