the public health workforce is found in both population-based and
The most frequent employment sites for health care workers are typically hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health organizations, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Hospitals are the largest employers of healthcare workers in the U.S., accounting for approximately 24 million jobs in 2020 according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These medical centers offer a wide variety of jobs including clinical roles such as doctors, nurses and other medical professionals; administrative roles such as hospital administrators and clinic managers; and support services such as housekeeping and food service staff.
Outpatient clinics provide primary care services on an ambulatory basis for patients who may not require hospitalization or full-time care. These clinics often employ physicians, nurses and other clinical staff such as physicians assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs) or certified nurse midwives (CNMs). Administrative roles within these types of organizations may include receptionists or clerks responsible for scheduling appointments or managing patient records.
Home health organizations offer skilled nursing care in clients’ homes on a part-time basis rather than long-term residential options like nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The role of a home health worker is highly specialized, with particular emphasis placed on providing safe patient transfer out of beds or wheelchairs, monitoring vital signs and administering medications when needed. Home health aides must demonstrate compassion while also being competent at their tasks in order to maintain safety standards throughout each visit.
Nursing homes provide long term custodial care to elderly residents who require more daily assistance than they can receive at home but do not need acute medical treatment provided by hospitals nor the same degree of independence offered by assisted living facilities. Nursing home personnel comprise both direct caregivers—such as registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs)—as well as administrative staff that manage all aspects related to facility operations from admissions to finances.
Assisted living facilities cater towards elders requiring daily assistance with activities that range from basic needs like meals and bathing to medication management plus social activities in a structured yet independent environment that is less strict than a traditional nursing home setting would be. Assisted living employees vary according to specific facility types but generally run the gamut from direct caregivers—like CNAs—to therapists responsible for rehabilitative treatments plus recreational personnel responsible for planning engaging activities outside everyday routines which promote overall mental wellbeing amongst residents.