Overview

Examples of current employment opportunities in the U.S. health care workforce range from more traditional providers, such as physicians and dentists, to alternative or specialty providers, such as radiation therapists and chiropractors. Workforce in the U.S. health care system can be described as strong among the specialties and slightly weak among physicians and nurse practitioners.

Since much of the baby-boomer population is approaching becoming part of the older and elderly populations, many physicians and nurse practitioners are considering retirement. If most of these workers are to retire, our country will endure a major physician shortage. Prior to the idea of baby-boomers retiring, less students than usual were admitted into medical schools due to the surplus of physicians across the country. However, now that the need for such students is quickly increasing, many schools are beginning to open their doors to more students in an attempt to cushion the blow of the number of physicians that will retire simultaneously.

With the concern of having a major physician shortage in the near future, health care administrators are doing their best to encourage more enrollment into physician studies rather than into specialty studies. In doing so, the U.S. is reaching out to neighboring countries for prospective students. Other countries, such as Canada, are doing the same because they are experiencing a similar dilemma. The current administration in the U.S. is also concerned about the objectives of the next generation of providers. The next generation of providers have the intention to uphold normal business hours, but not as many of the long, on-call hours that current providers uphold. The reasoning for this is so that they may spend less time away from their families.

Needless to say, workforce is a very important topic because inpatient and outpatient care would not be available without providers of care. Some people may deem workforce less important than other topics because some believe the structure and environment are more influential on the overall outcome of health care. Without providers there would be limited services, and therefore limited health care. With the help of reform in the workforce system, we may be able to make quality adjustments while taking in consideration issues pertaining to health care costs and access.

References:

Busing, N. Managing physician shortages: We are not doing enough. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2007; 176: 1057.

Girion, L. Needs of patients outpace doctors. [Los Angeles Times Business]. June 4, 2006. Available at: http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jun/04/business/fi-doctors4. Accessed February 12, 2009.

Shi,L., Singh, D. Delivering health care in America: A systems approach. 4th Edition. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers; 2008: 128-136, 139-140.

WordNet 3.0 © Princeton University 2006. http://wordnet.princeton.edu/