Case study: Ohio providers address worker shortage

A group of northeastern Ohio executives, including hospital leaders, human resources and workforce development professionals have launched a coalition intended to help fill a growing number of healthcare vacancies. The group, which includes the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth System, Southwest General Hospital, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and Summa Health System, is working to recruit, train and reshape the overall structure of the area's health workforce.

The six hospitals in the consortium have 2,500 to 3,000 open jobs among them, including many which pay $40 an hour or more. In addition to seeking nurses, the hospitals need respiratory therapists, pharmacists and radiology technicians. The hospitals are hoping to craft a regional workforce development system which makes sure people are training for the positions hospitals actually need filled. They're also hoping to upgrade the skills of existing workers who want to be trained on new technologies like eprescribing and EMRs. What's more, they intend to reach out to high school and even middle-school students to get them interested in health careers.

To learn more about their efforts:
- read this Cleveland Plain Dealer piece [1]

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