Emily Stover DeRocco Speech

Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
Leadership Conference
Atlanta, GA
Emily DeRocco
Assistant Secretary
Talking Points

Thursday, June 19, 2003

It is a very special pleasure for me to be with you at your 26th Annual National Leadership Conference.

It has been a special day for me as my colleagues and I have had the opportunity to meet with HOSA's leadership and to find out about one of health care's "best kept secrets".

As we all know, the health care industry is facing a shortage of skilled workers. Employment in health care is projected to increase 26% through 2008. The largest number of listings is for medical-related positions. Twelve out of 30 occupations projected to grow fastest are concentrated in health services. Fourteen percent of all job growth from 1998-2008 will be in health care services.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that health services employment will increase to 13,600,000, that's 2,800,000 NEW JOBS.

Most don't realize that the majority of jobs in health services require less than 4 years of college education. The range of options, necessary skills, and training opportunities is amazing. This diversity creates opportunities for almost anyone. There are entry level positions requiring only a high school diploma up to physicians who must complete 4 years of medical school plus graduate medical education.

America's demographics are helping change medical care delivery. The average age of the American population will continue to increase through the year 2008 with the largest projected increases occurring in the 40-59 and 80 + age groups. Sources of new jobs will be in the rehabilitation field, health and fitness, wellness, imaging technology, home care, nutrition, new diagnostic services, and prevention. Home health care jobs are projected to grow 80% by 2008.

The opportunities appear endless when you consider there are 460,000 health care establishments nationwide, 2,800,000 projected new jobs, and occupational growth averaging 14%.

Why is HOSA so exciting to the Department of Labor? HOSA is a pipeline at the secondary and postsecondary education level that will help the health care industry to fill some of these jobs relatively quickly.

The leadership of the healthcare industry is coming together to see if they could join forces to eliminate one of the greatest barriers to their growth and success: their need for a skilled workforce. We are glad that you are part of the solution!

In reviewing your statistics from delegates at last year's conference, it is impressive the number of you that are planning to continue your education to become either a nurse or medical doctor (58%) and that all but 5% of the rest of those in attendance had already made a career goal decision in the health care field. What impressive statistics!

I want to commend every one of you for your hard work and for your accomplishments to be here. You are well-positioned in educational institutions to draw positive attention to the health professions.

HOSA is committed to building a team of health care providers that are prepared to care for all health care needs of all Americans.

We thank the leadership of HOSA for being committed to building a pipeline of qualified students interested in pursuit of a career in the health professions.

The health care needs leaders like you and we are counting on you to help with the solution. I am so pleased to be with you and to commend you personally for the extraordinary accomplishments you have achieved and to thank you for your personal commitment, dedication, and enthusiastic helping hand for the health care industry.