Healthcare workers continue to rebuild after the pandemic

A new report shows shortages persist across various occupations across health care settings, which has been highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As the pandemic started to ease, I think people thought the shortages should ease, and that’s not the case,” said Jean Moore, who directs the Center for Workforce Studies health.

This was reflected in an annual report compiled by CHWS Studies at the University at Albany from various data sources.

“If you’re a provider trying to understand the workforce, you have to go to all these different places,” said program manager Robert Martiniano. “So we want to put everything in one place.

Among the key findings were statewide health care job growth, which varied by location, as well as a shortage of licensed and licensed practical nurses.

“What we’ve seen in rural areas is there aren’t enough people pursuing higher education, they’re finishing up in high school or even earlier,” Martiniano said. “You can’t talk about being a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, or even a registered nurse if you’re not talking about furthering your education. »

Experts say any workforce issues need to be part of a broader discussion that includes not only health care, but also the education system and strengthening incentives such as reimbursement loans for healthcare workers who agree to work in shortage areas.

“The best way to attract a doctor to this area is to have them practice in this area on a rotation so they get used to this community,” explained project director David Armstrong.

Working conditions cited by many healthcare workers are another barrier providers face when it comes to retention.

“People are leaving their bedsides right now, hand in hand, and that’s our problem,” said Kathryn Dupuis, a longtime registered nurse in the Capital Region.

Beyond the need for better pay and benefits, Dupuis says new nurses are immersed in a pervasive culture.

“It causes brand new nurses to look to brand new nurses for advice when there is a problem and it causes them to leave,” she explained. “If they don’t feel like they have someone to turn to in an emergency, they won’t feel safe with the practice they’re offering.”

Experts hope reports like these can shed light on solutions.

“Because ultimately, workforce leads to health care and health care leads to outcomes for our patients,” Martiniano said.