With the passing of the new health legislation, the left is cheering and the right is protesting: some things never change. What is about to change is the American healthcare industry. And what does that mean for the current worker? The student? The prospective medical professional?

It could mean any and all things. Let’s consider some facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• In 2008, healthcare provided over 14.3 million jobs—one of the largest, national industries.
• Half of the 20 fastest growing occupations are healthcare related.
• Between 2008 and 2018, the healthcare industry will generate 3.2 million new jobs—more than any other sector.

The bill’s most obvious (and significant) impact is that more people will be insured. More people insured means more individuals seeking medical attention. Although implementation is four years away, that is little time for such an expansive, vital industry to adapt. Remember, many medical professions require years of post-graduate training.

Bottom line: the medical world awaits greater demand and it presently lacks the personnel to accommodate such demand. This translates to greater need for medical professionals on every level: doctors, nurses, medical assistants and technicians.

The Primary Care Shortage

Primary Care Physicians will be among the first to deal with increased patient demand. No matter what ails them, patients must see a primary care physician prior to seeing a specialist. Primary care physicians not only diagnose common maladies (flu, colds, high blood pressure etc), but they also monitor patients’ overall wellness, prescribe medications etc. Over the past few decades, fewer doctors have entered primary care as many opt to specialize in order to receive higher pay and glory. This, in all fairness, seems natural considering the years of time, money and energy spent on graduate and post-graduate education.

The importance of primary care, though, cannot be understated. Without sufficient doctors to see patients on a regular basis or in the case of mild emergency, many patients flock to the emergency room. In the absence of primary care, this will continue to happen despite the costs involved both for the individual and the hospital; this domino effect further crowds already burgeoning ER rooms.

Doctor Doesn’t Only Know Best

M.D.s and D.O.’s are not the only professionals qualified to provide primary care. Nurse Practitioners and Physician’s Assistants can also see patients. Often requiring less time and money than Medical school, a Nurse Practitioner or P.A. program is both practical and rewarding.

Such a career is also highly stable considering that:

• Nurse practitioners make between $76,482 to $90,148 per year (average $83,293). With the predicted increase in demand, compensation may similarly increase.
• Physician’s Assistants can expect similar pay (average of $80,000 yearly). Between 2008 and 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 43.7% increase in demand for P.A.’s
• The BLS predicts a 23.4% increase in nursing jobs over the next 10 years.
• Unlike surgeons or hospital nurses, P.A’s and Nurse Practitioners can expect to work normal hours; that is, they aren’t required to be “on-call” as Doctors are.

To become a Nurse Practitioner:

1. Earn an undergraduate nursing degree which allows you to become a registered nurse.
2. Earn a Master’s degree in nursing with a specialty in family care, women’s health, children’s health or acute care.
3. Take the NCLEX-RN board exam to gain your nursing License.
4. Apply for Certification to begin practicing through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners or the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

To become a Physician’s Assistant:

1. PA’s often begin as medical technicians or assistants. PA programs smile upon general, medical experience.
2. Obtain an undergraduate health sciences degree or a related field. (Other classes required for admission include Anatomy/Physiology, Biology 101, Microbiology, Math, and English.)
3. Register/file paperwork with CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants) as most programs prefer you use their universal application. Some programs may require additional forms.
4. Upon graduation, pass the necessary boards/tests to gain full certification to gain employment.

As the parents of baby-boomers continue to age and the boomers opt for private home care, home-medical care expects major growth. Newly developed, in-home medical technologies along with patients’ preference for home care have also contributed to demand. A nursing background qualifies one to look after the elderly or handicapped in the patients’ home following a physician’s instructions. Under universal coverage, it is expected even more patients will opt for home care.

To get on this career track, consider bachelors, associates or diploma nursing degree program or a related field. Depending on the employer’s requirements or the private patient’s needs, a graduate nursing degree may be required.

That’s Not All Folks

Other growing areas in healthcare include: specialists, surgeons, EMT and paramedics as well as physical therapists and medical technicians. To check out the projected growth for a specific field, consult the table below from the Bureau Of Labor Statistics:

If you enjoy learning about science and medicine or enjoy helping others savor life, than you may want to consider a rewarding, reliable career in healthcare, an area that—according to experts—is growing, growing…and growing. Even if you’re unsure of what specific career most suits you, it’s always practical to get the ball rolling with a relevant undergraduate or supplementary health sciences, nursing or biology degree.

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