Discussion

Reflection Question:

Based on your experiences, reflect together on the following question:

• Our current healthcare system is besieged by many challenges, particularly, how to get quality services to people who need these services. Having a sufficient healthcare workforce from direct professionals to nurses to physicians is a critical part of this. Consider the region in which you live and work; what do you view as the major challenge(s) to the optimal deployment of healthcare professionals? Why is this a concern?

  pplication Question:

  Health Workforce Issues at St. Charles Health System – A Case StudyBegin by reading the case study.
  • Choose a professional group that St. Charles needs to recruit more actively (listed under “Recruitment” in the case study). From a leadership perspective, what do you see as the most realistic and immediate solution? Why? Think about one specific setting within St. Charles to focus your recommendation. As you discuss, consider why the shortage exists and how you would recruit and retain.
  • Now that you have come up with a plan for recruiting and retaining with your colleagues in the class, talk about how you would engage in workforce training for St. Charles. Looking at the three priority areas outlined in the case, where would you start? Choose one of the three workforce training needs cited in the case study. This should be evidence-based, so use your readings (required), and other articles from peer-reviewed journalsLinks to an external site. as needed, to build your case.
  As you brainstorm and apply the module readings (and any other appropriate literature) to your conversations, be sure to support each other’s discussions. Avoid essay-then-respond posts. Rather, if you are not the first person to post, respond to someone else and then share your ideas as part of a growing conversation. A true dialogue is how brainstorming is most effective in the professional and academic realm! So, use the assigned materials and build off one another’s ideas, as well.
• Case study below
• Anyone working in health care has heard that there are serious workforce issues. Many states are actively seeking ways to address workforce shortages. See this NAHSP articleLinks to an external site. on how governors are prioritizing healthcare issues, including workforce shortages, in State of the State Addresses. Workforce issues are prominent issues – not only in the healthcare arena but also in the political realm.Here is a synopsis of these issues.Background: Let’s imagine that you are part of a team of mid-level healthcare clinical and administrative leaders working for St. Charles Health System in a small suburban city that also serves a number of rural communities. Your city has seen unprecedented population growth in the past five years. Several key factors for this population growth include: development of several senior-friendly community complexes housing an influx of people from the nearby major city of Indianapolis (due to increasing costs of living there) and a growing number of immigrant families taking advantage of your small city’s designation as a sanctuary city.In addition to population shifts impacting your workforce needs, you also know that workforce attrition has been a major issue over the past decade. Professional and paraprofessional healthcare workers are aging in place. Additionally, the challenges of working in health care have led some professionals to take administrative positions or leave the field altogether.Your Charge: Your group has been charged by St. Charles’ executive team and the Board of Trustees to assess your current workforce and projected needs, given the demographic changes. After three months of intensive investigation and outreaches to health professionals within and outside St. Charles, regional and state health department officials, community health leaders, as well as an in-depth search in the Excelsior Library databases, you project the following workforce needs:Recruitment:
• • Additional primary care providers
  • Masters prepared health educators, several Spanish speaking
  • At least 10% more paraprofessional workers to cover outpatient and inpatient needs
  • Several oncology and cardiology specialists to cover inpatient and clinic services
  Workforce Training:
  • Geriatric training for community health providers
  • Behavioral health training to address emotional needs (PTSD, addictions, etc.)
  • Cultural competence training to work in a culturally sensitive way with newly arriving immigrant families
  Let’s return to the discussion page to analyze this case together as a group.