A communications degree has the potential to open doors to an array of different health communications opportunities. There are a variety of ways in which this type of degree can be beneficial in the healthcare industry. These include:
- Media Relations
- Patient Relations
- Organizational Communication
- Community Education
- Crisis Management and Communication
Media Relations
A prime area in which an educational background in communications can be useful in the healthcare industry is in the realm of media relations. In the 21st century, hospitals and other healthcare enterprises have a need for a media relations professional to assist in “dealing with” the press. A person with a background in communications is well-suited to assisting a healthcare business of some sort in addressing media relations matters.
Patient Relations
Effective, affirmative patients relations is vital to a hospital or other provider in the healthcare arena. This includes ensuring that appropriate lines of communication with prospective, existing, and former patients are established. Because of the background of a person with a degree in communications, an individual with this experience is an ideal fit when it comes to the development, implementation, and management of a patients relations system within a healthcare enterprise.
Organizational Communication
Organizational communication involves the analysis of communication within the context of a business or other organization, according to the Houston Chronicle. A person with a communications education is invaluable in overseeing an evaluation of existing communication processes and in the development of more effective and efficient ones. This includes different organizations in the healthcare industry, including:
- hospitals and medical centers
- medical practices
- other healthcare businesses
A communication professional involved in an organization in the healthcare industry can provide invaluable assistance that works to improve overall operations and enhance the morale and effectiveness of the staff.
Community Education
A healthcare enterprise can enhance its stature in the community through different types of educational and enrichment. A person with an education in communications can prove to be invaluable when it comes to community education programming. This includes the development, implementation, and even presentation of community education and enrichment programs.
Crisis Management and Communication
Finally, a person with a communications degree can be a valuable player in the healthcare industry in the realm of crisis management and crisis communication. Indeed, an individual with this background is likely to be the leader of a crisis management team. Crisis management and communication is the process and procedures through which an organization in the healthcare industry responds to a negative situation, according to Forbes magazine.
The stark reality is that the healthcare industry is one fraught with the potential for challenging issues with the potential for negative publicity. Effective crisis management and communication limit the extent of negative fallout associated with some sort of crisis situation.
The healthcare industry is a major segment of the U.S. economy, indeed of the global economy. That will not change any time soon. The different health communications opportunities will continue to make a communications degree a beneficial resource for a person seeking employment in the healthcare industry.