Healthcare Workforce Summit explores strategies for addressing workforce challenges

Denver, CO — The National Governors Association (NGA) successfully concluded its Healthcare Workforce Summit in Denver, Colorado, bringing together key stakeholders from across the healthcare sector to discuss and formulate strategies for addressing staffing challenges.

The summit took place August 21- 23, 2023 with presentations, discussions, and panel sessions on topics including:

LEVERAGING STRATEGIES FOR WORKFORCE GROWTH — where participants discussed methods for expanding the healthcare workforce to meet growing demands.

INSIGHTS FROM HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION — where insights into the current state of the healthcare workforce and the agency's initiatives to support its growth and development were discussed.

HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY — explored the global economy's impact on the healthcare workforce, offering comparative insights to inspire cross-border collaboration.

INNOVATIONS SUPPORTING THE DIRECT CARE WORKFORCE — looked at technological advancements and strategies aimed at enhancing support for the direct care workforce, ensuring they have the tools they need to deliver quality care.

INTERSECTIONS OF AGING AND DISABILITY ON WORKFORCE NEEDS — concerned the challenges and opportunities arising from the intersections of aging and disability, shedding light on how the workforce can adapt to these evolving needs.

ALIGNING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE PRIORITIES — discussed aligning workforce priorities with the demands of behavioral health services, recognizing the critical role of mental health in overall well-being.

CROSS-PROFESSION HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE DATA — where experts shared insights into the importance of cross-profession healthcare workforce data for informed decision-making and effective resource allocation.

ASG was represented by Patrick Ti'a Reid, public policy advisor; Dr. Siniva Tuileto'a-Mann, special projects manager; and Leeandra Hala, LBJ Tropical Medical Center's recruiting/ credentialing coordinator.

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE:

High-Level Coordination: Defining clear roles and responsibilities across stakeholders to facilitate effective collaboration and resource allocation.

Nursing Pipeline Creation: Proposing the establishment of a nursing pipeline that begins with early nursing classes in high school, nurturing a future generation of healthcare professionals from an early age.

Data-Driven Decision-Making: Creating and leveraging comprehensive data to gain insights into the evolving needs of the healthcare community, enabling informed decision-making for workforce development.

After the NGA workshop in June 2023, the Office of the Governor has taken the lead to coordinate meetings with all local healthcare key stakeholders, including the American Samoa Community College and its Nursing Program, LBJ Medical Center, the American Samoa Department of Health, the American Samoa Department of Education, and the American Samoa Department of Human Resources.

These coordinating meetings, which began in July 2023, focus on developing and creating a strategic plan to address urgent needs related to the shortage of staff, supporting early enrollment in the nursing program within K-12 education, review scholarship and stipends for new, current and returning nursing students, improve pay structures, and establish viable career pathways for healthcare professionals.