Illinois Hospital Association

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August 7, 2007

Workforce Survey

Enclosed (click here to view) you will find the results of the workforce survey that was conducted between September 30 and November 30, 2005. Overall, the results of the survey reinforce the existence of a large and growing shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly those in the rehabilitation field. Vacancy rates for positions ranged as high as 23% in 2005, and all of the positions covered by the survey showed vacancy rates in excess of 12%.

In an effort to address the need for an adequate number of rehabilitation professionals now and in the future, a Workforce Subcommittee was established by the IHA Post Acute Care Steering Committee in August, 2006. The subcommittee members have been aggressively reviewing data, partnering with professional organizations and schools, and establishing strategic goals to address the healthcare workforce challenges that hospitals are facing. Below is a list of subcommittee goals:

  1. Establish baseline workforce data to monitor trends and success of any initiatives.
  2. Reduce delays in licensure process in order to reduce delays in new practitioners and/or out of state practitioners beginning employment.
  3. Solicit data from Illinois colleges/universities and establish partnerships to address concerns with student enrollment and program capacity required to meet workforce demand. Also, evaluate student perception of allied health professions and hospitals as a preferred employer.
  4. Explore and establish partnerships with professional rehabilitation associations to address workforce shortages in OT, PT and SLP.
  5. Explore and identify legislative opportunities to support therapy workforce, i.e. HR1134.

In addition, the IHA web site has established a new section devoted to the Health Care Workforce in order to keep members up to date with news, policy developments, and resources that address the healthcare workforce shortage (click here to view).

If you have any comments, questions, or input regarding the shortage of rehabilitation professionals and the subcommittee goals, please do not hesitate to contact MaryLynn Clarke, IHA staff at (217) 541-1154. If you have questions regarding the 2005 workforce survey, please contact Kathy Gayda, IHA staff at (630) 276-5702.