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MHC - The Future of Health Profession in the U.S., Michigan, and Selected States (Powerpoint 1.4mb)

American Hospital Association's Commission On The Workforce Issues Report

The American Hospital Association's (AHA) Commission on Workforce for Hospitals and Health Systems issued a report on April 8 containing specific recommendations to help hospitals deal with the health care worker shortage now and in the future. The commission called this shortage a potential "major national health care crisis."

The report, entitled In Our Hands: How Hospital Leaders Can Build a Thriving Workforce, (click on link to view full report) states "strong leadership and aggressive action" is needed in five key areas to deal with the problem: fostering meaningful work; improving workplace partnerships; broadening the base of health care workers; collaborating with others; and building societal support. The report was the result of yearlong deliberations by a diverse group of leaders, including nurses and other health care workers, union representatives, business leaders, education experts and hospital executives and trustees. ASAHP member Karen Miller, Dean of the School of Allied Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center, is a member of the Commission.

Currently, shortages are being reported in nearly every type of hospital job. Unlike previous periodic shortages, this current situation is a long-term shortage that is much broader and more severe. It reflects growing demand for health care services, shifting demographics, a change in career expectations and attitudes about work, and worker dissatisfaction within health care.
Solving the workforce shortage will require efforts by multiple parties - including the health care field, state and federal policymakers, business, and workers. "In Our Hands" stresses the crucial role hospital leaders play in effecting change. Others in society also have a responsibility to make the supportive and complementary changes that can ensure the hospital field's success in this crucial effort.

At a town hall forum at AHA's Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, DC, three hospitals highlighted in the report shared their success stories. New Hanover Regional
Medical Center ( Wilmington , NC ) introduced a mentorship program that helped reduce staff attrition markedly, a decline of 26 percent over two years. Turnover dropped significantly at Baptist Health ( Pensacola , FL ) since implementation of internal communications initiatives, including quarterly forums by the administrator with staff on all three shifts. The Salsbury Scholarship Program, administered by the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association and the Healthcare Institute, has helped increase the cultural and ethnic representation of the Arizona healthcare workforce by awarding scholarships to students of Hispanic, Native American, African American, and Asian backgrounds.

Recruitment And Retention Tools For Radiologic Technologists Available

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) has developed a tool kit that consists of a collection of news, data, case studies, sample forms and other information addressing the recruitment and retention of radiologic technologists. The resources in this tool kit will be useful to anyone designing effective recruitment and retention programs, including radiology department managers, radiologists, educators and HR directors.

Included among the resources for attracting recruits to radiologic technology are career videos and advice on how to set up a scholarship program. More information can be obtained by clicking: http://www.asrt.org/asrt.htm.

The American Workplace Report 2001: Building America's Workforce for the 21st Century can be ordered on line from the EPF bookstore or can be downloaded as a complimentary.pdf. from the Employment Policy Foundation.  http://www.epf.org 

Links

Recruitment and Training of Health Professionals
This paper, prepared by the National Rural Health Association, describes the shortage of health professionals in underserved communities, and the fact that health care providers from underrepresented communities are more likely to provide care to underserved patient populations. Ethnic minorities are woefully underrepresented in the ranks of health care professionals. Also discussed is a removal of barriers preventing successful underrepresented students from pursuing health care careers. 

Rural Physician Recruitment and Retention

This issue paper, prepared by the National Rural Health Association,  explores the current status of factors leading to physician choice of practice location, including education, training, government and private initiatives, and economic and social conditions. Policy recommendations to support the recruitment and retention of physicians to America 's underserved rural areas are presented. November 1998.