The medical laboratory workforce plays a critical role in the US health care system, highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic by a heightened need for workers to meet drastic increases in demand for COVID-19 testing. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated existing medical laboratory workforce challenges. To address future demand, it is crucial to examine the…
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers with less formal education, such as nursing assistants and home care aides, were more likely to experience economic insecurity—including real or perceived financial instability—compared to their more highly educated counterparts, such as physicians and nurses. To understand how the pandemic affected these workers, researchers analyzed economic insecurity during…
Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) play a dual role, offering post-acute care services to short-stay patients and long-term care for permanent residents. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing in SNFs has garnered significant national attention, with efforts underway to enhance the quality of patient care. While research indicates that staffing levels for non-nursing roles…
Burnout has long been a concern among health care workers, leading to various mental and physical health conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this issue, as health care workers faced extended hours, increased workloads, and the emotional toll of caring for a higher number of dying patients. These factors have contributed to a significant rise in…
Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) have recently experienced 2 major disruptions impacting staffing: 1) the Medicare payment reform in October 2019, which significantly altered reimbursement incentives for post-acute stays, and 2) the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic. Extensive research has been conducted on how these events have affected nurse staffing in SNFs, including registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical…
Community pharmacies are among the most accessible health care sites in the United States. Community pharmacists offer many services including medication optimization, chronic and acute care management, wellness and prevention, and patient education. However, community pharmacies face several barriers that have impeded patients’ ability to universally access these services. This article describes the impact of…
Over the next 5 years, approximately 1.5 million military service members will separate from the military. As a growing industry, healthcare may hold job opportunities, especially for entry level allied health positions, that are ideal for military veterans transitioning into the civilian sector. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many veterans, including those with healthcare experience, have…
Across the US, the integration of behavioral health with primary care likely will take place under different models, at varying rates, and to varying degrees. Developing the behavioral health workforce needed for integration requires ongoing resources (including data and analysis, planning, policies, and funding) with support needed at the national, state and community levels. This…
There are approximately 20 million military veterans in the United States, among which 4.6 million are from the post-9/11 period of service. One study found that healthcare is the third most common industry in which male veterans work, and healthcare occupations are among the fastest growing opportunities for male veterans. Among Gulf War veterans, male…
This report compares national estimates of the supply and characteristics of 9 types of allied health workers drawn from 4 publicly available national data sources: the American Community Survey (ACS), the Current Population Survey (CPS), the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES), and the National Provider Identifier (NPI) Registry. The 9 occupations (or occupation groups) examined are…
