The healthcare industry is not exactly the most attractive right now. Not only are hospitals across the US immensely busy, but many are understaffed, which makes operating in those hospitals immensely challenging.
According to a recent survey, as many as 53% of physicians say they are burned out, which is an increase of 11% from 2018.
With training to become a fully licensed doctor and also taking a four-year undergraduate program, along with four years in medical school and up to seven years in a residency program, there are likely to be a good many future healthcare professionals wondering: is it worth it?
But despite the cons, if you are thinking of becoming a physician, there are a number of positives which should be reinstated. Below are just a few of these positives.
Constant, Innovative Support For The Industry
While the healthcare industry is struggling at the moment, there are countless businesses with strong funding that have an objective of bettering the situation. This leads to a relatively constant flow of new innovations that can make the life of a physician far easier.
This can range to new tools – click here for information on the surgical tool rolled out to 1,600 hospitals this year – and new technology – healthcare AI is being developed to drastically cut down patient wait times and ease the stress on physicians.
The Potential For High Income
As well as this, if you are willing to go through the years of training, you cannot say that you aren’t well rewarded. Physicians are amongst the highest earners in the country, with median salaries in 2023 ranging between $198,420 to $353,970. You also have a range of benefits including full dental and medical coverage, disability insurance, retirement savings plans, paid time off, and prepaid legal services.
Better Job Security Than Most Sectors
With a higher pay bracket, healthcare professionals also have better job security than most other industries in the US. This is important considering the advancement in technology like AI. Across the world, there is a growing fear and concern that many sectors are going to be affected by this advanced technology, with some people even losing their jobs to it. In healthcare, however, it is clear that physicians will always be needed. As long as you are credentialed and have a licence, you will always have a job.
The Challenge And Satisfaction
It cannot be underestimated how fulfilling a healthcare job can be, either. For those who love to learn and want to be challenged in the workplace, working as a physician means working in one of the most challenging and intellectually demanding fields in the US. Job satisfaction is important for anyone, and it is one of the most notable advantages of being involved in the healthcare industry.
Bottom Line
Lastly, the majority of physicians will tell you that all the training, the hard work, and the challenges, all become worth it when you are told by a patient: “Thank you”.
Every morning in the healthcare industry, you wake up knowing that you’re going to make a difference. To care for sick and injured people every day is very fulfilling, and that alone demonstrates how a job in healthcare can be one of the most satisfying jobs out there.
