Thoughts About Better

The health care industry is massive.  Gawande references that in 2005 the United States spent one-sixth of all the money we have, or $2 trillion, on health care.  That’s staggering!  Why? Because medical professionals have continually improved (or bettered) processes allowing us to live longer.  A larger populous means in an increased need for more medical personnel and additional specializations.  Colleges and universities are beginning to recognize these needs and are creating more accelerated medical programs, and niche and unique majors such as Health Care Policy, Health Services Administration, Public Health, Health & Patient Advocate, and Health Records Administration.  All of these appear to have strong future job growth as medicine moves to a more, as Gawande calls it, ‘retail’ industry.

 

Additional specialization doesn’t have to come in the way of a degree with a health care title though.  Take Roberta Parillo, Gawande highlights her unique story in the chapter entitled Piecework.  She’s taken her ability to read and comprehend, to think critically, and to understand process, all positive results of her liberal arts education (she had started her graduate degree in American Literature), and coupled it with the experience of working with medical insurance forms to create a career that probably no seventeen-year old or their parents could ever imagine.  Roberta is a financial disaster specialist.  She’s the best at fixing messes for doctor’s offices that can’t properly handle the business side of their profession. 

 

Even with specializations, there will be tens-of-thousands of Roberta Parillos who find success in the field because of the merging of experience with knowledge and ability.  In closing, one main recommendation, view the medical profession with a wide lens because it’s enormous enough to provide opportunities to fulfill almost every passion and skillset.