The California Future Health Workforce Commission has released
a $3 billion plan containing 27 recommendations aimed at closing workforce gaps
by 2030, declaring that the state faces a growing and dramatic dearth of
workers across the care continuum, notably in geographies with large African
American and Latino populations,
The report submitted to new California Gov. Gavin
Newsom (D) was two years in the making and said that in many parts of the state
the workforce crisis is already here. “Seven million Californians, the majority
of them Latino, African American, and Native American, already live in Health
Professional Shortage Areas — a federal designation for counties experiencing
shortfalls of primary care, dental care, or mental health care providers,” the
report said.
These shortages are most severe in some of the state’s
largest and fastest-growing regions, such as the Los Angeles, the San Joaquin Valley,
and in most rural areas. Adding to the dire situation, the report said a generation
of baby boomers is set to retire, including a large chunk of the health care workforce.
“And, as living costs rise and the state’s production
of health workers continues to lag growing demands, millions more Californians
will find it difficult to access quality, affordable care,” the report said. In
10 years, for example, California is expected to face a shortfall of more than
4,100 primary care clinicians and will have only two-thirds of the
psychiatrists it needs.
To guide efforts, the commission issued 27
recommendations within three key strategies that will be necessary for: 1.)
increasing opportunities for all Californians to advance in health professions;
2.) aligning and expanding education and training; and 3.) strengthening the
capacity, retention, and effectiveness of health care workers.
In reaction to the report, the head of the state’s
leading advocacy group for long term and post-acute care providers tells Provider the effort to solve the
workforce shortage problem is welcome news.
“We are gratified that the critical workforce shortage
issue is finally getting some needed attention,” says Craig Cornett, chief
executive officer, California Association of Health Facilities, the state
affiliate of the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted
Living.
“We’re also pleased that our newly elected governor
acknowledged workforce issues and the need to get ready for a major demographic
shift by calling for a Master Plan on Aging in his State of the State address.”
Cornett added that Newsom’s creation of an Alzheimer’s
Prevention and Preparedness Task Force, headed up by former California first lady
Maria Shriver, is also a step in the right direction.
Of the 27 recommendations in the commission report, 10
were called priorities needing immediate attention. The top three are:
1. Expand
and scale pipeline programs to recruit and prepare students from
underrepresented and low-income backgrounds for health careers with mentorship,
academic, career, and psychosocial support. Under these health pipeline
programs, as many as 5,700 low-income and underrepresented minority
professionals will be able to join the California health care workforce during
a 10-year period at a cost of $11,000 per person.
2. Recruit
and support college students, including community college students, from
underrepresented regions and backgrounds to pursue health careers, and form
associated partnerships that provide academic, advising, and health career
development support. College students from low-income and first-generation
backgrounds will be targeted for inclusion in this priority, which has the
potential to add at least 25,500 new California health care workers over 10
years.
3. Support
scholarships for qualified students who pursue priority health professions and
serve in underserved communities under a new Emerging California Health Leaders
Scholarship Program. Approximately 3,810 students (1,707 physicians, 696 nurse
practitioners, 152 physician assistants, 325 public health professionals, and
930 social workers) would be supported over the next 10 years.
Other priorities include expanding other medical
education programs, recruiting in rural areas, and maximizing the role and
number of nurse practitioners.
Read the full report at www.futurehealthworkforce.rog.