Perceptions of change in the health care industry

Cost containment, governmental regulations, and managed care are leading factors driving change in the delivery of health care services. Job insecurity and stress are frequently felt by the allied health professional in times of such change. This investigation measured the perceptions of change in the health care industry. A survey tool measuring attitudes and beliefs about the state of health care was distributed to health professionals in Arkansas. Voluntary responses were coded using a four-point Likert scale. Data were processed from an overall response rate of 34.6% (n = 203) using descriptive frequencies, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and a post-hoc Scheffé test to determine significances of differences between professional groups. Differences were found between professional groups' perceptions of the overall quality of health care, job security, and having a sense of control to positively impact the future of health care. When dealing with changes, professionals must maintain a balance of ethics and efficacy. They need to be agents of change, promoting quality and efficiency. Their role should be to shape health care, not simply to react to change.