Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - (Page 27) The current economy What it means to mobile providers Anne Baye Ericksen A ccording to the nightly news, the U.S. economy could be heading straight for a recession—or already is in one. While the prices of oil and gasoline steadily climb, housing values drop equally fast. The ripple effect from these circumstances is also making headlines as the cost of such staples as bread, milk, and eggs rises. Then, there is the fact that the average family holds $7,000 in credit card debt. So, have you felt the budget crunch with your own personal finances? Have economic conditions affected where and how you select assignments? How has the healthcare travel industry fared during this finicky fiscal time? To answer these and other questions, Healthcare Traveler asked two industry representatives and one mobile clinician for their thoughts about any financial fallout and how to make the most of assignments today. Record numbers Throughout most of the 21st century, America has flourished. Until recently, homeowners happily watched their dwellings increase in value at record rates. Investors cashed in on Wall Street’s sustainable growth with only minor blips here and there. What’s more is that healthcare professionals of all specialties enjoyed a marketplace in high demand of their skills. So, what happened? The first signs of the economy unraveling came a few years ago when gasoline prices started to move upward. At first, there were small increases, but as crude oil prices began setting new records—quadrupling over the past 6 years—drivers dished out more dollars to fill their tanks. In 2006, the national average price for regular gas logged in at $2.62. A year later, that average reached $2.84 per gallon, and the latest figures from AAA show a national average of $3.39. (At press time, Californians were dealing with the highest prices in the nation for regular, at $3.80 a gallon.) This progression has not always been subtle. Rather, the leap has at times been double digits—AAA reported a 19-cent increase over 2 weeks in February. » May 2008 Healthcare Traveler 27
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 Editor's Desk Contents In a Flash Paws for Thought Field Notes Cardiac Care at the Heart of Many Travelers Careers The Current Economy Clinical Tips Drug Update On Assignment Name It When In Advertisers' Index Good for You Tax Facts Big Deals Contest Rules Starter's Kit Going the Distance Tales from the Road Allied Corner Classifieds Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 (Page Cover1) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 (Page Cover2) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Editor's Desk (Page 1) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Contents (Page 2) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - In a Flash (Page 6) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - In a Flash (Page 7) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Paws for Thought (Page 8) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Paws for Thought (Page 9) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Paws for Thought (Page 10) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Paws for Thought (Page 11) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Field Notes (Page 12) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Field Notes (Page 13) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Field Notes (Page 14) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Field Notes (Page 15) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Cardiac Care at the Heart of Many Travelers Careers (Page 16) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Cardiac Care at the Heart of Many Travelers Careers (Page 17) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Cardiac Care at the Heart of Many Travelers Careers (Page 18) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Cardiac Care at the Heart of Many Travelers Careers (Page 19) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Cardiac Care at the Heart of Many Travelers Careers (Page 20) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Cardiac Care at the Heart of Many Travelers Careers (Page 21) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Cardiac Care at the Heart of Many Travelers Careers (Page 22) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Cardiac Care at the Heart of Many Travelers Careers (Page 23) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Cardiac Care at the Heart of Many Travelers Careers (Page 24) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Cardiac Care at the Heart of Many Travelers Careers (Page 25) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - The Current Economy (Page 26) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - The Current Economy (Page 27) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - The Current Economy (Page 28) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - The Current Economy (Page 29) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - The Current Economy (Page 30) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - The Current Economy (Page 31) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - The Current Economy (Page 32) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - The Current Economy (Page 33) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - The Current Economy (Page 34) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - The Current Economy (Page 35) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - The Current Economy (Page 36) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - The Current Economy (Page 37) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Clinical Tips (Page 38) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Clinical Tips (Page 39) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Drug Update (Page 40) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Drug Update (Page 41) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - On Assignment (Page 42) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - On Assignment (Page 43) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - On Assignment (Page 44) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Name It (Page 45) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - When In (Page 46) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - When In (Page 47) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - When In (Page 48) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Advertisers' Index (Page 49) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Advertisers' Index (Page 50) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Advertisers' Index (Page 51) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Good for You (Page 52) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Good for You (Page 53) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Good for You (Page 54) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Tax Facts (Page 55) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Big Deals (Page 56) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Contest Rules (Page 57) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Starter's Kit (Page 58) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Starter's Kit (Page 59) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Going the Distance (Page 60) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Going the Distance (Page 61) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Allied Corner (Page 62) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Classifieds (Page 63) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Tales from the Road (Page 64) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Tales from the Road (Page Cover3) Healthcare Traveler - May 2008 - Tales from the Road (Page Cover4)
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