[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S1665]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              HEALTH CARE

  Mr. BURRIS. Mr. President, I rise today to call attention to the 
important and essential role that health care professionals play in 
providing quality health care across our Nation. Our Nation's health 
care system is complex and people with many different health needs are 
served by the diverse group of caring, qualified professionals in the 
allied health fields. Some of these important health practitioners 
include respiratory therapists, music therapists, athletic trainers, 
clinical laboratory scientists, radiologic technologists, medical 
assistants and many others. There are more than 100 distinct 
occupations in the health professions, in addition to physicians and 
nurses.
  These dedicated health professionals are expert in a multitude of 
therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventive health interventions and 
wellness initiatives in diverse settings. These professionals work in 
disease prevention and control, dietary and nutritional services, 
mental and physical health promotion, rehabilitation and health systems 
management. They can be found in community, school and athletic 
training clinics, long-term and rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, 
laboratories, hospice, and private homes.
  These health professionals represent about 60 percent of the health 
care workforce and approximately 6 million jobs. According to the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10 of the 20 fastest growing occupations 
for 2008-2018 are in the health professions.
  With many of these fields facing critical workforce shortages, it is 
essential that we work to increase awareness of the great career 
opportunities they offer, especially for racial/ethnic minorities. We 
also need to support the educational programs that will produce our 
future caregivers. Recent stimulus funding, for example, will go to 
train 15,000 people nationwide in job skills for careers in health 
care, IT, and other high-growth fields. In Park Forest, IL, Governors 
State University will use its $4.9 million grant to help unemployed, 
dislocated, and low-wage incumbent workers pursue careers in health 
care.
  I strongly support the vital role health care professionals play in 
our health care system, which could not function without their tireless 
efforts. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing this important 
group of professionals.

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