| Orthopedics is an important specialty that will continue | | | | competitive. |
| to have high demand, with employment opportunities | | | | Unemployment and Aging Population |
| expected to grow faster than average between now | | | | The job loss across the country caused by our recent |
| and 2014. As the US population continues to age of | | | | meltdown has had a direct impact on the revenue |
| the US and our need for health care will also grow. | | | | stream to physicians. Without jobs people lose their |
| There will be a particular increase in demand for | | | | health care benefits and the demand for health care |
| Orthopedics as it deals with the very musculoskeletal | | | | falls. This happens more in some regions than others |
| conditions that occur with aging. As our population | | | | but this should slow down the growth of physician |
| ages. Several factors are impacting the future | | | | shortages for the now. |
| demands in both directions, the shrinking economy, the | | | | The stock market fall has also cause older physicians' |
| aging population and finally the impending health care | | | | to rethink their retirement. Many are postponing it to |
| "reform". | | | | rebuild their retirement funds and for fear that they |
| Physician Shortage | | | | cannot count on high returns from any investment. But |
| There is particular concern about primary care | | | | even this delay in retirement won't cure the loss of so |
| shortages in the near future as older physicians retire | | | | many older physicians taking retirement. This |
| and younger ones seek higher paying specialties | | | | bottleneck resulted in fewer jobs being offered and |
| instead of primary care. Rural areas are especially | | | | graduating residents not finding as many good |
| vulnerable to attracting and retaining physicians. These | | | | opportunities as before. So many are taking |
| sameconcerns are there for Orthopedic specialties, | | | | Orthopedic locum tenens jobs and waiting for better |
| that the rural areas will have the greatestdifficulty in | | | | opportunities todevelop. |
| filling their positions in the coming years. | | | | Health Insurance Legislation |
| The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects growth for | | | | Another issue overhanging the market is the national |
| surgery jobs, rural areas of the U.S. in particular where | | | | health reform package. At this point no one even |
| there is a low ratio of physicians to population. Earning | | | | knows if or when it will happen, let alone what it will |
| potential for Orthopedic Surgeons can range from | | | | end up being. If it actually works in increasing the health |
| $350,000 to more than $500,000, according to the | | | | insurance coverage then along with the long term the |
| AMCC; the highest salaries are found in the private | | | | aging population, this should create greater demand for |
| practice arena. Because Orthopedic Surgery is a | | | | services and therefore cost higher. |
| popular area of specialty, jobs may be more | | | | |