 Career
Path Forecast
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 14 percent
from 2006 to 2016, faster than the average for all occupations. Job
growth will occur because of continued expansion of health care related
industries. The growing and aging population will drive overall growth
in the demand for physician services, as consumers continue to demand
high levels of care using the latest technologies, diagnostic tests, and
therapies.
 Demand
for physicians' services is highly sensitive to changes in consumer
preferences, health care reimbursement policies, and legislation. For
example, if changes to health coverage result in consumers facing higher
out-of-pocket costs, they may demand fewer physician services. Patients
relying more on other health care providers -- such as physician
assistants, nurse practitioners, optometrists, and nurse anesthetists --
also may temper demand for physician services. In addition, new
technologies will increase physician productivity. These technologies
include electronic medical records, test and prescription orders,
billing, and scheduling.
Opportunities for
individuals interested in becoming physicians and surgeons are expected
to be very good. In addition to job openings from employment growth,
numerous openings will result from the need to replace physicians and
surgeons who retire over the 2006-16 decade.
 Unlike
their predecessors, newly trained physicians face radically different
choices of where and how to practice. New physicians are much less
likely to enter solo practice and more likely to take salaried jobs in
group medical practices, clinics, and health networks.
Reports of shortages in some specialties, such as general or family
practice, internal medicine, and OB/GYN, or in rural or low-income areas
should attract new entrants, encouraging schools to expand programs and
hospitals to increase available residency slots.
 However,
because physician training is so lengthy, employment change happens
gradually. In the short term, to meet increased demand, experienced
physicians may work longer hours, delay retirement, or take measures to
increase productivity, such as using more support staff to provide
services. Opportunities should be particularly good in rural and
low-income areas, as some physicians find these areas unattractive
because of less control over work hours, isolation from medical
colleagues, or other reasons.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
|
|
