They say that “not all heroes wear capes.” This is certainly true of people like Jeffrey Harrell, PA-C, who has saved many lives both in his work with America’s military and in the medical field. Unfortunately, many of the most vitally important jobs in our society go underappreciated. According to Jeff, this is a growing problem for the medical field, and he thinks it will get worse before it gets better.
From Man-at-Arms to Medicine
Jeffrey first discovered his passion for saving lives while working with U.S. protective services and our paramilitary contractors overseas, and once he found himself stateside again, he sought an occupation that would allow him to continue his mission. After several months of searching, he finally found the perfect path for him: the medical field.
As was made painfully clear by the pandemic, working in the medical field is far from easy. Jeff has no misconceptions about the difficulties of his work in medicine, but he meets each day with a positive mindset and a productive attitude. “It can be a really tough job, but it’s incredibly fulfilling. I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” says Jeff.
Thoughts on the Future of the Field
Whether it’s growing more complex or more expensive, medicine is always evolving. With a global pandemic having turned the medical industry on its head for over a year (and counting), there are undoubtedly more changes still to come. For all novice healthcare providers looking to get their start, Jeff has a few insights and warnings (from an insider’s perspective) about where the industry is headed.
Jeff sees a turbulent future ahead for healthcare providers. Throughout the pandemic, he watched in disappointment as promises made to frontline workers went unfulfilled. “Many of us were told that we were lucky, that we should simply be glad to still have jobs in the end,” he recalls. The rampant maltreatment and lack of appreciation for American healthcare workers is a widespread issue, and unfortunately, it’s one that he doesn’t see going away any time soon. Despite their education and experience, American healthcare providers are consistently overworked, underpaid, and undervalued.
Jeff also worries for the future of an industry so deeply tangled up in red tape. He claims that “Bureaucracy and regulation are starving the medical field and bringing about dangerous levels of inefficiency and inefficacy.” It may even be pushing doctors and other providers away from the field, as they are concerned about their ability to effectively treat patients in this era of overbearing authority.
Jeff also foresees trouble for both novice and experienced healthcare providers in wading through the maze of red tape that is suffocating the medical industry and driving doctors into other professions. As Jeff explains, “Bureaucracy and regulation are starving the medical field and bringing about dangerous levels of inefficiency and inefficacy.”
“The medical field is undergoing some extensive changes right now,” says Jeff, “but they aren’t all negative. There’s always hope for the future.” Jeff hopes that the current trend towards defensive medicine — which values decisions that protect doctors from liability over those that help patients — will change in favor of a more offensive approach. “We need to focus on giving patients the care they really need, instead of doing just enough to cover our own backs,” he says.
Saving Lives (and Businesses)
Jeff saves more than just people’s lives; his company, Avant-Garde Solutions, can save struggling businesses, too. They are a renowned consulting firm working with businesses in a variety of industries, from healthcare to real estate to marketing. Their team works tirelessly to craft innovative and strategic solutions to the problems that plague your business, allowing you to move forward towards success with confidence and ease. After so many years saving lives, Jeff is excited to help people in a whole new way.
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