Expanding Healthcare Workforce: Essential Public Policies by HAP
TL/DR –
The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) has reported a shortage in healthcare workforce in the state and across the country. Despite Pennsylvania hospitals reducing care team turnover by 28%, challenges persist in hiring direct care professionals, with nearly 1 in 5 nursing support positions and close to 1 in 7 positions for direct care registered nurses being vacant in late 2023. To address this, HAP proposes public policies such as growing the number of nurse educators, expanding student loan repayment for frontline nurses and primary care providers, and recruiting international professionals through the increase of J1 visas.
Health Care Workforce Shortage in Pennsylvania Calls for Public Policies
The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) underlines the urgent need for public policies to address the healthcare workforce shortage. The recent HAP report reveals that while Pennsylvania hospitals have reduced turnover by 28%, they still struggle with hiring direct care professionals.
Pre-Pandemic Crisis and Aging Population Elevation
Deemed a crisis even before the pandemic, the healthcare workforce shortage is aggravated by an aging population that necessitates increased demand for care as more health professionals retire. The HAP report highlights insufficient infrastructure to educate and train the new workforce generation.
Current Measures and Ongoing Challenges
Among the measures hospitals have taken to combat workforce shortages are pay raises, flexible work schedules, and partnerships with educators for workforce development. However, recruitment remains a challenge, with average statewide vacancy rates for most positions exceeding 10%. The situation is particularly dire in rural communities with higher average vacancy rates.
Projections Show Pennsylvania Leading in Shortfall of Nurses
Mercer projects that by 2026, Pennsylvania will be the state worst affected by a shortfall of registered nurses, with the third worst shortfall of nursing support professionals and mental health providers.
Comprehensive Investments and Public Policies
Nicole Stallings, HAP President, and CEO, emphasized the need for investments and public policies to address the increasing demand for healthcare professionals as Pennsylvania’s population ages. These include growing the number of nurse educators, investing in nurse preceptors, clinical space, and promoting flexibility in credentialing requirements for educators.
Advocacy for Student Loan Repayment and International Recruitment
HAP also advocates for student loan repayment for frontline nurses and primary care providers to retain them in the state, and scaling up programs expanding healthcare workforce through partnerships. Furthermore, HAP supports international recruitment by advocating for an increase in the number of J1 visas.
2023 HAP’s Healthcare Talent Task Force
In 2023, HAP’s Health Care Talent Task Force developed comprehensive policy recommendations to foster health care talent growth. This roadmap builds on initial recommendations issued in January 2020.
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