The health care sector continues to face a workforce shortage in Arizona. Addressing it effectively takes an understanding of the current situation, the forces shaping the future, and efforts already underway.

Vitalyst, with support from the City of Phoenix, commissioned a series of healthcare talent surveys produced by the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). Statewide talent assessments are now available:

• Hospitals (Infographic, Report)
• Community Health Centers (Infographic, Report)
• Long-Term Care Facilities (Infographic, Report)
• Home Health Agencies (Infographic, Report)
• Employer Interviews (Infographic, Report)

To learn more about these reports, replay our webinar, The Current State of Arizona’s Healthcare Workforce and Efforts to Improve It. The 80-minute segment provides commentary from the reports’ authors and editors, as well as insights and thoughts on moving forward from webinar attendees, the University of Arizona’s Will Humble and Vitalyst policy leadership.

Vitalyst is working closely with partners including the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (through its Phoenix Forward initiative), the City of Phoenix (through the Phoenix Healthcare Sector Partnership), and the Arizona Nurses Association to identify and address Arizona’s health workforce needs, improve access to health care, and help Arizona produce high-paying jobs.

Our current efforts include:

• Identifying future health workforce needs
• Addressing the need for advanced level training of health professionals (including the need to create more residencies in the state)
• Fostering incentives for medical professionals to serve in medically underserved areas
• Engaging young people in health careers
• Leveraging federal resources to help train people for needed jobs

Recent Vitalyst Health Foundation publications related to health workforce include:

• Arizona’s Healthcare Workforce: Supply, Demand and Insights from the Field (August, 2016)
• Health Workforce, Healthy Economy (January 2015)
• Graduate Medical Education in Arizona: Growing the Physician Pipeline (March 2012) 
• ImpAct Arizona: The Healthcare Workforce (October 2010)