The health workforce is on the front line of the Coronavirus pandemic. There is a critical need to develop effective strategies to assure the availability of a sufficiently sized and well-trained health workforce to care for patients during the pandemic. Strategies must also be considered to replenish workforce supply as health workers fall ill, are…
A diverse oral health workforce is important for providing care to patients of different backgrounds and improving health equity overall. Unfortunately, Blacks and Hispanics are underrepresented in dental education programs and in the larger oral health workforce. This article describes a study that analyzed the demographic data of dental programs and recent graduates and conducted…
Due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, the American Rescue Plan and the CARES act have provided major increases to healthcare funding. However, planning and accountability are needed to ensure that this new funding is spent responsibly and equitably to address the nations most pressing health needs. This article provides recommendations for organizations to…
The COVID-19 pandemic has had harsh impacts on low-income and racial and ethnic minority communities, as well as the clinicians who provide care to these communities. This article examines the results of a survey of safety-net health care practitioners (including physical, dental, and behavioral health providers) participating in the National Health Service Corps in 20…
Studies have shown that sufficient nurse staffing is essential for the delivery of quality care and safe working conditions that are associated with better patient outcomes. As of 2020, 14 states had legislation to increase nurse staffing in hospitals. The legislation includes 3 main approaches: 1.) mandating minimum nurse staffing ratios in hospitals; 2.) mandating a…
As the COVID-19 pandemic surged throughout the United States, increased demand for health workers led to the implementation of health workforce data and tools to aid planning and response at local, state, and national levels. This article describes the development of 2 estimator tools—the State Hospital Workforce Deficit Estimator and the Contract Tracing Workforce Estimator—designed…
Studies have shown that integrated behavioral health (IBH) is an important model for reducing costs and improving patient outcomes, but issues with financing this method of care have mitigated implementation efforts. Psychiatric collaborative care management (CoCM) and behavioral health integration (BHI) codes allow for the financing of certain IBH services. This brief describes a study…
Many patients without access to private insurance rely on primary care providers who take Medicaid to receive quality, affordable care. However, the number and proportion of primary care providers who take Medicaid varies widely by geographic location. This interactive map allows users to view the number and proportion of primary care providers who take Medicaid…
Low wage workers such as janitors and food service workers are essential for ensuring that hospital settings are able to function. These workers experience similar pandemic-related stressors as physicians and nurses, but their experiences and needs are less likely to be visible. This article describes a study that conducted interviews with low wage workers to…
Studies have shown that the pandemic has increased the prevalence of mental health issues and the demand for behavioral health services. Telehealth services have also been expanded to help deal with the increased demand. To continue to improve workforce capacity and ensure that the current workforce is utilized appropriately, more research needs to be done…
