Is Healthcare a Right or a Privilege Essay Example

Healthcare is one of the biggest and fastest growing fields of today. Offering a wide range of careers, this field has exciting, in-demand jobs, that make it an excellent field to pursue a career in. The history of healthcare is complex, however, inventions such as the microscope and the thermometer were what lead to a medical revolution, shaping modern day medicine. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 13 million people have careers in healthcare, with a job outlook of 18% by 2026. Jobs in healthcare are mostly found in hospitals and medical centers.

Healthcare professionals are responsible for providing quality health care to people. The duties of a general healthcare professional include working closely with other providers, administering patient’s medication, and diagnosing different conditions. According to Health Affairs, a healthcare provider’s shift can be from 8 to 16 hours long. They could be a day, night, or split shift. Healthcare providers need to have excellent health and be in decent physical shape in order to lift patient stretchers and perform CPR. They have to be confident, intelligent, and compassionate. Healthcare professionals must have a valid medical certification and be authorized in their scope of practice by the State. A surgeon needs four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school, a Doctor of Medicine degree (M.D.), and three to ten years of residency and fellowship at a hospital, according to Doctorly. A common entry method is completing a residency at a teaching hospital or completing a fellowship at a specialty hospital. I would complete my residency at a teaching hospital to get more opportunities and experience. 

Harvard University, John Hopkins University, and the University of California are a few of the many schools that provide training for a career in healthcare. The Army Medical Team provides healthcare training, with benefits like paid education. On-the-job training is provided at teaching hospitals, and medical apprenticeships can provide additional training. There are many scholarships and loans to help with the cost of medical school. For example, the Diverse Medical Scholars Program gives $7,000 to 30 medical students each year, and the Elliot C. Robert Scholarship awards one recipient $1,000 per year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the starting salary of a healthcare professional can be as low as $35,000, an average salary is approximately $64,770, and an exceptional salary can be upwards of $208,000. 

Some benefits of a career in healthcare would be helping people and communities, developing confidence and interpersonal skills, and job stability. Health Leaders states that workplace hazards include exposure to various diseases, back injuries from moving patients, and even violence. There are many opportunities for advancement in this field, they do require additional training and more responsibilities. Such as a surgeon getting board certified in another specialty, which would increase their salary, and possibly allow them to become the head of their department. There is a need for continuing education because there are constantly new improvements that change certain aspects of the job. 

Careers in healthcare are especially important and are highly in-demand. Personally. I would love to pursue a career in healthcare. A job that saves lives, such as a surgeon, nurse, or physician's assistant, is a job worth pursuing.