A recent report published by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (C.E.P.R.) maintains that nations who offer universal health care programs also enjoy a higher share of small business employment as well as self-employment. According to a blog posting found on the New York Times website, however, the report fails to take into account several other factors that may be contributing to the apparent connection between healthcare and the success of small businesses within a nation.

According to the blog post, some of the countries represented in the report simply have a larger small business sectors than others represented in the report. In fact, among the 21 countries included in the study, self-employment rates correlate -0.67 when compared to the World Bank’s measure of gross national income per capita. This correlation is significantly lower than 1% and it is well documented that richer countries with a smaller self-employed share than poorer countries.

Although there is certainly room to debate whether or not the absence of universal health care has a direct or indirect effect on the size of the small business sector in our country, there is no doubt that the health care industry will continue to grow over the next several years and will continue to be a great area for employment. In fact, billions of dollars earmarked by the economic stimulus plan will actually be flowing into the health care industry. As a result, experts are saying that an additional boom of employment opportunities is expected in the field, with more than 200,000 new clinical and nonclinical jobs expected to be created by the package.

Although all areas of the healthcare sector will continue to offer numerous employment opportunities, there are three key areas that are expected to grow the most. These include the areas of medical and allied-health training, healthcare information technology and community health.

Thanks to President Obama’s push to make updates in the area of healthcare information technology and his desire to create electronic medical records, tens of thousands of IT professionals are expected to find abundant employment opportunities. Specific areas that are expected to grow within this area include:

· Healthcare Informatics Associates – customize or create EMR software for use in hospitals
· Systems Integrators – combine a variety of legacy applications
· IT Trainers – train other professionals in the health IT sector
· Clinical Consultants – includes lab technicians, RNs, pharmacists and others who utilize EMR systems

While some of these positions will be open to those with general IT training and education, others will require obtaining specialized training in order to pursue a career in the field.

Not only is the stimulus package going to help create new positions for workers in the health care industry, it will also provide health care workers with assistance with obtaining the training they need. In fact, the package includes $200 million to go toward health professional training programs and workforce development programs. Current nursing students may receive financial assistance with the help of the stimulus package, while nursing-school applicants may also receive scholarships to help pay for their schooling.

To help schools obtain the faculty needed to train additional health care workers, the stimulus package will also offer incentives to nurses with advanced degrees to teach classes. For example, nurses may receive assistance with repaying their loans if they agree to teach classes to others who are interested in a career in the health field. The package also provides $500 million to be used toward providing financial incentives to dentists, doctors and other practitioners who agree to work in inner-city or rural areas that are typically underserved.

To further assist those who are struggling with health care expenses, the stimulus package will also include funding to help improve the primary care facilities at community health centers. Not only will this help those who are underinsured or uninsured obtain the medical care they need, but this funding is also expected to help create another 8,000 jobs. There has never been a better time to pursue a career in the health care industry.