Universal Health Care

Career Health Center

As a medical recruiter, I have mixed feelings about recommending a career in some segments of the industry. As we march closer and closer to universal coverage, I have a lot of unanswered questions. Since this is still a work in progress, I do not think anyone has an answer. We are swimming in uncharted waters.

As it currently stands, the mandate of "Obama Care" has turned the world upside down with the U.S. health insurance major uncertainty. With the presidential election a matter of weeks away, no one knows how this will eventually play in 2012 and beyond. One party wants big government that is responsible and opposition want to really revise it.

I have lived with the impact of every day has been a year of uncertainty which has affected my business, my clients, providers, hospitals, doctors, nurses etc and prospective job seekers. They all wonder if they will have a job, or will they have a job that pays as well as they have now?

No one knows if there will be a pay cut or job. If cuts are needed, where they will be hit? That's what happens when the government sheep pages 2000 through congressional bill without reading it. Instead both parties work together on a bill that everyone can live with, the health care industry is now left to figure out how to comply.

The devil is in the details. Weekly, we learn more about the impact this legislation will have on all of us who cherish our current system. Costs have exceeded estimates and bills just started to be put in place.

It is obvious, that if Obama is re-elected, he will gradually move over many aspects of how health care is delivered closer and closer to universal care system that controlled the government. That's his end game. In an effort to assist the uninsured, and a level playing field, obviously we slowly march towards the day when all people will have no choice but to come to the government for all their health related needs.

That's not what most industry professionals prefer or sign up for when they first go to school and get in the industry. While many good women who came to serve, they never expected to have their hands tied by government mandated bureaucracy.

However, with so many in the industry is currently in a holding pattern or a wait and see mode, recruiting and hiring slowed to a snail's pace. Personally, Obama Care has cost me tens of thousands of dollars in lost business.

I talked to medical professionals every day. They care and many are plain scared. As a recruiter, it is increasingly difficult to convince prospective job candidates to leave their current job for a new one. Although they may not be happy in their current jobs, mostly I talked to are afraid to take the risk career move in this environment is uncertain.

Can you blame them? Let's face it, if there are cuts, the last hired are the first to go when belt tightening begins. For many is a risk not worth taking at this time. Suffered career advancement and household income stagnates.

Doctors are particularly angry. I spoke with many doctors threatened to leave their profession or leave the country rather than dealing with the loss of private pay clients to care for Medicare and Medicaid patients all day for less money. Those who are at the forefront as a doctor, nurse technicians of all kinds, laboratory workers, and many others are worried about their future.

Those close to the issue are very concerned that the quality and service will be less due to various reasons because of the changes proposed in the Obama Care. It makes sense if the provider will be paid less then they would have to pay their employees less.

All that being said, after all the dust settles, there will be a lot of work for those who want to care for others. Even if you put millions more people into the system without insurance, who will care for them? A lot of administrative work such as billing and collection may not feel the wound.

However, medical professionals, from doctors to nurses, that I worked mostly very disappointed this time as a direct result of the massive changes and the lack of clarity with regard to health care facilities in the United states is really headed.

If Obama care is fully in the act, there is serious doubt that the cost will go down and quality will improve. In my opinion, fewer Americans will have access to a level of quality health care they have enjoyed in the past. If the change does not work as expected, the federal government will have no choice but to gradually take over more aspects of health care through universal health care is a state law. I thought that was the plan from the beginning.

This process can take 5-10 years. However, the more the government takes over health care do not be surprised if you wait for emergency room will look more like a department of motor vehicles. Countries with government health care, including existing Canada. Wait a long time and see a doctor maybe days, not hours.

For those contemplating a career in health care, think long and hard. At that time, I believe that the health care that we have grown up with, is considered as one of the best in the system, will change. Unfortunately in my opinion it's most likely not going to get better. If Obama is re-elected it's game over. Steer your college age children to become a computer programmer or a space scientist. Please do not be a lawyer!

While those who do not have health coverage may think the changes that will come will be a big improvement, I predict we will reach a point when the whole system comes crashing down in terms of quality and efficiency. My question to ask yourself is simple. Did we miss a better opportunity to improve health care without tearing the country apart in the process? My hope is that we wake up and improve health before we destroy it beyond repair.