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An increasingly sophisticated and complex health care system has created a clear demand for specialty trained allied health personnel whose training is distinct from that of medical and nursing professionals.
The health care industry's focus on the nursing shortage has overshadowed a growing and significant shortage of allied health workers. Such workers provide the bulk of diagnostic, therapeutic, and direct care in hospitals, nursing homes, and in the home. An aging population and the pending retirement of current allied workers will create a greater demand for increasing numbers of certified allied health workers. As technical fields continue to grow and specialize in new technology such as imaging, clinical labs have created the need for new technicians. As Baby Boomers age, they will need not only health care but also assistance in daily living skills to maintain optimal activity and independence—all services provided by non-physician clinicians such as occupational therapists.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest labor force projections from 2004 to 2014 predict that health care and social assistance is projected to be one of the fastest growing industries within the services division, increasing by 4.3 million employees. Health care support occupations are also expected to grow by about 33 percent from 2004 to 2014, or by nearly 1.2 million jobs. Among the 20 occupations projected to grow the fastest from 2004 to 2014, 14 of them are health care related including Clinical Laboratory Scientists and Occupational Therapists.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 167,000 practicing clinical laboratory technologists in 2006. The Bureau projects a need for 21,000 more by 2016. However, in 2005 only 2,079 people graduated from accredited programs, resulting in a shortage that can impact patient care through delays, errors associated with heavier workloads, and increased costs.
So, the opportunity is great, and it is an exciting time to enter the allied health workforce. A recent report by the White House Council of Economic Advisors, “Preparing the Workers of Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow,” states that the growth in health care occupations does not take into account comprehensive health care reform. “Health care reform is expected to slow the growth rate of health spending as efficiency is improved. However, even with a slower growth rate of spending, the expected expansion of health coverage could lead to increased demand for workers…to cover the newly insured population.” Health care reform will impact the allied health workforce, but the benefit may be new practice models that endorse allied health practitioners based on efficiency and cost, and a plan that addresses the work-force shortage by providing scholarships, grants and loan repayment assistance, and provisions for training and retention of health care workers.