Whether you are a hospital administrator, a physician in private practice or a nurse working the night shift, you are more than likely very aware that the state of Florida and the U.S. in general are facing an increased demand for trained healthcare providers.

Now, more than ever, as the population continues to age and the amount of baby boomers grows, particularly in Florida, the state and the country are at a major crossroads with regard to healthcare – who will take care of all of these people?

With today’s current shortages, this also begs the question – What about tomorrow?

The answer lies in the growing number of University and Colleges who are implementing programs to meet the pressing need. From nurses to mid-level care providers, several universities, including South University, with campuses in West Palm Beach and a newly opened location in Tampa are working to address the shortfall in healthcare education.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care provided 13.5 million jobs in 2004, making it the country’s largest industry. This included 13.1 million jobs for wage and salaried workers and approximately 411,000 jobs for the self-employed. (Career Guide to Industries 2006-2007).

Today, health care as a profession accounts for eight of the 20 fastest-growing occupations in the country. More than 3.6 million new jobs are expected to be created in health care between 2004 and 2014 – more than in any other industry.

At South University, the institution has moved quickly to launch a variety of programs that meet areas of critical demand including Nursing, Medical Assisting, Physical Therapist Assisting and Healthcare Management.

“We continue to see increased interest in our healthcare programs,” says Tracey Schoonmaker, President of South University in West Palm Beach. “Because of the need in the marketplace, students are recognizing the opportunities and are seeking out programs with strong reputations for quality education.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics, registered nurses constitute the largest health care occupation, with 2.4 million jobs with RNs projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations. In fact, the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice and the American Nurses Association recommends that two-thirds of the basic nurse workforce be prepared with a bachelor’s degree or higher by the year 2010 to meet the increasingly complex conditions of today’s patient care needs.

“In addition to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at our campus, we are now offering a program for current RNs that want to pursue their bachelor’s degree,” says Schoonmaker. “Offered 100% online, the program provides flexibility enabling RNs receive credit for their nursing experience and pursue their degree online no matter what shift or commitments they may have.”

With demand increasing in the marketplace for well-trained healthcare providers, the answer for tomorrow’s increased demand is education. “Considering the challenges we are facing, employers and universities must work together to ensure there is a talent-rich pool of capable employees for the future,” said Schoonmaker.