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Reports > State Responses to Health Worker Shortages:
Results of 2002 Survey of States > Key Findings 1.
A majority of states (88%) reported convening task forces or commissions to
study workforce shortages. Many of these task forces and commissions are still
deliberating; state policy responses are still in the development stage in most
states.
Forty-four (44) of 50 states reported establishing one or more task
forces to study health workforce shortages. Most of these bodies were temporary,
designed to help recommend state policy responses. In a few states, these organizations
evolved or led to the development of more permanent structures to address health
workforce concerns. In a few cases, the task forces/commissions were established
outside of state government, such as by a state health care association with state
participation. In most states, however, the task forces/commissions were established
by the state administration. When asked the focus of the task force(s) or commission(s)
, respondents reported: - Twenty-five
(25) were convened to study shortages in the long-term care workforce
- Twenty-four
(24) were convened to study the shortage of nurses;
- Twenty-three
(23) were convened to study general health workforce shortages; and
- Seven
(7) were convened to study shortages in other health occupations, including dentistry
and pharmacy.
2.
States are experiencing shortages in a wide array of health professions. Nursing
shortages were cited as a major concern by 90% of states. Seventy percent of states
reported pharmacist shortages as a major concern and more than half cited certified
nurse aides, home health aides, dentists and radiologic technicians. 3.
The most common strategies used by states are scholarship and loan repayment programs
for health professionals. Thirty-eight states (76%) reported such programs.
Of
the states that reported offering scholarships and/or loan repayment: - 24
states have programs specifically targeted to registered nurses; and
- 28
states have programs targeted to a broad array of health professionals, including
dentists, dental hygienists, and pharmacists.
4.
Fifty-four percent of states (27) and Puerto Rico described a wide array of health
workforce data collection activities. Most
respondents reported that health professionals were surveyed, sometimes at the
time of licensure or re-licensure. In other instances, health workforce needs
assessments of providers were completed. While state agencies, particularly departments
of health or education initiated much of the data collection, other groups were
involved in these efforts, including task forces established to study workforce
shortages, health workforce research centers, Area Health Education Centers (AHECs),
and provider associations. 5.
Half of the states (25) have initiatives to market health careers. Forty percent
(10) of states with marketing initiatives indicated that Area Health Education
Centers administered many of them, particularly those targeted to youth. 6.
Twenty-eight percent of states (14) are developing or have developed career ladder
programs in the health professions. The main targets of these efforts appear
to be career ladders in nursing or career ladders for certified nurse aides. 7.
Seven states (14%) reported health workforce training and education initiatives
through departments of labor that tap funding streams such as H-1 B Visa Grants
and WIA (Workforce Investment Act). Several states were also using TANF (Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families) funding. Many states are exploring the potential
for using WIA funds to support health workforce training in many occupations including
nursing. 8.
Five states have developed or are exploring strategies related to job redesign
in order to promote improved working conditions, increased retention and improved
productivity, These included support for demonstrations and evaluations. 9.
Several states have passed legislation prohibiting or limiting mandatory overtime
and one state has passed legislation mandating minimum nurse staff ratios in hospitals.
While a few states have minimum nurse staff ratios, they are mostly for specialty
areas in hospitals. California enacted legislation in 1999 requiring nurse patient
ratios on all nursing units in the states acute care hospitals.
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