What if the appointment you booked for getting a health checkup or a treatment gets pushed to a month or what if there is a long waiting time despite you having an appointment? With the current healthcare workforce shortage in the US, this situation is slowly becoming a reality. The shortage of qualified healthcare workers access to care is being impacted resulting in longer wait times and reduced services.

The American Hospital Association projects a potential deficit of up to 3.2 million healthcare workers by 2026.¹ This means potentially longer wait times, fewer appointment slots, and increased pressure on existing healthcare staff.

So, what’s causing this shortage, and what can be done to address it? Let’s delve deeper and explore some potential solutions. 

Why Is there a shortage of healthcare workers?

1. Aging Population and Increased Demand

The country’s growing population, particularly those age 65 and older, demands greater medical care. People in that age group now account for 34% of the demand for physicians and By 2034 this number will increase to 42%. With advancing age comes an increased prevalence of chronic illnesses and complex healthcare needs, thereby escalating the need for skilled healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care and support.

2. Specialized Care

Modern healthcare is a mix of specialized services, each demanding a unique set of skills and expertise. However, the rapid evolution of medical technology and treatment modalities has outpaced the supply of specialized healthcare professionals. This has resulted in critical shortages in fields such as oncology, cardiology, and neurology.

3. Limited Talent Pipeline

The pipeline of talent flowing into the healthcare industry faces numerous obstructions, from the exorbitant costs of education and training, to the rigorous licensing and certification requirements. Consequently, the influx of fresh blood into the profession fails to match the escalating demand, exacerbating the workforce shortage.

4. Post COVID Burnout

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacted a heavy toll on healthcare workers, leaving many grappling with burnout, trauma, and emotional exhaustion. The onslaught of patients, coupled with inadequate resources and moral injury, has precipitated a crisis within the healthcare workforce, driving talented professionals to reconsider their career choices.

5. Lack of Instructors

The shortage of qualified instructors within healthcare education institutions presents a bottleneck in the journey of aspiring healthcare professionals. Without seasoned mentors, prospective nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals encounter barriers to entry, further constricting the talent pipeline.

6. Relatively Low Pay for the Rigors of the Profession

Healthcare professions demand unwavering dedication, exhaustive training, and a willingness to confront life-and-death situations on a daily basis. However, Compared to the demanding nature of the work, salaries for some healthcare professions may not be sufficiently competitive. This discourages potential candidates from entering the field.

7. Nursing and Physician Shortage

At the frontline of patient care, nurses and physicians bear the brunt of the workforce shortage. Hospitals and clinics across the nation find themselves understaffed, leading to limited patient care, increased workload, stress, and nurse burnout.

How bad is the healthcare worker shortage?

The healthcare worker shortage in the US is significant and projected to worsen. Let’s have a look at the data on projected shortage, which are the high-demand areas, and what is the national and global impact of this healthcare workforce shortage.

Projected Shortages

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) projected a deficit of 1.1 million registered nurses (RNs) by 2030.² Similarly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) foresees a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034, intensifying the strain on an already overburdened healthcare system. ³ This projection is underscored by the expected 48% increase in the over-65 population by the same year. Also, a significant portion of the existing physician workforce will be approaching retirement age making this crisis even worse.

High Demand Areas

The increasing demand for mental health services will result in a projected shortage of 14,280 psychiatrists by 2030.⁴ Advanced Practice Providers (NPs and PAs) emerge as indispensable allies in the battle against the physician shortage, with the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) anticipating a 38% growth in PA jobs by 2030.⁵

National Impact

The AHA reports that hospitals are experiencing staffing shortages in virtually every department. This translates into longer wait times, reduced access to services, and heightened levels of burnout among healthcare providers. The scarcity of physicians is likely to pose greater challenges in rural regions compared to urban centers. Recent statistics on Healthcare Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) reveal that predominantly rural states such as Utah, Vermont, and Tennessee, along with remote territories like Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, exhibit the most severe deficits in medical professionals per capita.

Global Perspective

The specter of the healthcare worker shortage is not confined to the borders of the United States; it’s playing out on the global stage as well. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of a global shortage of 10 million health workers by 2030, with low and middle-income countries bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Where Is the Shortage of Healthcare Professionals Most Dramatic?

Physicians

The shortage of physicians is being experienced across the healthcare landscape, impacting accessibility of both primary and specialty care services. It is particularly severe in family medicine because more than ever, physicians are choosing specialized fields compared to primary care.

Nurses

Nurses serve as the backbone of the healthcare system, yet the shortage of registered nurses (RNs) undermines their ability to deliver quality care, particularly in acute care settings. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) highlights data indicating that the nation will require over 200,000 fresh nurse practitioners annually until 2026 to meet the demands of new roles and to replace retiring nursing staff.

Healthcare Educators

The shortage of qualified educators within healthcare education institutions reduces the talent pipeline, resulting in fewer next-generation healthcare professionals joining the workforce. More people want to become nurses, but there are not enough teachers to meet this need.

Midwives

The shortage of midwives poses a formidable challenge in the realm of maternal and infant healthcare, impeding efforts to improve birth outcomes and maternal mortality rates. Midwives can address a shortage of O.B./GYNs and make childbirth care more accessible for everyone.

Healthcare workforce shortage solutions

1. Enhancing Work Environments

• Combatting Burnout: Implementing comprehensive programs to address burnout and promote resilience among healthcare workers is imperative. This may encompass access to mental health resources, peer support initiatives, and organizational interventions aimed at mitigating stressors in the workplace.
• Work-Life Balance: Instituting policies and practices that foster a healthy work-life balance is essential to attract and retain healthcare professionals. This could entail offering flexible scheduling options, paid time off, and childcare support to accommodate the diverse needs of the workforce.

2. Expanding Educational Pathways

• Increasing Nursing School Capacity: Scaling up nursing education programs and investing in faculty recruitment and retention efforts can expand the capacity to train future generations of nurses.
• Loan Repayment and Scholarship Programs: Alleviating the financial burden of healthcare education through targeted loan repayment and scholarship programs can incentivize individuals, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, to pursue careers in healthcare.
• Focus on Diversity: Cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce requires concerted efforts to dismantle barriers to entry and create pathways for individuals from underrepresented communities to thrive in healthcare careers.

3. Optimizing the Workforce

• Telehealth Integration: Harnessing the potential of telehealth technologies can extend the reach of healthcare services and alleviate the burden on frontline providers, particularly in underserved and remote areas.
• Upskilling and Reskilling Programs: Investing in continuous professional development programs can equip healthcare professionals with the competencies needed to adapt to evolving practice environments and emerging healthcare trends.
• Streamlining Workflows with Technology: Embracing digital innovations such as electronic health records (EHRs), artificial intelligence, and automation can streamline administrative tasks and optimize clinical workflows, allowing healthcare providers to focus their time and energy on delivering high-quality patient care.

4. Compensation and Policy Adjustments

• Competitive Wages and Benefits: Recognizing the value of healthcare professionals’ contributions by offering competitive salaries, robust benefits packages, and performance-based incentives is crucial to attract and retain top talent.
• Immigration Reform: Reforming immigration policies to facilitate the entry of qualified foreign healthcare workers can help address critical staffing shortages, particularly in underserved areas where healthcare recruitment efforts may fall short.
• Loan Forgiveness Programs: Implementing targeted loan forgiveness programs for healthcare professionals serving in high-need areas or in specialty fields facing acute shortages can incentivize workforce participation and encourage professionals to pursue careers in areas of critical need.

5. Encouraging a Culture of Healthcare

• Public Awareness Campaigns: Launching comprehensive public awareness campaigns to spotlight the diverse range of career opportunities within the healthcare sector must underscore the intrinsic value of healthcare professions.
• Mentorship Programs: Establishing mentorship initiatives to pair seasoned healthcare professionals with aspiring students and early-career professionals, can foster knowledge transfer, professional development, and higher retention.

A multifaceted approach is needed to chart a path forward in the face of the challenges posed by the healthcare worker shortage. By addressing the root causes and implementing targeted solutions, we can lay the groundwork for a resilient, sustainable, and equitable healthcare workforce that meets the evolving needs of our society. Let us treat the shortage of healthcare workers in the United States as not merely a challenge to be overcome but an opportunity to reimagine and revitalize our healthcare system. Through collective action, and through embracing change and innovation, we can build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Sources:

1. https://www.aha.org/topics/workforce-shortages.
2. https://www.aacn.org/newsroom/presidents-column-the-future-of-nursing-starts-now
3. https://www.superstaff.com/blog/specialty-healthcare-outsourcing
4. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
5. https://www.aapa.org/