Lamar opens $37M health training center in Texas, including a new nursing program.

Healthforce's weekly briefing for April 15, 2025. Get smarter on the latest news & trends in the healthcare workforce.

🖐️ THIS WEEK’S TOP 5

1. US Reps. Costa and Gray introduce bill to fund medical schools.

2. PA Gov. Shapiro’s budget proposes $35M for rural healthcare.

3. Kansas Nursing Workforce Center gets $1M to tackle nursing shortage.

4. Trump's deportation plans could worsen home care labor availability.

5. Geisinger offers 17% wage hike, but nurses demand safety, healthcare fixes.

   If you found today’s newsletter insightful, then we’d love to hear from you! Please drop us a line at edenn@globalmedteam or kanza@globalmedteam. See you next week!

💪 IMPACT STORY OF THE WEEK

Lamar Institute of Technology opened a $37M, 51,000-sq-ft Workforce and Allied Health Training Center in Southeastern Texas. The center offers hands-on training, including a new Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program, with graduates expected by spring 2026. (12 News)

⚖️ POLICY SPOTLIGHT

1. U.S. Reps. Jim Costa and Adam Gray introduced the Medical Education Act to fund new medical schools in underserved areas like California’s San Joaquin Valley, where there are only 47 primary care doctors per 100K people. The bill aims to grow local physician pipelines through schools like UC Merced. (G Wire)

2. New Jersey's expanded Nursing Faculty Loan Redemption Program offers up to $50,000 in student loan redemption for nursing educators, aiming to address the state’s nursing shortage. Eligible faculty can receive up to $10,000 per year for teaching nursing courses, with $1.625 million available for this round, through April 30. (NJBIA)

3. Maine lawmakers are considering a bipartisan bill to create a $5M annual fund aimed at boosting rural healthcare workforce development through clinical training, residencies, and innovative models. Maine Sen. Henry Ingwersen cites a 2,000-nurse shortage and 21% vacancy in mental health roles statewide. (Wabi 5)

4. Pennsylvania's Governor Josh Shapiro's 2025-26 budget proposes $35 million to address rural healthcare shortages, including funding for recruitment, retention, and loan repayment programs for healthcare providers. This aims to improve healthcare access, especially in rural areas, where the primary care physician ratio is much higher than in urban regions. (Pa. GOV)

5. Florida's House of Representatives' proposed $4 billion budget cut could severely impact higher education, particularly for nursing students relying on EASE grants, which help cover tuition at independent colleges. The cuts could affect 21k students, intensifying the nursing shortage and hindering economic growth, as ICUF institutions produce 28% of the state's nursing degrees. (Floridian Press)

🎓 BACK TO SCHOOL

1. Fairmont State University’s nursing program is expanding due to a $1M grant from the WV Higher Education Policy Commission. The funds support a new simulation lab, faculty development, and student costs—boosting both nursing grads and future educators. (WDTV)

2. Hartford HealthCare and Quinnipiac University have teamed up to launch a new educational program aimed at tackling Connecticut’s nursing shortage through expanded training and academic opportunities. (CT)

3. UW-Eau Claire plans to double nursing program enrollment to help address persistent staffing shortages across Wisconsin hospitals. Leaders stress that academic, hospital, and state partnerships are essential to stabilize the workforce and support rural care. (WEAU 13)

4. Sanford Health is tackling rural physician shortages by expanding residency programs and launching scholarships like the Sons and Daughters initiative to grow a local workforce. With 350 new residency slots expected by 2027 and a 25% turnover rate drop, it's seeing early success. (AMA)

5. OHSU's Online RN to B.S. Nursing Degree Program helps address the nursing shortage in rural Oregon by offering flexible, fully online education. The program has graduated over 1,400 nurses and is expanding, with scholarships available for new students. (OHSU News)

6. Santa Barbara City College and Westmont College are expanding nursing programs, with SBCC receiving 200 applications for just 46 spots and Westmont adding 24 new seats. Backed by Cottage Health and $7–12M in local donations, efforts aim to address faculty gaps and meet rising healthcare demand. (Independent)

7. Boston College's Connell School of Nursing is launching a master's program in nurse-midwifery to address the shortage of obstetric care providers and rising maternal mortality rates. The program, supported by a $1M grant, offers mentorship and clinical experience at local hospitals and aims to improve health equity in Massachusetts. (The Heights)

8. Westcliff University will launch its new College of Nursing in Fall 2025 to address the national nursing shortage, offering a BSN and an Entry-Level Master’s in Nursing program. The programs aim to prepare graduates for the NCLEX-RN exam and public health certifications, with strategic clinical placements across Riverside, LA, and Orange County. (Business Wire)

9. The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center will receive a $1 million grant to address a 38% decline in nursing program enrollment and combat the state's nursing shortage, especially in rural hospitals. The funds will support initiatives to boost nursing school applications, and analyze the link between shortages and educational programs. (KCTV 5)

📊 BY THE NUMBERS

1. A New England Journal of Medicine report warns the U.S. will face a shortage of 140k physicians by 2036, with rural areas hit hardest. Former CDC director Rochelle Walensky cites outdated policies and aging demographics as key factors straining access to specialists. (Cobb County Courier)

2. Pennsylvania’s home care sector is in crisis, with 112,500 shifts unfilled monthly due to low wages and a $20.63/hour reimbursement rate—up to 75% less than neighboring states. Pennsylvania Homecare Association calls for a $550M Medicaid rate increase to retain caregivers and stabilize services for 400,000+ vulnerable residents.

3. The Trump administration's mass deportation plans could worsen home-based care labor shortages, as undocumented immigrants make up at least 10% of home care personnel. With demand for home health aides growing, the potential deportation of undocumented workers could further strain an already under-staffed sector. (Home Healthcare News)

🏥 HOSPITAL WATCH

1. A statewide survey by HAP, LeadingAge PA, and PHCA found that workforce shortages are forcing 70% of Pennsylvania hospitals to increase ER wait times and 53% of nursing homes to limit admissions. Leaders warn the state needs 20,000+ more caregivers annually through 2032. (LVB)

2. Geisinger proposed a contract offering RNs wage increases up to 17% in year one and new insurance plans, but union nurses say rising healthcare costs and safety issues remain unresolved. Talks are to continue after a five-day strike and a second strike authorization. (Times Leader)

3. Florida Coast Medical Center, opening in September, will feature 54 acute care beds and 26 ER beds to address the Treasure Coast's healthcare shortages. With plans to employ over 300 staff, the facility aims to meet the needs of a growing population facing limited access to care. (WPTV)

4. Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement (CRONA) announced a tentative contract for 6,000 Stanford and Packard nurses, offering 4% raises over 3 years but lacking enforceable staffing ratios or protections against workplace violence and AI-driven job loss. (WSWS)

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