These include hospitals and clinics, extended care facilities, home health care, mental health, dentistry, laboratories, and pharmaceutical services. Health care providers generate other jobs and income in Howell County as well. Howell County's health care sector is growing. Since 1994, employment has increased by nearly 700, and earnings have nearly doubled. Health care providers anticipate near-term growth in employment.
Health care is very important to the economic future of Missouri communities.
These percentages are slightly higher in rural Missouri. This study does not measure the economic development potential of health care providers in the County, or the value of local health services in attracting industry or improving County residents' quality of life. Increased sales for Howell County health care providers will add more high-skill, higher paying jobs, and add significant new spending power for Howell County residents. Changes in the health care industry and in government policy will affect rural health care providers significantly in the future. Further research is needed to understand the overall economic impacts of these changes on Howell County.