Health Care Workforce Problems Detailed

Two recent reports are receiving a lot of attention for confirming what many people in rural areas (and, increasingly, urban areas too) already know:  there is a significant and growing shortage of primary medical and dental health care workers in Wisconsin.

In early October the Wisconsin Hospital Association released their 2008 Health Care Workforce Report.  Health care remains the largest employer category in the State and is responsible for consistently creating new jobs.  However, demand continues to outpace job growth.  This report finds the greatest need is for physical and occupational therapists, pharmacists, certified nursing assistants and registered nurses.  The authors predict the problem will only get worse as the population ages, demand grows and current staff’s retirement rates accelerate.

Yesterday the Wisconsin Council on Medical Education and Workforce released Who Will Care For Our Patients?, a report on the State’s physician shortage.  There is currently a shortfall of over 370 primary care physicians; the gap is concentrated in rural counties and inner city areas.  The report predicts the demand for physicians will grow by nearly 30 percent in the next 10 years, and more than double within two decades, yet the supply of physicians is projected to increase by just 13 percent in 10 years and 20 percent by 2030.   The authors recommend several solutions, including:

  • Enroll students in medical schools who will practice in Wisconsin
  • Attract more physicians to Wisconsin, and keep them here
  • Develop new care delivery models

I urge you to take a look at these reports, especially the solutions they offer to help resolve this problem, and consider these and other options for addressing the problem in your community or health care organization.  Health care workforce is a significant part of our work here at the Office of Rural Health.   We have dentist and physician recruitment programs, managed by Marsha Siik and Randy Munson, respectively.  Marsha also manages our new physical therapist recruitment program.

 

The Health Professions Loan Assistance Program (managed by me) is an effective recruitment and retention tool.  Physicians, dentists, dental hygienists and advance practice nurses are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in education loan repayment awards if they agree to practice for at least three years in a federally designated shortage area.  Contact me for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

November 11, 2008 · KJacobson · 2 Comments
Tags: , , , ,  Â· Posted in: Program Updates, Provider Loan Repayment, Reports and Studies

2 Responses

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