Healthcare Workforce Shortages
Paper details
While impending baby boomer retirements were predicted to create workforce shortages in physicians, nurses and many “technical titles”, COVID19 and the “Great resignation” as well as other factors have led to greater shortages than expected. Describe four other factors influencing health care workforce shortages. Besides pay increases, what strategies need to be employed to recruit for these jobs? What are the best solutions to these human resources challenges? As a CEO, how would you find the resources to afford these enhancements?
Sources include:
https://trustees.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2022/11/2023_AHA_Health_Care_Workforce_Scan.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4226781/ https://hbr.org/2016/11/how-to-get-health-care-employees-onboard-with-change
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/articlepdf/2794541/jama_rotenstein_2022_vp_220073_1659634121.23638.pdf
https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/pdf/10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05486
https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/healthcare-workforce-shortage-solutions.html
https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/news/hiring-alone-wont-solve-health-care-worker-shortage
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/assessing-the-lingering-impact-of-covid-19-on-the-nursing-workforce
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https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/increased-workforce-turnover-and-pressures-straining-provider-operations
Healthcare workforce shortages have been a growing concern for some time, and there are several factors contributing to this issue. Some of the factors that have led to the current shortage of healthcare workers include:
Aging population: As the baby boomer generation continues to age and require more medical care, there is an increasing demand for healthcare workers. This demand is expected to grow in the coming years, exacerbating the current workforce shortage.
Low unemployment rates: In a strong economy with low unemployment rates, there is more competition for workers, making it difficult for healthcare organizations to recruit and retain employees.
Burnout and stress: Healthcare workers are at high risk for burnout and stress due to long hours, high patient loads, and the emotional toll of caring for sick patients. This can lead to increased turnover and difficulty attracting new workers.
Lack of training and education opportunities: There is a shortage of healthcare workers with the necessary skills and training, and there are limited opportunities for workers to gain the required education and training.
To address these workforce shortages, healthcare organizations must take steps to recruit and retain workers. In addition to pay increases, strategies to attract workers may include offering flexible scheduling, providing education and training opportunities, and offering competitive benefits packages. Healthcare organizations may also need to explore new models of care delivery, such as telemedicine or team-based care, to reduce the demand for certain types of workers.
To find resources to afford these enhancements, a CEO could consider partnering with other healthcare organizations to share resources and reduce costs. They could also explore public-private partnerships and government grants to fund workforce development programs. Finally, investing in technology and process improvements can help reduce costs and free up resources for investments in the workforce.
