The health care industry is comprised of companies that develop, manufacture, market, and/or distribute health-related products or provide health care services, such as hospitals, nursing homes, HMOs, medical product suppliers, medical equipment and medical device makers and medical laboratories.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the health care industry is predicted to add nearly 3.5 million new jobs between 2002 and 2012, an increase of 30 percent. From 2002-2012, ten of the twenty fastest-growing occupations will be concentrated in health services. These positions include medical assistants (59 percent growth), physician assistants (49 percent growth), home health aides (48 percent growth), and medical records and health information technicians (47 percent growth). Projected rates of employment growth for the various segments of the industry range from 12.8 percent in hospitals, the largest and slowest-growing industry segment, to 55.8 percent in the much smaller home health care services.

Industry segments:

1) Health care products: companies that develop, manufacture, market, or distribute medical equipment, instruments, supplies, and other health-related items to the medical and health care industry.

. Medical Devices: companies that develop, manufacture, and market medical apparatus, equipment, instruments, devices, and supplies.

. Medical Equipment & Supplies: companies that develop, manufacture, and market medical and dental instruments, supplies, or surgical equipment, including syringes, respiratory care equipment, wheelchairs, X-ray equipment, laser systems, hospital clothes, and other medical equipment and supplies.

. Medical Products Distribution: companies that distribute medical instruments and supplies, ophthalmic goods, and other health-related items to the medical and health care industry.

2) Health Care Services: companies that provide, support, and market medical, surgical, or health care services, including managed health, insurance, and related administrative and support services.

. Health Care Plans: companies that provide managed health and dental care products and services including HMOs, PPOs and other health insurance plans.

. Home Health Care: companies that hat provide home health and adult care products and services, including respiratory therapy, home infusion therapy, home medication, skilled nursing or medical care in the home and other related health care services.

. Hospitals: companies that provide general medical and surgical services and other hospital services.

. Long-term Care Facilities: companies that operate long-term care facilities such as assisted living centers and nursing and retirement homes, as well as provide various health care services.

. Medical Labs & Research: companies that provide laboratory testing and diagnostic services.

. Medical Practice Management & Services: companies that own, operate, and manage health-related practices, offices, and clinics, and companies that provide services to health care-related companies.

. Prescription Benefits Management: companies that distribute prescription medication and other health products on behalf of managed care plans and drug manufacturers.

. Specialized Health Care Services: companies that provide niche health care services such as kidney dialysis centers, rehabilitative facilities, intensive care units, mental health facilities, blood banks, fertility clinics and other types of specialized health care services.