The Ailing Medical Profession
Hospitals today are facing economic hardships. While most doctors and nurses are competent, hardworking individuals, they encounter various challenges that can interfere with patient care.
The demand for medical professionals has increased in recent years. With rapidly rising populations, communities need good health care now more than ever. At the same time, however, the economic downturn has led to shortfalls in the budget of health care providers, so hospitals cannot afford to hire new staff. Consequently, doctors and nurses are paid less to work longer shifts and take on larger caseloads. The added paperwork forces many to work unpaid overtime just to maintain the necessary records. More and more of these workers are suffering from exhaustion.
The shortage of medical professionals is partly due to individual financial hardships as well. Increases in medical school costs have forced students to take out loans and incur substantial debt before they can start practicing. And today’s doctors must also pay hefty insurance premiums each month in case they are sued for medical malpractice. For many would-be doctors, these expenses are too high, and so students are pursuing more affordable career paths.
