The shortage of healthcare workers that has long been predicted in the United States has already begun to be felt in some large metropolitan areas. In Las Vegas, for instance, it can take up to a year for a concerned parent to see a neurologist who specializes in cases involving children on the autism spectrum. In Detroit, it can take weeks or months just to see a primary care physician for a routine checkup. It’s not limited to the population centers hit hardest by the economic downturn of 2007-09, either. The Association of American Medical Colleges says there was a shortage of about 13,000 doctors in the U.S. as of mid-2012, and that shortfall is expected to grow to 130,000 within a dozen years.

It would seem, then, that the job market for healthcare workers would be – for lack of a better term – extremely healthy. However, that’s not exactly the case.

Rising Costs, Decreasing Reimbursements

Here’s a news flash: It costs a lot to go through medical school. Time was, a doctor could go through pre-med, med school, an internship, a residency, a fellowship, and any other kind of specialized training he or she needed to become proficient in a chosen field of medicine, then sit back and wait for the big money offers to come rolling in. Or, the new physician could start his or her own practice and try to make a go of it. Now, with the advent of the Affordable Care Act, there has been a seismic shift for doctors – and, to a lesser extent, physician assistants and nurses – toward working as direct employees of hospitals. It simply is more cost-effective for the individual that way. It comes down to spending power, and very few individuals have the means to spend what needs to be spent on a practice in the early 21st century.

Not only does it cost a lot to go to med school, it costs a lot to operate a practice. Insurance, rent, equipment, staff, continuing medical education… it all adds up. Meanwhile, as costs have risen, Medicare reimbursements are threatened with diminishment year after year. If the federal government chooses to reimburse doctors less money for treatment, it either comes out of the patient’s pocket or the doctor simply has to take the financial hit. Chances are, the patient will choose not to have a particular procedure rather than pay more than he or she might have in the past. What it boils down to for doctors and other healthcare practitioners is that what once was sure-fire lucrative career might not be all that it was cracked up to be.

The American Medical Association’s Take

The American Medical Association (AMA) is well aware of the shift from private or group practices to hospital employment for its member physicians. There was a 32 percent shift of doctors onto hospital payrolls from 2000 to 2010, and federal policies that encourage physicians and hospitals to join forces will only accelerate the shift.

Late in 2012, the AMA issued guidelines that attempted to protect the professional autonomy of doctors. In essence, the AMA insists that all treatment and referral decisions be made based on the best interests of patients, rather than for monetary reasons. Making decisions based on financial considerations, rather than independent diagnosis and opinion, undermines the public trust in the medical profession, the AMA says. That said, the AMA does understand that doctors and other healthcare providers are being squeezed financially.

What it comes down to, ultimately, is whether the financial cost of medical school, coupled with rising costs and decreasing reimbursements for practitioners, is enough to discourage someone who feels compelled to serve his or her fellow human beings as a healer. If someone is called to medical practice, not because of money but because of compassion, then a healthcare job is certainly still worth it.

John Soland is an experienced writer who has contributed to a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to business.

John Soland is an experienced writer who has contributed to a number of notable publications. In his many works, Mr. Soland offers advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including business. http://www.topworkplaces.com/frontend.php/regional-list/company/tampabay/laser-spine-institute

Author Bio: John Soland is an experienced writer who has contributed to a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Soland is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to business.

Category: Medical Business
Keywords: medical business