Few studies have examined practice redesign to understand how staffing changed with the adoption of patient-centered medical homes (PCMH), and whether these staffing changes impacted utilization. This article examines the workforce transformation occurring in community health centers that have achieved PCMH status and assesses the relationship of those changes to utilization, as measured by the…
Systematically quantifying and tracking the evolution of the health workforce is a challenge, yet it is important for identifying emerging demands for different skills and competencies. Real Time Labor Market Information (RT-LMI), a source of data that is increasingly used to monitor workforce demand, extracts information from online job ads to track demand for general…
Medical assistants (MAs) are key members of the health care team and are assuming new and expanded roles amid health care delivery transformation. Some health care employers are turning to apprenticeships to meet their MA workforce needs. This report describes MA apprenticeships through literature review and analysis of interviews with key personnel involved with programs…
Only about a quarter of physician assistants (PAs) practice in primary care and more are needed to enter primary care. In comparison, findings from this study found that nearly half of matriculating students entered with the intent to practice in primary care based on data from the 2013-2014 Physician Assistant Education Association Matriculating Student Survey…
Information on the supply of workers in a local job market is important when determining whether there are qualified workers to fill health care jobs in demand. The American Community Survey (ACS), a publicly available annual survey of over 3.5 million households conducted by the US Census Bureau, has been a regular source of information…
This rapid-response brief provides information about the respiratory therapist workforce in the US. It includes descriptions of the supply, distribution, and education pathways of the workforce. The brief also addresses COVID-19 emergency concerns about the respiratory therapist workforce capacity and examples of state approaches to address workforce gaps.ArrayBrief Arrayhttps://depts.washington.edu/fammed/chws/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/04/2020-Respiratory-Therapist-RR-Brief.pdfApril 16, 2020Array, Array, Array, Array, Array…
Many healthcare organizations are rethinking provider roles and responsibilities to help their workforce best serve the needs of their patients. At the same time, regulations at the state and organizational levels restrict providers scope of practice. This article discusses potential adjustments to scope of practice regulations to allow healthcare organizations to provide the best possible…
Chronic pain is widespread among US adults, and overreliance on pharmacological approaches to managing this pain has contributed to the nation’s opioid addiction crisis. There is growing recognition of the importance of directing patients towards non-pharmacological approaches to manage pain. This report compares 10 different health care occupations and certified practitioners in providing non-pharmacological pain…
In order for the current health workforce to meet the increasing demand brought about by the pandemic, health care delivery organizations, educators, and government leaders will need to work together to adapt regulations to expand workforce capacity. Strategies such as expanding scopes of practice, developing cross-state licensure programs, and increasing telehealth services are essential. This…
Therapy assistants represent approximately half of the therapy workforce in skilled nursing facilities. Employment of therapy assistants enables skilled nursing facilities to provide more therapy services at lower costs. As new payment mechanisms provide incentives for therapy in skilled nursing facilities, employment of therapy assistants may be a cost-effective way to continue to provide services…
