AHA: Action needed to address health care workforce ‘national emergency’

The health care workforce challenges are a “national emergency” that demand “immediate attention from policymakers at every level of government,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said today on a radio spot that began running on stations throughout the country. “Our workforce is our most precious resource … but they are tired and frustrated. There are shortages of nurses, techs and other health professionals. They are tired of fighting bureaucratic hurdles imposed by commercial insurance companies diverting them from patient care to paperwork.” 
 
Almost 600,000 U.S. health care professionals left their jobs in September and 30% of health care workers have considered leaving the profession during the pandemic. 
 
The AHA continues to ask Congress and the Administration to include key workforce provisions in the social spending legislative package currently being considered and to distribute COVID-19 emergency relief funds as quickly as possible. In addition, the AHA has developed and shared a number of workforce resources with members, Congress, policymakers and the public. 
 
See AHA’s workforce webpage for a data brief and fact sheet outlining how health care workforce challenges are threatening hospitals’ ability to care for patients and communities, as well as solutions to address the issue in the short- and long-term; examples from the field on supporting caregiver well-being; and a letter from senators and representatives urging the White House to investigate price gouging by staffing agencies; among other resources.