Maryland hospitals face nurse, professional shortage

Like states across the U.S., Maryland is seeing a growing shortage of healthcare professionals, a Maryland Hospital Association study says. As elsewhere, with nurses retiring and baby boomers aging, the shortage is worsening daily. And new hospital construction, which is booming in some regions, is only making things worse.

To fully staff hospitals throughout Maryland, the MHA says an additional 2,340 nurses are needed. That amounts to a 15.6 percent vacancy rate for nurses. MHA officials say the gap will climb to more than 10,000 nurses. Meanwhile, problems are turning up in other categories; there's been an ongoing decrease in the number of occupational therapists, radiographers and respiratory therapists available.

To learn more about the shortages:
- read this Baltimore Business Journal article

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