Just Released…
Development of a Comprehensive Method for Identifying Facilities with Nursing Shortages
The Center recently completed a research study for the Division of Shortage Designation at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to identify and evaluate different methods for identifying facilities and communities in the U.S. with critical shortages of registered nurses (RNs). Working under the guidance of a national advisory panel, the research team explored a number of methods in each of two broad categories, methods that incorporate both facility and geographic data and methods that use only geographic data. The report of this research documents the strengths and weaknesses of different methods and identifies approaches that appear to be especially effective or promising. The report is available at: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/nursingshortage/default.htm.
The Contribution of New York Graduate Medical Education (GME) to Primary Care in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)
With over 15,000 residents and fellows training in more than 1,100 programs in the state, New York leads the nation in GME. The Center analyzed the primary care medical workforce in underserved communities in New York to better understand the contribution of New York’s GME to these areas. Of the primary care physicians practicing in primary care HPSAs in the state, more than 75% completed their GME in New York. View the brief here: https://www.chwsny.org/download.php?f=dd9e2686bc0c424446ab85a0f35e5e08.
Iroquois Healthcare Alliance Member Survey on Physician Recruitment and Retention
There is concern that the changing distribution of physicians in upstate New York is threatening the ability of some hospitals to deliver basic health services, especially as the state’s population ages. This report summarizes findings from a 2007 survey about physician recruitment and retention efforts of hospitals that are part of the Iroquois Healthcare Alliance (IHA). The survey found that the vast majority of IHA hospitals reported physician vacancies both in their facilities and community-based practices. These hospitals also reported making sizable investments in their efforts to recruit and retain physicians for jobs both in and out of hospitals. View the complete report here: https://www.chwsny.org/download.php?f=5e6a129de22ce9345ccb605d67c2ef73.
New York Registered Nursing Graduations, 1996-2008
To understand trends affecting the supply of registered nurses (RNs) in New York, the Center surveys RN education programs in the state annually. The survey includes questions on applications, acceptances, and graduations as well as assessments of educational capacity and of the local nursing job market. The 2006 survey found that the number of RN graduations in the state increased for the fourth consecutive year and is projected to continue to rise in 2007 and 2008. Nearly 80% of bachelor’s nursing education programs reported increases in the number of student acceptances, compared to only 25% of associate degree nursing programs. For the full report of 2006 survey findings, go to https://www.chwsny.org/download.php?f=b96d5665c7f7ca4ebe70ed774d2492b3.
Works in Progress…
The Health Services Researcher of 2020: A Summit to Assess the Field’s Workforce Needs
AcademyHealth, the national professional association representing health services researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners, is convening a one-day invitational meeting on November 30, 2007 with key stakeholders from the field of health services research to discuss the field’s workforce, with a goal to improve workforce planning and coordination. The Center was invited to prepare one of three commissioned papers, The Current Stock of Health Services Researchers, which will be presented at the summit. The remaining two papers will focus on the production of this workforce and demand for their services, respectively.
New York Physician Workforce Requirements Assessment
In 2007, the Center for Health Workforce Studies received support from the New York State Department of Health to conduct an assessment of the future supply of and demand for physicians in New York through 2020. Using physician forecasting models developed by HRSA and adapted to incorporate data specific to New York, the Center will apply a number of different supply and demand scenarios to estimate physician workforce requirements in New York by sub-state region and by specialty. The Center anticipates releasing a report of this research by March 31, 2008.
Other News…
Jean Moore, the Director of the Center, attended the Adirondack Health Care Summit that was convened in Lake George on August 30, 2007, and gave a presentation on trends in the supply and distribution of physicians in the Adirondacks. Between 2001 and 2005, there was a 9% decline in full-time equivalent primary care physicians per 100,000 population practicing in the Adirondack region.
Tell us what you think…
We’d like to hear from you. Please give us feedback on our website or on any of the reports or information we have posted to it. E-mail us at chws@health.state.ny.us.