Biden administration allocates $206M to address shortage of geriatricians
Healthforce's weekly briefing for July 9th, 2024. Get smarter on the latest news & trends in the healthcare workforce.
🖐️ THIS WEEK’S TOP 5
Immigrants are key to filling US labor shortages, including for nurses
Biden administration allocates $206M to address shortage of geriatricians
How the new generation of younger nurses is impacting the future of care
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💪 IMPACT STORY OF THE WEEK
Indiana faces a severe nursing shortage, projected to need 5K more nurses by 2031. Marian University's Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, in collaboration with Ascension St. Vincent, offers a solution by training career changers quickly.
With Indiana needing to graduate 1.3K additional nurses annually until 2030, such programs aim to produce quality nurses efficiently to meet the state's healthcare demands. They ensures that new nurses can enter the workforce swiftly and effectively. By providing targeted training and support, these programs help fill critical roles and ensure better patient care amidst the ongoing nursing shortage. (WRTV)
⚖️ POLICY SPOTLIGHT
The Biden administration is investing $206M to train geriatricians and support caregivers. The programs will also help family members and community caregivers learn how to care for their aging loved ones, including those with Alzheimer's and related dementias. (Axios)
Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) has publicly argued against the inclusion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates in medical education, claiming they prioritize identity politics over patient care and degrade the profession. He has introduced the EDUCATE Act to ban identity-based mandates in medical schools. (The Hill)
Legislators fear that Medicare cuts will jeopardize home health care in Tennessee. Bipartisan legislation (S. 2137/H.R. 5159) if passed, will protect the state’s Medicare’s home health care program from cuts until at least 2028, ensuring patients can recover comfortably and safely at home. (AOL)
State workforce participation in Alabama is ~57%, among the lowest in the nation. The bipartisan legislative package, "Working for Alabama," includes seven bills to address the labor crisis and improve job training and retention. This initiative aims to fill vacancies and build a strong workforce. (MSN)
Rep. Greg Murphy
🎓 BACK TO SCHOOL
West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) and Amarillo College have significantly expanded their nursing programs. WTAMU has doubled its nursing program, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, while Amarillo College’s Rural Nursing Education Consortium enables students to complete LVN and RN classes locally. (My High Plains)
McNeese State University launched the "Pursuing Success Together" program to combat the nurse shortage in southwest Louisiana. This initiative supports 18 LPNs to obtain their BSN through tuition-covered part-time or full-time courses, backed by partnerships with local hospitals. (KPLCTV)
UC Davis Health's pilot program, supported by the UC Davis MIND Institute, integrates neurodivergent individuals into medical coding roles. The program offers paid internships and real-time coding experience. (Health Leaders Media)
Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic are partnering together on the Transformative Care Continuum program. It offers an accelerated three-year medical education, providing hands-on experience and early admission to family medicine residencies, aiming to encourage more students to enter primary care. (News 5 Cleaveland)
EmergyCare is addressing EMS staffing shortages in Pennsylvania by establishing an EMS academy. The program hires individuals without prior medical training and enrolls them in an emergency medical technician program, combining lectures and hands-on training. Over the past three years, nearly 20 graduates have completed the program. (MSN)
UC Davis Health
📊 BY THE NUMBERS
AI and intelligent automation (IA) can address the global pharmacist shortage, exacerbated by a 10% decline in graduates and a 60% drop in pharmacy school applicants over the past decade. AI tools can streamline tasks like data entry and inventory management, enhancing efficiency and reducing burnout, making the profession more attractive. (Lab Online)
The nursing industry saw a loss of 130,000 nurses from 2020 to 2022 due to the pandemic, but younger nurses entering the field are offsetting this exodus. The median age of nurses dropped from 52 in 2020 to 46 in 2022. (Red Field Press)
Healthcare is adopting AI to address the nursing shortage, with AI nurses ready to fill critical gaps. With a 10M nurse labor gap expected by 2030, AI nurses can handle administrative tasks to free up human nurses to care for patients. (HIT Consultant)
According to new American Immigration Council data, immigrants are crucial to filling labor shortages in various sectors. Immigration makes up 16% of nurses and 28% of health aides, with higher rates in states such as New York and New Jersey. (Immigration Impact)
🏥 HOSPITAL WATCH
Mass General Brigham, Massachusetts' largest healthcare system, announced that Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and its academic medical centers will no longer accept new primary care patients due to a mounting waitlist. (MSN)
ICU nurse Jordan LeBlanc at Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center highlights the recent staffing challenges due to budget cuts, leaving the ICU at less than 85% capacity. Nurses face increased workloads, with 57 frontline vacancies affecting patient care. Despite VA claims of ongoing hiring, critical vacancies remain unfilled, compromising patient care quality. (MSN)
Mass General Brigham, Massachusetts' largest healthcare system
⚕LET’S TALK
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