“It’s been a long, a long time coming but I know a change is gonna come. Oh, yes, it will.”
-Sam Cooke, 1963
These are the lyrics that defined the Civil Rights Movement of the ‘60s, inspired Dr. King’s “I have a Dream” speech and has recently been revived in the very successful campaign of President Obama.
Now this anthem can be applied to healthcare and all of us involved have a choice: we can either embrace it or struggle with it. But, like the great movements of the past, it’s “gonna come,” however you deal with it.
Many involved in healthcare feel we are recession proof, but the reality is different. While we may not go the way of the American automobile industry, the effects are still significant and will probably change the face of healthcare forever.
For the first time in many years, we are seeing layoffs in specialties that were formerly deemed secure and safe. Facilities are closing, consolidating and merging. Reducing costs is now not a goal but a must.
While the healthcare industry has not experienced the plant closures and layoffs that many other fields have, it’s still greatly impacted by this recession. With more people out of work and having trouble paying for COBRA or losing their insurance completely, treatments are reduced, revenues slow and bad debts increasing. Patients cancel, skip or stretch out treatments.
And while your paycheck may look the same (for now), those you work for are facing serious challenges keeping up with paying the bills. But we need not despair, we can adapt, we can be part of the solution and there will always be opportunities for skilled and talented healthcare professionals.
“A change is gonna come,” and we can be ready for it. Watch for future blog posts for tips and suggestions on how you can survive – and even excel – during change.
Bill Stone
Founder and CEO
