The demand for health care has seen little change in recent years. Even when faced with the worst economic downturn since the early 20^th century, the industry has continued to thrive. However, for those who may just be entering the health care industry or are looking for new opportunities, a little extra help never hurt – right?

That’s why it’s nice to keep up with online resources such as CareerBuilder.com to receive accurate career information relative to any career industry. 

Recently, CareerBuilder.com released a list of the fastest growing jobs in the health care industry. The list is based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and is a forecast of which health care careers will see the most growth in the next eight years. 

These aren’t small numbers we’re dealing with here. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that from 2008-2018, approximately 26 percent of all new jobs created in the U.S. economy will be in the health care and social assistance industry. It’s expected that upwards of four million jobs will be created in this time, the next closest service-oriented industry being professional, scientific and technical services with an expected 2.7 million jobs. 

Topping off the list of fastest growing jobs in health care are physician assistants with a predicted 41.3 percent increase from 2008-2018. Other top careers include medical secretaries, physicians/surgeons, registered nurses and counselors. 

Overall, health care careers have continued to yield a number of benefits. In addition to being well-paying jobs, hospitals and clinics are great environments in which to grow a career and seek leadership roles. The need for these positions is prevalent across Iowa, which gives many young people and families the option to choose where they want to live and work. From their community’s perspective, individuals in health care careers are especially beneficial to helping sustain the local economy. 

Click the link below to read the full article courtesy of MSN: 

Fastest Growing Jobs in Health Care

IHA’s latest economic impact report shows Iowa’s 118 hospitals are worth more than $6.1 billion dollars to the state’s economy.  It’s unusual to think of hospitals as economic powerhouses, but there is no denying their impact.  As the information below shows, hospitals are good for Iowa’s economic health: 

• In Iowa, hospitals now employ more than 74,000 people.  In most counties where there are hospitals, the hospital (or hospitals) are among the five largest employers – and often the number-one employer.  Even in major cities with multiple large employers, hospitals dominate.  In Des Moines, hospitals employ more people than Principal and Wellmark combined.  Hospitals in Davenport provide more jobs than even the gigantic John Deere plant.  In Council Bluffs, the Ameristar Casino is the city’s biggest single employer, but the combined workforces of the two local hospitals are much bigger. 
• These are not ordinary jobs.  Most hospital jobs require a college degree and/or specialized training and offer pay that is commensurate with that advanced education.  Because they each have a large workforce, hospitals are places where careers can be grown and leaders are created (and hospitals will typically assist employees who want to further their education).  This means hospitals are important weapons against Iowa’s persistent “brain drain,” because they are employers that attract young workers and families and help keep them in the community for the long-term. 
• Hospitals are more than the people they employ and the wages they pay as their economic impact ripples out into the community.  In Iowa, this multiplier effect creates thousands of jobs worth billions of dollars.  Hospitals buy products that support local businesses.  They support local charities and community programs with dollars, manpower and expertise that few other organizations can muster.  Hospital employees are a huge market that helps keep local dollars in the local economy.  They buy groceries, cars, fuel, homes and countless other products.  They also pay taxes that keep schools open, streets maintained and police officers on watch. 

IHA believes it is important to view hospitals through the economic lens, especially for our government leaders who control much of the revenue hospitals depend upon.  As those leaders make important economic choices (between supporting more casinos, for example, or protecting the Medicaid budget), they must remember that hospitals are a wise investment. 

Shortchanging hospitals means shortchanging Iowa’s economy and threatening its chances for future growth.

The U.S. health care sector created 14,500 new jobs in January, while overall employment from all U.S. business sectors fell by 20,000 jobs, according to new Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary data released late this week.  Those additional health care sector jobs helped the national unemployment rate fall from 10 percent to 9.7 percent. 

Hospitals accounted for 5,000 new payroll additions in January, while ambulatory services accounted for 15,000 payroll additions and physicians’ offices accounted for 5,600 payroll additions.  Some areas of the health care sector lost jobs in January; nursing and residential care facilities reported 5,800 payroll reductions. 

The health care sector created 267,000 new jobs in 2009, including 22,000 payroll additions in December, according to BLS data.

Throughout the economic downturn, hospital and health care employment has remained relatively stable. Many Iowans who have lost their jobs have turned to health care to start new careers. This is a smart move; health care offers work that is challenging, rewarding and well-paying.

Many hospitals offer scholarships to help pay for college education in health care.  IHA has its own scholarship program that has helped dozens of Iowans start or advance their hospital careers.

Earlier this week, Grinnell Regional Medical Center announced the good news about setting a record for contributions to its annual fund.  In a down year for the economy, this could be considered an amazing achievement. But here at IHA, we are hearing similar news from other hospitals.  At the same time, many Iowa hospitals are at various stages of construction, whether it be partial or large-scale remodels or entire hospital replacements. Nearly all of these projects were made possible, at least in part, by community philanthropy (as well as contributions from the hospital employees themselves).

The timing and support of these efforts says a lot about where hospitals and health care stand among Iowa’s priorities.  Clearly, with 118 hospitals, more than 70,000 employees and $5.8 billion in economic impact, Iowans recognize the value that these institutions bring to their communities, our state and everyone’s quality of life.

Iowans are known for their generosity, but they are also thoughtful about their giving, especially in these times.  Our hospitals continue to be a sound investment. And for those who want to contribute, hospitals offer their own legacy of giving and growth that instills community pride and individual achievement.

It’s too big for a bow, but Mount Ayr is getting one sweet present this holiday season.

Ringgold County Hospital will open in its new facility on December 20. The hospital replaces a building that was built nearly 60 years ago.

The new facility will provide many advantages compared to the old hospital, which was built in 1951. One of the most important aspects of the new building is the efficiency of space. The new medical complex is 61,000 square feet, a vast improvement over the old, land-locked hospital with 38,000 square feet.  With the additional space, many of the medical areas and services will become more departmentalized.

The new one-level facility will also have two entrances. The south entrance will be for patients, visitors and employees, the north is for delivery and ambulance services. The helipad will be in its own area on the north side of the building. This will eliminate the problem of re-routing traffic and parking that existed at the old facility, where he helipad is in the center of the parking lot.

Other new additions patients can expect to see will be 16 private patient rooms and seven dialysis stations. With the seven dialysis stations, it will ease the problem at the old facility of patients having to start dialysis treatment at 4:30 a.m.so everyone can get through. There will also be radiant heating panels above each station.

Construction on the new hospital began in October 2008.

Ringgold County Hospital employs more than 120 people and has a $7.2 million impact on the area.