How libraries can support the growing interest in public health degrees

By Nevena Zorova, Senior Product Marketing Manager

In an era marked by unprecedented changes in healthcare, technology and work dynamics, the demand for qualified professionals in public health is reaching new heights. As the landscape of health services evolves, integrated care systems and technological advancements are reshaping the way healthcare is accessed and delivered.

Further, we can expect the rate of change to continue. For example, the World Health Organization says it is “is harnessing the power of digital technologies and health innovation to accelerate global attainment of health and the well-being.”

Universities and colleges interested in building their social impact have an opportunity to embrace this transformative environment, evolving education and training and helping to build the pipeline of public health professionals.

The changing face of healthcare

As technological progress is transforming healthcare, enabling remote monitoring and consultations via phone and video calls, workforce dynamics continue to shift due to an aging population and a four-generational workforce.

“As the general population ages their need for medical care increases, but as aging doctors, nurses, and health care workers retire or leave the workforce, they are not being sufficiently replaced by new ones,” writes Karen Schlecter in Medical Economics. “This results in an increased demand for care but not enough care providers to support it.”

Indeed, the American Association of Medical Colleges projects a national physician shortfall of at least 37,000 over the next decade, while the World Health Organization projects a need for six million more nurses by 2030 to meet the higher standards of healthcare post-pandemic.

The important role of library collections

Academic libraries play a pivotal role in supporting the education and research needs of institutions challenged to turn out healthcare professionals who competent and confident in the evolving world of public health. Collections must shift to align with the changing dynamics of healthcare, technology and work, providing students and faculty with the tools necessary to stay abreast of industry trends.

As technology continues to reshape job demands, libraries can support career success by providing access to resources that cover digital skills and technological advancements in healthcare alongside traditional materials on healthcare management. These can include materials on artificial intelligence, remote healthcare technologies, and the ethical considerations surrounding the use of technology in healthcare settings.

Curated collections short-cut the acquisition process

Researching, selecting and acquiring collections that meet emerging needs can be a challenge for time- and budget-stretched librarians. ProQuest^™, part of Clarivate^™, is helping address that challenge by curating a rich collection of public health resources designed specifically to support research, teaching and learning. For example, the new Public Health Ebook Central title-by-title collection features a wealth of titles hand-selected by librarians to meet the needs of academic libraries of all types. Librarians can customize for their institution’s needs and budget and pick and choose from 500 librarian-curated titles on key healthcare and public health topics, including A History of Public Health: from Past to Present (Jones & Bartlett); Women and Global Health Leadership: Power and Transformation (Springer Verlag); Modern Epidemiology (Wolters Kluwer); Environmental Biodynamics: A New Science of How the Environment Interacts with Human Health (Oxford University Press) and more from renowned academic publishers and university presses.

ProQuest also produces the Public Health Database, which delivers core public health literature from thousands of publications, including journals, dissertations, videos, news, trade publications and reports on topics such as biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health services administration, international public health, maternal and child health, and occupational safety and health.

These resources enable libraries to contribute to the development of a workforce that is well-equipped to address current challenges and is prepared for future transformations in the health sector. Explore the Public Heath Database here. To browse the Public Health Ebook Central collection, simply log on to LibCentral, OASIS or Rialto and search under the Curated Topics section.

The ProQuest team is also on hand to help you maximize your library’s budget with 15% off select public health ebook titles for a limited time. Learn about the publishers and example titles plus request the title list.