AHA report offers tools to help hospitals align their workforce with changing needs

The AHA’s 2016 Committee on Performance Improvement today issued a report to help hospital and health system leaders align the skills and abilities of their organization’s current workforce with anticipated needs as health care continues to change. “There is a critical need to elevate the discussion about workforce planning and development so that it becomes part of a comprehensive strategic plan for hospitals and systems and not just an issue to respond to in a crisis situation,” the report notes. “Current employee shortages, an older health care workforce nearing retirement coupled with the aging patient population, the changing health care delivery system, limited access to behavioral health services – all these issues align to make workforce planning an immediate priority.” The report includes a tool to help initiate strategic workforce conversations, and specific recommendations and examples from hospital leaders and experts in the field.