Combining human caring and medical technology, the health care industry delivers care 24 hours a day, responding to the needs of millions of people, from newborns to the critically ill.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor over 460,000 establishments make up the health care industry, varying greatly in terms of size, staffing, and organization. Two-thirds of all private health care establishments are offices of physicians or dentists. Although hospitals comprise less than 2 percent of all private health care establishments, they employ nearly 40 percent of all workers. When government hospitals are included, the proportion rises to almost half the workers in the industry.

The health care industry provides diagnostic, healing, rehabilitation, and prevention services for the injured, ailing, incapacitated, and disabled.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care is one of the largest industries in the country, with about 11.3 million jobs.

About 14 percent of all wage and salary jobs created between 1998 and 2008 will be in health services and 12 out of 30 occupations projected to grow the fastest are concentrated in health services. Factors contributing to this continued growth include the aging population, which will continue to require more services, and the increased use of innovative medical technology for intensive diagnosis and treatment.

People who choose a career in health care generally need good physical and mental health, emotional maturity and interpersonal competence. Careers which involve patient care require special understanding and tolerance for treating the sick and injured. They must also be able to appropriately resolve conflict and crisis situations.

There are several courses of study that would help make someone successful in this career field. Some suggested courses are:

• biology
• earth science
• physics
• medical biology
• chemistry

Many health services establishments operate around the clock and need staff at all hours. Shift work is common in some occupations, such as nursing. Many health service workers hold more than one job--particularly registered nurses, nursing aides, and health technologists and technicians--and many are on part-time schedules.

In 1997, the incidence rate for occupational injury and illness in hospitals was 10.0 cases per 100 full-time workers, compared to an average of 7.1 for the private sector. Nursing and personal care facilities had a much higher rate of 16.2. Health care workers involved in direct patient care must take precautions to guard against back strain from lifting patients and equipment, exposure to radiation and caustic chemicals, and infectious diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and hepatitis.