A newly released report from the Missouri Hospital Association indicates the state’s hospital workforce vacancy and turnover rates are volatile, with significant variation regionally among the surveyed professions.
Healthcare officials said the report underscores the need for targeted, local investment by all stakeholders, including policymakers and those who educate and employ health professionals.
“Healthcare jobs are in demand,” said Herb B. Kuhn, MHA President and CEO. “A variety of factors are leading to high vacancy and turnover rates regionally and statewide. To stabilize the workforce, a concerted effort on the part of stakeholders, at the state, regional and local level, will be required.”
Last year, hospital workforce data suggested progress toward a supply and demand equilibrium. This year’s report indicates a return to volatility. No singular cause is likely to be driving increased rates of vacancy and turnover. Conversely, various external factors seem to be influencing worker entry, exit and mobility within the workforce simultaneously. Some of these factors include an aging workforce and population, a higher rate of chronic health conditions and an increase in the insured.
Three of the top six professions for turnover are in the nursing field, including two registered nurse professions. The two highest turnover professions are unlicensed assistive personnel at 32.6 percent and licensed practical nurse, non-IV certified at 20.4 percent.
“Although a return to a more volatile talent pool isn’t good news for hospitals, it is representative of a labor market with high demand for workers,” Kuhn said. “And, there was good news for hospitals and healthcare in that the vacancy and turnover rates for nurse practitioners remained relatively stable and the rates for physician assistants dropped significantly. These physician extenders are vital to expanded delivery of primary care services.”
In Missouri, approximately 44 percent of the advanced practice registered nurse workforce is age 50 or older. Among the R.N. workforce, 42 percent are age 50 or older. It is estimated that nearly half of nurses over the age of 50 plan on retiring in 10 years.
Based on the increases in vacancies and turnover, it appears that health professionals who were once deferring retirement or switching from part-time to full-time employment as a result of the economic downturn are beginning to retire.
Retirements and an aging healthcare workforce are a threat to the healthcare system’s ability to keep pace with the growing number of insured individuals and the transition of the baby boomer generation into the Medicare program. There are approximately 54 million Medicare beneficiaries in the U.S., presently. By 2013, there will be as many as 80 million. Missouri currently has 1 million Medicare beneficiaries. If the state follows national trends, there could be as many as 1.5 million in just 15 years.
Hospitals have invested significantly in efforts to expand the healthcare workforce. Most recently, MHA provided approximately $2 million in grant funding to individual projects at hospitals throughout the state. The “Grow Your Own” grants were awarded to fund programs designed to grow the workforce locally. The projects are in their final year and best practices for innovation in developing and attracting talent locally will be available when the projects end.
MHA also contributed $500,000 again this year to support the state’s Primary Care Resource Initiative for Missouri, or PRIMO program. Since 1998, hospitals have contributed $11.4 million to the program. This is in addition to the scholarships available through community hospitals, their local foundations and hospital auxiliaries that provide assistance to individuals pursuing advanced healthcare training in their communities.
“There is no single solution to the state’s healthcare workforce challenge. However, there’s great need and tremendous opportunity,” Kuhn said. “Job openings in healthcare are at a 14-year high, and according to Kiplinger, six of the top 10 best occupations of the future are in health care. High vacancy and turnover is costly for hospitals, but they represent a great opportunity for job seekers as both the healthcare workforce and the model of care delivery transitions. As more workers enter the professions, the workforce should stabilize.”
A total of 151 hospitals participated in this year’s survey: 135 in Missouri, nine in Kansas and seven in Illinois. The survey requested data on 36 healthcare positions. In 2014, one new hospital position and five new healthcare positions in clinic and physician practices were added to the survey.
•The healthcare and social assistance industry grew 10.4 percent from the previous year.
•Six of the top 10 occupations by earnings are in healthcare. These include family and general practitioners, physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, and medical and health services managers.
•The South Central region has the highest turnover rate in the state for physician assistants (60%), medical laboratory technicians (50%), medical records coders (46.4%) and surgical technicians (40.9%).
•The region’s licensed practical nurse (I.V. and non I.V. certified) turnover rates are higher than the statewide average at 18.7 and 24.3 percent.
•The radiologic technologist position has the highest vacancy rate in the state (14%). • Seven of the top 10 occupations by projected growth as of 2022 are in healthcare and include psychologists, occupational therapy assistants, specialties teachers (postsecondary), nursing instructors and teachers (postsecondary), diagnostic medical sonographers, occupational therapists and physical therapist assistants.
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