Worried about the impact of the pandemic on your career? Or don’t know how to reset your professional life this New Year? Well, your concerns are valid; after all, amidst the frequent outbreaks caused by new SARS-CoV-19 variants, planning new things can be difficult. So through this article, we give you a list of very plausible career goals, which you can achieve in 2022. Read on to know what those can be.

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We carefully treaded through 2021 and perhaps celebrated the end of the year more than cheering for the new one. But given the current waves of Omicron and COVID-19 in our country, the beginning of 2022 already feels like a disappointment.

As for you and other healthcare professionals, doctor, it seems the work has gotten more demanding than ever and the scope of growth, bleaker. To add to it, your future plans continue to go on hold year after year. But no more of that, we want this year to be different for you!

We have done some thinking and would suggest the below-given ideas to implement in 2022. Perhaps you can look at them as career goals for a more fulfilling year, professionally. So let’s get started:

Implement digitisation

In the last two years, many doctors turned to virtual consultations to attend to their patients. This especially worked well for patients with progressive illnesses and COVID-19 as they could reach out to their specialists or family physicians. However, there is a lot more we intend for you when we speak of digitisation. We recommend considering the following steps whether you have gone partly digital or not at all, yet:

1. Invest in a suite of software or applications:

There are products that help you record, store and synergise information across all your digital devices. So any of your devices, which have the program installed, will give you access to any document that may be at your clinic. Of course, for this you will need to scan all physical documents and digitally store them using the program.

These programs also offer templates for creating prescriptions, invoices, etc. You can also add your digital signature to any document that you generate for your patients. Ensure you have license to use the program across at least two or three devices, so you can have one linked to your device and another to the device meant for use at your clinic. With these in place, you will be geared to work from any location, where you can access your device and have connectivity.

2. Get props for virtual consultations:

Virtual consultations are new for you and your patients, too. But to be able to see your face during a consultation may make them more comfortable and with free video calling, it is also easy these days. However, with a few simple props, you can create a desk fully equipped to support your long work hours.

We suggest keeping your desk against a wall or curtains for a neutral and non-distracting backdrop. Also, buy a tripod, a pair of noise-cancelling earphones, and a stand to hold the device through which you will be recording/feeding in patient information (for example a stand for your tablet). Ensure you have the same props at your clinic for ease of use.

3. Set up contactless payment methods:

Register for any of the e-money transfer modes such as UPI and other wallets. It is better to have at least two of the most commonly used payment modes, so your patients find it easy to instantly transfer your fee.

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Opt for virtual learning

The need for virtual learning has extended to all sorts of courses, across beginner, intermediate and fellowship levels. Many universities are now well equipped to conduct classes online for a variety of subjects. If you have never considered it before, have a look at some of the online courses given below and you may want to change your mind:

1. Fellowship programs in Gastroenterology and Pulmonology
2. Certifications for courses on Pulmonology, Infectious Diseases, and Diabetes care
3. Professional grade certificate program on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare by the Stanford School of Medicine
4. Executive program on the Principles of Medical Education to Maximise Your Teaching Skills by the Harvard Medical School
5. Online study portals such as Coursera also offer courses on other aspects of your field, such as medical writing, research, microbiology, medical statistics and others.

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Monetise your skills

The work-from-home culture has proven to be a boon for many healthcare professionals especially, those who were engaged in secondary occupations such as teaching. If you have been a regular on our site, you would know the huge number of webinars we conducted with many of India’s much sought-after specialists. The pandemic gave us the opportunity to bank upon their chance availability and host webinars with them for our patrons.

You too can consider doing a lot with your knowledge and skills. Say you have a knack of writing or are a good teacher, perhaps you can partner with a company or an academic institute and offer your time to write for them or mentor a batch of students of medicine, or partner with a colleague who is presenting at a webinar; the list is endless.

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Join groups for networking

If you think implementing the above-mentioned suggestion is difficult for you as you do not know who to reach out for such opportunities, you must first spend time networking. Find those mails you keep getting from different medical forums or association of doctors, connect with them to participate in their next program. Look up social media platforms like LinkedIn, where professionals follow each other for networking and knowledge exchange. Update your information and interests on job search and networking sites. Over time you will find opportunities suited to your skills.

Networking also helps in expanding your knowledge on aspects that are not directly related to your field of work. For example, the medico-legal field, the use of technology in medicine, auxiliary services such as palliative care, code of ethics, etc. In fact, be open to absorbing any kind of information that can help your patients.

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Plan for additional services offered at your clinic

Big and small hospitals have had to make changes to meet Covid-specific patient needs or generic sanitisation needs in the pandemic months. So why not make changes to your clinic, too? Let’s start with sanitisation needs. You may consider installing a sanitiser bottle holder at the clinic entrance, a shoe cover dispenser for patients who will be walking inside your clinic, and proper acrylic or clear plastic dividers covering the reception area.

Plan to expand your clinic in 2022 by making space for a physiotherapy or a rehab centre, or providing diet and nutrition consultations, or adding a kitchenette for basic requirements, if possible. The availability of in-house care and services may make it easy for your patients to make decisions about signing up for treatments or not delaying a surgery any further.

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Learn to make and manage your investments

As a medical professional, the process of learning almost never stops for you. However, aside from learning more about your own field or other interests, we highly recommend learning about finance management. It is important to know rules and policies applicable to your income and to know how to earn through investments.

You can do this by participating in webinars, taking up courses that teach you money management, or simply meeting up with a financial advisor. For 2022, consider financial goals like investing your money in new and diverse avenues, learning about new-age money-making instruments, and acquiring new assets.

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Volunteer to serve in remote areas

Once the idea of ‘workations’ (work and vacation combined) got popular, many doctors who could work from remote locations, opted to go to places far from their city. This not only allowed them to work in a different environment, but also offered them a change of scene and pace. All they needed was their mobile device, cellular network with internet connectivity, and their prescription pad.

If you are someone who hasn’t tried a workation yet, we highly recommend it. If you are not hung up on a touristy setting or staying digitally connected, we suggest opting for a vacation in a remote location or a small town of your choice. Once you are ready to resume work, instead of returning home or figuring out a digital set-up for virtual consultations, we suggest volunteering at a local clinic or municipal hospital as regularly as you like. Not only do these smaller clinics and patients highly value your services and inputs, but also offer you a satisfying work experience.

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We hope you like our ideas and suggestions for this year; let us know in the comments section what do you think of them. Write to us your own ideas and career resolutions for this year or share your experience after implementing any of the above.