How is the health care market (nuclear medicine technology) in Columbia? (Lexington: real estate, house)

[1+1=5]

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are considering moving back to SC (lived there in the early 1980s, loved it, but moved out of the area due to employment issues).

I'm wondering how the health care market is there. I'm a nurse practitioner, and can find a good job pretty easily, but he is trained in nuclear medicine technology. Here in Ohio, there are a lot of schools for that, and there is about 1 job for every 100 or so qualified applicants. My husband has great references, graduated at the top of his class and is a great worker, never complains, is nice to the patients, but is currently working out of this field due to just not having any jobs in our area. There are barely any radiology technologist positions in our area, either. He works as needed and works 9 days in a row and then there is no work for 2 weeks. It's really sporadic and mostly he just covers for vacations, etc.

I noticed Lexington Med Center has a position for an NMT. I'm going to encourage him to apply, but wondered if anyone had thoughts on how the market is in the Columbia area for health care. All we want to be able to do (like anyone else) is work full-time, pay our bills and raise our kids. I looked at real estate sites and it looks like we can find a great house for about $160K, so I'm really happy.

Edited to add: I would definitely make sure we both had offers in writing before moving; we would not just move there and then hope to find jobs. I just don't want to encourage him to start applying, then find out it's like the market up here - a person with one year of experience is not considered, because there are 40+ applicants who have 10+ years of experience because the market's so difficult.

Thanks so much for any input.

[waccamatt]

The health care market in Columbia is and also has been strong with a medical school, VA Hospital, Army Base Hospital and 5 general hospitals there are a lot of options for health care jobs.

[jlboney]

As far as I know the health care industry is strong here, but I am not sure about the specific job you are talking about. I know several nurses, and none of them had any trouble finding or keeping work.

[1+1=5]

Thank you both very much. I appreciate your input.