G row Y our O wn Illinois Hospitals Educating Students, Alleviating Workforce Shortages

Shortage of skilled health care personnel in US at critical levels Unprecedented in depth and duration Unprecedented in depth and duration Expected to worsen as Baby Boomers retire and workforce continues to age Expected to worsen as Baby Boomers retire and workforce continues to age Efforts have been undertaken to combat shortage, but are inadequate Efforts have been undertaken to combat shortage, but are inadequate

Critical Shortage Nationwide Hospitals reported 160,000 Registered Nurse (RN) vacancies in December Hospitals reported 160,000 Registered Nurse (RN) vacancies in December RN shortage projections for 2020 range from 400,000 to 1 million+ vacancies 2 RN shortage projections for 2020 range from 400,000 to 1 million+ vacancies 2 More than 5 million new health care workers will be needed by More than 5 million new health care workers will be needed by “Workforce Challenges,” American Hospital Association. 2 “What Works: Healing the healthcare staffing shortage.” PriceWaterhouseCoopers ”National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses,” Division of Nursing. February 2007.

Illinois’ Workforce Shortage 22 occupations in Illinois hospitals had vacancy rates over 7% in occupations in Illinois hospitals had vacancy rates over 7% in Total number of professional caregivers is expected to decrease 4.2% between 2000 and Total number of professional caregivers is expected to decrease 4.2% between 2000 and By 2020, Illinois will face a shortage of 21,000 nurses 2 By 2020, Illinois will face a shortage of 21,000 nurses 2 1 “2004 Workforce Survey,” Illinois Hospital Association. 3 ”State public health director talks about great opportunities…” State of Illinois Press Release, 25 May 2006.

22 Positions in Illinois Hospitals with High Vacancy Rates Position Vacancy Rate Physical Therapy Aide 20.6% Clinical Nurse Specialist 20.1% Respiratory Therapy Technician 20.0% Transporter17.5% Physical Therapist 14.3% Speech Language Pathologist 14.2% Nurse Midwife 14.0% Radiology or Related Procedures Technician 12.7% Radiation Therapy Technologist 11.6% Radiographer/Radiologic Technologist 11.3% Licensed Social Worker 11.2%Position Vacancy Rate Food Service Workers 9.8% Occupational Therapy Assistant 9.8% Nurse Practitioner 9.5% Occupational Therapist 9.4% Pharmacy Technician 8.1% Social Services Providers 8.1% Registered Staff Nurse 8.0% LPN7.9% Medical Records Technician - MRT/ART 7.7% Central Supply Worker 7.5% Nursing Assistant 7.3% Source: “2004 Workforce Study,” Illinois Hospital Association.

When the Baby Boomers retire, who will take care of them? More than 41,000 qualified nursing applicants were denied admission to U.S. nursing schools (undergraduate and graduate) programs in More than 41,000 qualified nursing applicants were denied admission to U.S. nursing schools (undergraduate and graduate) programs in Illinois’ academic institutions turned away more than 1,100 qualified baccalaureate applicants in and 1,900 students in Illinois’ academic institutions turned away more than 1,100 qualified baccalaureate applicants in and 1,900 students in American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2005 data). As in “What Works: Healing the healthcare staffing shortage.” PriceWaterhouseCoopers ”Durbin’s Troops to Nurse Teachers Program.” Press Release, 15 June “State public health director talks about great opportunities…” Press Release, 25 May 2006.

Demand for skilled health care professionals will increase sharply as 78 million “Baby Boomers” retire 1 Demand for skilled health care professionals will increase sharply as 78 million “Baby Boomers” retire 1 55% of nurses across the nation will retire between 2011 and % of nurses across the nation will retire between 2011 and Average age of U.S. RNs in 2004 was 46.8 years. 4 RNs younger than 30 account for less than 10% of nurses. 3 Average age of U.S. RNs in 2004 was 46.8 years. 4 RNs younger than 30 account for less than 10% of nurses. 3 1 “Workforce Challenges,” American Hospital Association. 2 ”National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses,” Division of Nursing. February “ Strategies to Reverse the New Nursing Shortage,” American Association of Colleges of Nursing. January Based on finding from the Nursing Management Aging Workforce Survey released in July 2006 by the Bernard Hodes Group. Aging Population, Aging Workforce...

The Good News? Unemployment rates for skilled health care employees are at historically low levels

National Employment Projections Registered Nurses New jobs will increase by 703,000 from New jobs will increase by 703,000 from Total job openings from : 1,203,000 Total job openings from : 1,203,000 Nursing Aides, orderlies, & attendants New jobs will increase by 325,000 from New jobs will increase by 325,000 from Total job openings from : 516,000 Total job openings from : 516,000 “Occupational Employment Projections to 2014,” Bureau of Labor Statistics. Monthly Labor Review, Nov 2005

What Can We Do? Springfield, we have a workforce problem.

One Solution Already In the Works: Educate Students and G row Y our O wn skilled health care professionals.

Regional Health Occupations Program Hospitals partner with area schools to teach seniors in high school a Health Occupations Course Hospitals partner with area schools to teach seniors in high school a Health Occupations Course Students observe hospital staff, learn patient care skills, and earn school credit Students observe hospital staff, learn patient care skills, and earn school credit At end of academic year, eligible students take the Certified Nursing Assistant exam… At end of academic year, eligible students take the Certified Nursing Assistant exam…

… and most Health Occupation program graduates become Certified Nursing Assistants

What Exactly is this Health Occupations Program? A health science technology class designed for high school seniors A health science technology class designed for high school seniors A class taught by an experienced nurse that meets in a hospital 2 hours a day, 5 days a week A class taught by an experienced nurse that meets in a hospital 2 hours a day, 5 days a week Curriculum includes study of health care careers, basic anatomy and physiology, and hands on clinical experience with real patients. Curriculum includes study of health care careers, basic anatomy and physiology, and hands on clinical experience with real patients. “Regional Health Occupations Program,” Eastern Illinois Education for Employment System

Students carry auto and liability insurance and provide their own transportation and uniforms Students carry auto and liability insurance and provide their own transportation and uniforms Students must sign and abide by a confidentiality agreement with hospital to participate in program Students must sign and abide by a confidentiality agreement with hospital to participate in program Students observe health care professionals at work and receive training in basic nursing aid skills Students observe health care professionals at work and receive training in basic nursing aid skills Additional Details

Program Benefits Course graduates are fast-tracked into post-secondary education opportunities: Course graduates are fast-tracked into post-secondary education opportunities: Students receive academic credit for course Students receive academic credit for course Some colleges reserve highly desired places in academic programs for Health Occupations course graduates Some colleges reserve highly desired places in academic programs for Health Occupations course graduates Health Occupations graduates become skilled health care professionals, benefiting their local communities and economies Health Occupations graduates become skilled health care professionals, benefiting their local communities and economies Program serves as key bridge to industry and academia Program serves as key bridge to industry and academia

Students gain real-life experience and determine (before costly post- secondary education) if they want to pursue careers in health care. Hospitals make invaluable contact with their future workforce; many Health Occupations grads return to the hospitals in which they began. Most Importantly…

One Illinois Hospital Builds on Program Success by Offering Students Scholarships Hospital pays 100% of tuition and books at local community college for approved programs in health care Hospital pays 100% of tuition and books at local community college for approved programs in health care Student agrees to work full-time for the hospital for 2 years following completion of program or repay hospital all expenses Student agrees to work full-time for the hospital for 2 years following completion of program or repay hospital all expenses

Program Results: Keitel, Kal, “Healthcare Workforce: Growing & Developing Caregivers & Leaders for the Future.” 10 September Of 117 scholarship applicants at one mid-sized Illinois hospital: Of 117 scholarship applicants at one mid-sized Illinois hospital: 14 withdrew from program 14 withdrew from program 18 found other employment 18 found other employment 25 are in the educational pipeline 25 are in the educational pipeline 29 have fulfilled their obligation to the hospital 29 have fulfilled their obligation to the hospital 60 are employed by the hospital 60 are employed by the hospital

To This Mid-Sized Hospital, This Program Has Delivered… 34 Staff Nurses, with 15 more in the educational pipeline 34 Staff Nurses, with 15 more in the educational pipeline 17 Radiology Technicians, with 3 more in the educational pipeline 17 Radiology Technicians, with 3 more in the educational pipeline 4 Surgical Technicians, with 3 more in the educational pipeline 4 Surgical Technicians, with 3 more in the educational pipeline 2 Nuclear Medicine employees 2 Nuclear Medicine employees 2 Ultrasound Technicians, with 1 more in the educational pipeline 2 Ultrasound Technicians, with 1 more in the educational pipeline Keitel, Kal, “Healthcare Workforce: Growing & Developing Caregivers & Leaders for the Future.” 10 September 2007.

Now it’s time to G row YOUR O wn ! For more information on this program and other workforce issues, please visit the Illinois Hospital Association online: