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While nursing shortages are certainly front and center and are covered extensively by the media, hospitals are also suffering from a shortage of all types of workers, from entry-level on up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As the U.S. gradually reaches a state of recovery after the pandemic, <\/span>healthcare worker shortages<\/span><\/a> across the board are becoming more apparent. While the industry has been sounding the alarm regarding physician and nursing shortages for years, the reality is that we should be just as worried about shortages of medical assistants, environmental services workers, pharmacy technicians, respiratory therapists,\u00a0<\/span>and others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Allied health, technical, and office positions in healthcare are suffering from a lack of qualified applicants. Without these important members of the team, the healthcare wheel doesn\u2019t turn very efficiently. Patients will notice longer wait times, difficulty getting help with billing problems, prescription issues, and more. During times of increased respiratory illness, like during flu season or regional COVID outbreaks, respiratory therapists are stressed and overworked more than usual \u2013 which can directly affect patient outcomes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With these types of jobs open around the country, organizations need to understand the core reasons for the shortage, as well as how to make operational decisions that maximize resources and help to retain quality staff in their current positions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some of the factors contributing to this workforce shortage are:<\/span><\/p>\n The aging population is increasing the demand for the healthcare of all types \u2013 from primary care to acute and long-term care. For example, due to the increasing demand and retirement of medical assistants, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting a <\/span>29% increase in medical assistant jobs<\/span><\/a> from 2016-2026. Since that statistic was published, the pandemic has occurred \u2013 likely adding to the need. <\/span>Lab assistant demand<\/span><\/a> has grown 13% in the last year \u2013 almost double the average for other U.S. jobs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond even clinical positions, the lack of qualified revenue cycle and coding professionals is causing a backlog of work in many organizations, leading to billing and claims delays, poor cash flow, and limited ability to expand or update services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With human resources scarce on all fronts, healthcare organizations are naming <\/i><\/b>workforce challenges<\/i><\/b><\/a> as their biggest obstacle in 2023.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Strengthening the healthcare workforce will take time \u2013 even though we don\u2019t really have it. Therefore, the solution requires a multi-pronged approach that considers both short- and long-term needs. The American Hospital Association is helping to address these problems in its report \u201c<\/span>Strengthening the Health Care Workforce: Strategies for Now, Near, and Far<\/span><\/a>\u201d. This publication, written by a task force of highly qualified healthcare leaders across the U.S., offers broad, multifaceted strategies for improvement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Develop a culture of healing: many workers are experiencing burnout and mental health issues after the pandemic. Healthcare settings are also becoming more violent and less safe overall, which requires support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Creative staffing:<\/b> this will mean different things to different organizations. Some have built internal \u201cagencies\u201d staffed with nurses that can float to areas of need within the system for premium pay packages. Some have cross-trained, developed pools of resource nurses that can move in and help during busy times, and others have re-allocated duties so that each professional is working at the top of their license.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nReasons Behind the Shortage<\/span><\/h1>\n
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Strategies for Success<\/span><\/h1>\n
Strategies for Now:<\/span><\/h2>\n