STAR² Center Web Series: Retaining Behavioral Health Professionals STAR² is offering a new Web Series focused on retention of Behavioral Health Professional faculty will spend three sessions reviewing aspects of organizational retention planning at a "201" level and build upon those discussions with three sessions detailing strategies for retention specifically as they relate to behavioral health staff.
HHS Awards $293 Million to Expand Primary Health Care Workforce The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced $293 in awards to primary health care clinicians and students the National Health Service Corps and Nurse Corps. For more information please click here.
Auto-HPSA Scoring Update Slowed but Continuing – Find your HPSA score The Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW), a division of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is behind schedule on its updating of the automatic health provider shortage area (auto-HSPA) scores for Community Health Centers.
BHW is currently finalizing its first impact analysis, including initial estimates of updated auto-HPSA scores. Those estimates will be sent to state primary care offices in late August, roughly two weeks before Community Health Centers receive their scores. These scores will be for informational use only and are subject to change between now and spring 2019, when HRSA plans to finalize and update all auto-HPSA scores nationally.
According to HRSA, a "large number" of NHSC providers are currently placed based on auto-HPSA scores that have not been updated since 2002 or 2003. If their host facilities see their scores decrease significantly, they may lose their ability to recruit new NHSC providers (although they will be able to retain those they already have).
Through a database, HRSA shared the complete lists of all geographic areas, population groups and facilities designated as primary care, mental health, or dental care Health Professional Shortage Areas.
HRSA Behavioral Health Virtual Job Fair HRSA is hosting a virtual job fair for behavioral health professionals on October 17, 2018 from 7:00-10:15 p.m. E.T. Over 100 organizations recruiting for 1,000+ behavioral health vacancies will be online to describe their clinical environments, the populations they serve, and the rewards of providing care in their communities. To register click here.
Millennials Searching for Jobs the Old Fashioned Way – Physician Survey Results The results of a survey by CompHealth, in partnership with Hanover Research, reveal the surprising way early career physicians are finding jobs. It's more through old fashioned networking (personal connects, referrals, etc.) and less through social media networking.
The survey of nearly 600 physicians also showed that early career physicians often don't plan to spend more than a few years in their first job. Only 37 percent plan to stay in their first position beyond the end of their contract, 26 percent plan to move on to something new, and 37 percent are still undecided about what they want to do.
Millennials Influencing Nursing Profession – Nursing Survey Results Millennials are rapidly becoming the most dominant generation in the workplace, and in nursing, a new survey finds they are motivated to seek leadership roles, higher degrees, and professional development more than their generational counterparts.
The AMN Healthcare Survey of Millennial Nurses: A Dynamic Influence on the Profession, compares the views of millennial nurses (ages 19-36) to those of Generation X (ages 37-53) and Baby Boomer nurses (ages 54-71) regarding their expectations about their work environment and career futures.
Almost half of all Millennial RNs plan on becoming advanced practice nurses and 35 percent of Gen Xers feel the same way. While this bodes well for primary care and other advanced practice nurse specialties, it will likely cause staffing problems in hospitals and other settings that need RNs. To download the survey results click here.
National Center for Health Workforce Analysis releases new behavioral health research and tools The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis has created a data visualization tool for exploring state-by-state characteristics of the behavioral health workforce, such as credentialing requirements and authorized services performed. The new tool, Scopes of Practice for Behavioral Health Professionals, can be viewed here.
Bureau of Health Workforce - Grantee Engagement Plan BHW's Grantee Engagement Plan (GEP) provides forums for internal and external stakeholders to discuss the latest health care transformation topics involving evidence-based practice, innovative models, and research, with the purpose of advancing the healthcare workforce.
Some of the major activities of the GEP include an ongoing health professions training webinar series and a grantee peer learning collaborative. Learn more and register for the Workforce Grand Rounds webinar series here.
The peer learning teams focus on academic and community partnerships; behavioral health integration/opioids; and rural health. For more information about the learning teams contact Cmdr. Kent Forde at KForde@hrsa.gov.
NYU School of Medicine offers Free Tuition The NYU School of Medicine will fully fund the tuition for its current and future students regardless of need or merit, the school announced today. The medical school has raised $450 million of its $600 million goal to cover the tuition for about 440 students enrolled in the M.D. program in perpetuity. The current cost of tuition is $55,018 a year. To read more click here.
New York State Health Workforce Planning Data Guide Goes Live The Center for Health Workforce Studies recently announced the release of the New York State Health Workforce Planning Data Guide. The new data guide is an interactive, user-friendly tool that applies data visualization techniques to health care in New York, including its workforce. To learn more about the data guide, watch the video here.
2017 New York Residency Training Outcomes: A Summary of Responses to the 2017 New York Resident Exit Survey The Center for Health Workforce Studies recently released a report on New York Residency Training Outcomes. Nearly 60% of recently trained physicians plan to practice out of state. The most common reasons for leaving are better salary outside of NY, proximity to family and better jobs in desired locations. To read the full report clickhere.
A Comparative Analysis of New York’s Active Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants Demand for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) has been growing in recent years, in part because of their ability to expand access to care for underserved populations. Using available data, The Center for Health Workforce Studies conducted a comparative analysis of the state’s NPs and PAs to better understand their similarities and differences. This brief highlights the findings of that analysis.
National Health Service Corps: Opt-In Deadline Extended to August 14 Later this year, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) will make available an additional $105 million in NHSC Loan Repayment Program awards in order to expand and improve access to quality opioid and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in rural and underserved areas. You are eligible to opt in if your site provides any of the following services:
Opioid treatment program. Facilities certified by SAMHSA
Office-based opioid treatment. Outpatient facilities with providers eligible to administer Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Non-opioid outpatient SUD treatment facilities. Outpatient facilities that offer SUD treatment services (but do not provide MAT) as demonstrated on their websites or in other organizational materials.
All NHSC sites, including health centers and NHSC auto-approved sites, must opt in for their providers to be eligible for this additional SUD treatment funding. HRSA has extended the deadline to opt in to Tuesday, August 14th at 11:59 p.m. ET. Click here to learn more.
NHSC Launches New Website The NHSC has launched a new website with an enhanced, more user-friendly design. Specific improvements include: streamlined navigation and content; quick links to frequently-used resources; mobile responsive design, accessible from smartphones and/or tablets; and searchable member story videos. Click here to access it.
The Behavioral Health Workforce: Planning, Practice, and Preparation Last month, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, in collaboration with the University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center (a HRSA-funded entity), released a special supplement entitled, The Behavioral Health Workforce: Planning, Practice, and Preparation that features expert research on behavioral health workforce planning, factors affecting service delivery and practice, and strategies and best practices for workforce preparation. Click here to access it.
Administrative Strategies to Reduce Burnout The STAR2 spring/summer webinar series, Administrative Strategies to Reduce Burnout, concluded on June 28th. The recordings, slides, and references from each session have been posted on the STAR2 website. Click here to explore the series at your own pace and get started on addressing burnout in your organization.
HRSA Announces Availability of Updated HPSA Lists Earlier this month, HRSA announced the availability of the complete lists of all geographic areas, population groups, and facilities designated as primary care, mental health, and/or dental care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA). These lists are available on the HPSA Find website and are current as of May 1, 2018. Please note the official withdrawal (de-designation) of HPSAs that have been placed in "proposed for withdrawal" status in the Shortage Designation Management System.
NACHC Salary Survey Now Available The NACHC Health Center Salary & Benefits Report is now available to be ordered. If you participated in the survey, you are entitled to a free copy. The Salary and Benefits report is the most comprehensive source of compensation and benefits information offered by community-based health centers nationwide. New to this year's study is the position Chief Compliance Officer. Cost of the survey is $65 for NACHC members and $165 for non-members.
NPs Providing More Primary Care A new study headed by faculty at the University of Pennsylvania and appearing in Health Affairs demonstrates the increasingly important role that nurse practitioners (NP) play in primary care throughout the United States. Using national physician practice-level data from 2008-2016, the authors found that more practices are employing NPs and that there are more NPs in each practice. In 2016, 43.4% of rural practices employed at least one NP, up from 31.4% in 2008. Non-rural practices saw a similar trend: in 2016, 26.5% of non-rural practices employed at least one NP, up from 18.3% in 2008. The average number of NPs per practice also increased significantly in both rural (1.34 to 1.64) and non-rural (1.47 to 1.67) practices. Read the entire abstract on the Leonard Davis Institute website or check out the Health Affairs article here (Note: Health Affairs is a subscription-based publication; a one-time fee may be necessary to view).
Family Docs, NPs and PAs in High Demand The recruitment firm Merritt Hawkins has released its 2018 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives. For the 12th consecutive year, family physicians were the most requested recruiting assignment for Merritt Hawkins, illustrating the need for primary care physicians and the difficulty in recruiting them. For the third consecutive year, psychiatrists were second on the list. Demand for nurse practitioners and physician assistants continues to accelerate. Merritt Hawkins says it conducted more searches for NPs and PAs in the previous year than in any other 12-month period tracked by the review. Download your copy of the review here.
HRSA Workforce Grand Rounds Archive Now Available In case you missed the Workforce Grand Rounds Webinar Series, "Building Health Equity: The Link between Social Determinants, Healthy Communities and Workforce Training," a recording is now available (download presentations and sign up for Workforce Grand Rounds email updates from within the recording).
Webinar Series: Administrative Strategies to Reduce Burnout This webinar series hosted by the STAR² Center will highlight some common challenges in primary care settings that lead to burnout and identify areas for intervention and innovation at a personal and organizational level to reduce it and promote retention. For registration information and to view all the sessions at a glance, click here.
STAR² Center Spring Regional Workforce Trainings The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved STAR² Center invites workforce staff from all health centers and Primary Care Associations in Regions 1, 2 & 3, 6, and 10 to participate in full-day trainings on relevant recruitment and retention topics taught by workforce experts. Click here to read more and to register.
Scholarships for CASAC Certificate Program Outreach Training Institute is offering full scholarships to its Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) training program through the NYS Dept. of Health's Workforce Retraining Initiative. For more information, click here.
HRSA Workforce Grand Rounds Webinar Series: Webinar Recording Available In case you missed the Workforce Grand Rounds Webinar Series, Provider Well-Being: Moving from Triple to Quadruple Aim in Clinical Training, a recording is now available. Click here to access it and download the presentations.
Workforce Development T/TA from CHC Inc. and Weitzman Institute Together with the Weitzman Institute, Community Health Center, Inc. provides training and technical assistance designed to expand health centers’ strategies for recruiting, developing, and retaining clinical workforce. Webinars and learning collaboratives focus on implementing post-graduate nurse practitioner and clinical psychology residencies at health centers and advancing the team-based care model. To learn more, click here.
AAMC Releases Statement on Diversity in Healthcare Workforce The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) recently released a statement and accompanying resources on the need to promote a diverse and culturally competent health care workforce, noting that that diversity in the health professions leads to improvements in access to care for the underserved, enhanced learning environments that increase creativity and innovation for all students, and positive patient experiences and health outcomes. Click here to read more.
Geriatrics Not Drawing Enough New Doctors The geriatrics specialty was unable to attract enough future doctors to its fellowship programs this year, according to a recent article by Maria Castallucci in Modern Healthcare. Despite the aging of the U.S. population, only 35 of 139 geriatric fellowship programs filled their appointments according to the National Residency Match Program. The programs offered a combined 387 positions for residents, but only filled 176 positions. To read the article, click here.
Trends in Demand for New Physicians, 2012-2016: A Summary of Demand Indicators for 34 Physician Specialties Each year, SUNY Albany's Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS) conducts a survey of all physicians completing a residency or fellowship training in the state of New York (Resident Exit Survey). Conducted annually, this survey reveals trends that are useful in projecting future physician supply and demand and provides the medical education community with valuable information on both outcomes of training and demand for new physicians by specialty. Analysis of survey responses from 2012 through 2016 resulted in profiles for 34 physician specialties and shows that the demand for primary care physicians is stronger than the demand for non-primary care physicians. To view the report, click here.
Gender Pay Gaps Widen for Newly Trained Physicians The difference in income for new male and female doctors in New York has more than doubled from 2010 to 2016, according to a study from CHWS. It is generally recognized that income differences between men and women have persisted over time. Using data drawn from CHWS’ annual Resident Exit Survey, CHWS researchers analyzed salary trends for new physicians who completed training in New York over the past 15 years. They learned that despite the growing percentage of women completing training in the state’s graduate medical education programs, pay gaps between newly trained male and female physicians persist and are widening. To read more, click here.
NACHC Partners with Colleges and Universities Staff at NACHC member health centers can benefit from a new NACHC education initiative. For more information on NACHC's new partnerships with colleges and universities to increase educational and career opportunities, visit NACHC's Workforce Education Solutions webpage and this blog.
Transgender Telehealth Telemedicine is helping transgender and gender non-conforming people to access specialized medical care, particularly in rural or conservative areas that have fewer (if any) providers who can accommodate such needs than in bigger, cosmopolitan places. Read more from VICE here.
Advanced Practitioners Oppose AMA Effort to Limit Practice Authority Advanced practice nurses are opposing an American Medical Association decision to launch a campaign focused on limiting independent practice of non-physician practitioners across state lines. AMA delegates passed a resolution in November calling for a national strategy that would "effectively oppose the continual, nationwide efforts to grant independent practice to non-physician practitioners." The AMA specifically opposes the Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Compact, an initiative by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing that allows advanced practice registered nurses with one state license to practice in other states. Read more on the Modern Healthcare website.
More Women Than Men Enrolled in U.S. Medical Schools in 2017 For the first time, the number of women enrolling in U.S. medical schools has exceeded the number of men, according to new data released in December by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Females represented 50.7% of the 21,338 matriculants (new enrollees) in 2017, compared with 49.8% in 2016. Female matriculants increased by 3.2% this year, while male matriculants declined by 0.3%. Since 2015, the number of female matriculants has grown by 9.6%, while the number of male matriculants has declined by 2.3%. Overall, the number of matriculants in U.S. medical schools rose by 1.5% this year, and total enrollment stands at 89,904 students. While the majority of matriculants this year were female, males remained a slight majority (50.4%) of applicants. Entering classes at the nation's medical schools continue to diversify. To read more, click here.
Recruitment and Retention of Behavioral Health Providers The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Integrated Health Solutions (SCIHS) recently hosted a webinar offering tips and practical tools for better understanding and addressing the key factors in identifying and retaining behavioral health positions in integrated care settings. The webinar featured speakers from the HRSA-funded Lynn Community Health Center, as well as other experts. They shared core competencies for practicing within an integrated team, selecting professions that are the right fit for relevant populations and integrated environments, and marketing behavioral health positions. To access the webinar recording, click here.
ACU STAR² Center Releases Individual Recruitment and Retention Profiles HRSA has developed the Health Workforce Connector to help current and future health professionals find careers in underserved areas. Browse more than 5,000 job opportunities throughout nearly 22,000 sites and create a searchable profile to highlight and share your professional experience, education, and employment preferences with sites searching for qualified candidates. To get started, clickhere.
Build Your Searchable Profile on HRSA’s Health Workforce Connector The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) developed the Health Workforce Connector to help current and future health professionals find careers in underserved areas. Users can browse more than 5,000 job opportunities throughout nearly 22,000 sites and create a searchable profile to highlight and share professional experience, education, and employment preferences with sites searching for qualified candidates. To create your profile, click here.
Medical Scribes and Provider Satisfaction More than one-half of all US physicians experience burnout, with primary care physicians having one of the highest rates. Among the largest contributors to burnout is a growing clerical workload. A recent study published in the Annals of Family Medicine suggests that the use of scribes, who help to reduce physician burden by drafting documentation to be reviewed, attested, and signed, may produce significant improvements in overall physician satisfaction. To learn more, click here.
Nursing Shortage The percentage of nurses with bachelor's degrees increased from 44 percent in 2004 to 57 percent in 2013, but the nation will still fall short of its goal of 80 percent by the year 2020, according to study from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing published in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship. Read more here.
CHWS NYS Health Workforce Planning Guide The Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS), in collaboration with the Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology at Stony Brook University, recently developed a web-based tool to assist New York stakeholders in health workforce planning. The NYS Health Workforce Planning Guide draws data from a variety of sources on population demographics, health status, health outcomes, health care infrastructure and health workforce. Users can analyze available data at state, regional and county levels to inform health workforce planning and development. To view the data guide, click here.
NCHWA Releases Report on Diversity in U.S. Health Occupations The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA) recently released the Sex, Race, and Ethnic Diversity of U.S. Health Occupations (2011-2015) report, which provides an analysis of 30 health occupations in the U.S. To read it, click here.
Webinar Recording Available: Strengthening the Health Workforce Education Pipeline HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce recently hosted a webinar as part of the Workforce Grand Rounds Webinar Series entitled Strengthening the Health Workforce Education Pipeline: Tools, Resources and Outcomes. Click here to access the recording and related presentations.
Allied Health Career Pipeline Program The Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College of The City University of New York has a second round of the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to train 1071 individuals in its Allied Health Career Pipeline Program. The program is located in the South Bronx and in its satellite site in Upper Manhattan. Over the five-year project period, the Allied Health Career Pipeline Program will train individuals to become Clinical Medical Assistants (CMAs), Community Health Workers (CHWs), Health Information Technicians (HITs), Home Health Aides (HHAs), Patient Care Technicians (PCTs), and New York State Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs). Students will receive supportive services that include case management, childcare, transportation assistance, examination preparation courses, tutoring, enhanced career-focused internships, and job placement and retention assistance. For more information, click here.
Goodwill Industries: Workforce Development Program Goodwill Industries has been awarded a workforce development contract from the NYC HRA Career Pathways program. This program is designed to assist clients in formulating and implementing a plan to develop career goals and seeks to place them in paid/unpaid internships or volunteer opportunities that coincide with these goals. Organizations wishing to have interns/volunteers placed at their site may contact Tony Aguilar, Internship Coordinator/ Director of Goodwill Business Advisory Council at 347-381-6885 or taguilar@goodwillny.org or Daisy Velazquez, Internship Coordinator at dvelazquez@goodwillny.org. To view the solicitation, click here.
CHWS Report Examines Trends in Supply and Demand for NYS Health Workers Recently released by the Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS), Trends in the Supply and Demand for Health Workers (2015-16) summarizes recent data and information about New York’s health workforce in order to assist policymakers and other stakeholders in targeting health workforce education and job training resources to address the most pressing health care workforce needs; guide health workforce policies, including decisions about the capacity of health professions education programs; and inform current and prospective students about health care employment prospects and opportunities. Read it here.