'The Business of Health Care Report'

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I’m Doug Hawthorne, CEO of Texas Health Resources, with “The Business of Health Care Report.”

I have talked many times on this program about the critical shortage of health care professionals in Texas and across the United States. With the recent passage of federal health care reform legislation, this issue promises to come into sharp focus as more and more Americans obtain health insurance and the demand for healthcare services increases.

While many of the uninsured receive care, many put off going to the doctor until they are sick. The expansion of health care coverage under health care reform is intended to cover more uninsured Americans, thereby providing these newly covered individuals with more resources for care, allowing them to seek care earlier and more often. This is a good thing from the perspective of prevention, treatment and cost of care. But, at the same time, it will put additional strain on a health care workforce that’s already facing a critical shortage of trained professionals.

That’s one reason Texas Health is working with educators and policy makers to increase our state’s capacity to educate health professionals. You can help.

Encourage your state representatives, state senators, local chambers of commerce, and business and civic organizations to support legislation to increase the number of health care professionals trained and ready to care for the growing needs in our communities.

For Texas Health Resources and its faith-based family of hospitals — Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Harris Methodist, and Texas Health Arlington Memorial — I’m Doug Hawthorne.