Bridging the Gap - Prioritizing Healthcare Education
Healthcare Workforce Shortage: A Growing Concern
Our nation is facing a critical situation where the healthcare workforce shortage shows no signs of abating. This shortage not only stretches our healthcare system to its limits but also poses significant challenges for patients seeking timely and quality care. With over 193,000 projected job openings for registered nurses annually until 2032 and 85% of healthcare facilities experiencing a shortage of allied health professionals, it is clear that we are in dire need of a solution. The lack of qualified nurses and allied health professionals is contributing to various issues such as provider burnout, staff attrition, practice closures, reduced services, and longer wait times for patients across different healthcare settings. As the population ages and becomes sicker, with more complex needs, the need for a multifaceted approach to attract and educate the next generation of healthcare professionals becomes even more urgent.It is crucial that we take immediate steps to address this shortage. By investing in healthcare education and providing the necessary resources, we can create a robust workforce that will ensure continued access to high-quality care for all.
Technology's Role in Healthcare Education
Education technology holds tremendous potential in supporting students' academic success and maximizing faculty effectiveness and efficiency. By mimicking real-life clinical scenarios, these tools allow students to learn from their mistakes, build problem-solving skills, and develop clinical judgment skills - essential for safe practice. Personalized learning experiences ensure that every student reaches their full potential.Congress can play a vital role by passing outcomes-based legislation that provides dedicated resources for nursing programs, career and technical education (CTE) programs, and direct workforce training programs. This will help students excel in their classes, graduate, and pass their exams, enabling them to enter the workforce practice-ready in various healthcare roles.
Supporting Healthcare Educators
In addition to students, Congress should prioritize funding for programs that train, retain, and better support healthcare educators. Investing in technology such as AI tools can streamline and lessen educators' workload, which is crucial given the faculty shortage. Last year alone, over 65,000 qualified applications were turned away from nursing programs due to a shortage of faculty. With 71% of CTE program directors reporting that the shortage of health sciences teachers and high faculty turnover is causing a net reduction in the number of students, it is clear that we need to grow the capacity of schools.By providing the necessary support to healthcare educators, we can ensure that every interested, passionate, and qualified student can pursue their healthcare career dreams and contribute to the improvement of our healthcare system.
Bipartisan Bills for Healthcare Education
Several bipartisan bills are currently being considered that could have a significant impact on healthcare education. The Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act (S.2840) aims to invest in training for new nurses and community health workers. The Train More Nurses Act (S.2853/H.R.6122) would expand nursing school enrollment capacity. The PRECEPT Nurses Act (S.1627) seeks to increase the number of clinical preceptors essential for guiding nursing students through practical training. The Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act (S.2815/H.R.7002) would provide incentives to recruit and retain nursing faculty. The Grants for Resources in Occupational Workforce Training for Healthcare (GROWTH) Act (H.R.6078) would expand and prioritize grant funding for community colleges.These bills, along with others like the Healthcare Workforce Innovation Act (S.4957), the Allied Health Opportunity Act (S.2304), and the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act (H.R.6585), would broaden opportunities for students to enter critical allied health roles. It is essential that Congress passes these bills during the lame-duck period to shape and strengthen the future of our healthcare workforce.
We strongly urge Congress to take action and prioritize healthcare education. By doing so, we can build a more resilient healthcare system that meets the needs of our nation and its people.