Thursday, July 3, 2008

Health-care revolution brings IT hiring boom

Amid all the negative press about Massachusetts’ job losses, there is a bright future ahead. While the state’s unemployment rate is at nearly 5 percent, jobs in the health-care sector have increased dramatically. The rapid evolution in the health services market has led to a critical need for workers with technical skills. In April alone, the health-care industry added 14,500 jobs across the country and 3,200 jobs in Massachusetts alone. There’s a burgeoning need for business analysts, project managers and IT professionals who are well versed in supporting health-care organizations.

Employers are drawing on a new pool of talent that combines business acumen, technical expertise and health-care knowledge. These professionals are blossoming in the Bay State and across the country because of the convergence of several factors:

Demographics: The aging population has created a demand for health care that will continue to grow. The baby boomer generation is the largest health-care consumer group in the country, and this demand will continue to climb as its members age and require greater levels of care. Hospitals and doctors’ offices are grappling with ways to care for extremely high numbers of patients while maintaining high standards of care. Technologies that can ease this burden are in high demand. Moreover, as they have become more informed patients, the general population expects more convenience and greater access to medical information.

Cost containment: Health-care providers and insurance carriers are facing immense competitive pressures to drive down operating costs through automation and standardization. These organizations are constantly on the lookout for process improvements and technical enhancements that will cut costs. For years, the health-care industry has looked to IT to bring down per-procedure costs of managing health care business.

Greater public awareness: Barack Obama’s health-care proposal is to cover every American. If you already have health care, the only thing that will change is the amount of money you spend on premiums — they would be less. That means bringing 45 million Americans who don’t have health insurance into a plan of care. This ambitious endeavor will require an influx of highly trained technical and business professionals to create the IT infrastructure. Although John McCain’s plan is less widespread, it would require specialized professionals to implement. His stated focus is on facilitating coordinated care and technology advances to reduce costs.

Either way, the American public wants something better, and there is a groundswell of support for improving the quality of care in this country. Regardless of whether the impetus for change comes from a new president, a Democratic Congress or individual states, there are numerous forces at play compelling the industry to transform. This is creating a strong push for knowledgeable IT professionals to support these changes and business analysts who are well equipped to help determine how to best provide new health care services.

Legislative changes: The Massachusetts Health Initiative is a perfect example. It requires a governmental infrastructure to manage the program and associated industry requirements to support it. We are already seeing huge interest in health-care IT and business professionals who can help medical facilities and insurance companies to adapt to future needs. This often involves a comprehensive re-engineering platform. Many health-care organizations still rely on systems built in the 1950s and are in serious need of rehab. The possibilities for professionals in this field are seemingly endless.

It’s an exhilarating time to be in the health-care space. The most desirable candidates are those with the business acumen to grasp important issues, quickly get up to speed and tackle them within the organization’s unique culture. It’s not just about technological and health care knowledge. It’s about being a quick study and having the ability to handle anything that gets thrown your way. It’s having the business insight and diplomacy to convey a message that is understood and embraced by your client.

Today’s health-care industry is not for the faint of heart. But those with the sound business and project management skills, engaging personality, shrewd judgment and rock-solid technical skills will have a very promising future indeed.

 

Carl Foster is Northeast region market vice president for The Systems Group Inc., a TAC Worldwide company. He can be contacted at cfoster@thesystemsgroup.com. David Wilbour is consulting services manager for The Systems Group Inc. He can be contacted at dwilbour@thesystemsgroup.com.