Georgia’s Health Care Workforce Policy Advisory Committee, working through the Department of Community Health, was established in July 2001. The Committee is charged with monitoring and addressing the supply, mix, distribution and practice aspects of nursing, allied health and behavioral health professionals. This document represents the first annual report and research findings of the Committee.

The framework for the discussions which follow is grounded is several key, known facts. First, it remains clear that Georgia and the nation are confronting a significant shortage of nurses, allied health, and behavioral health professionals. Public sector health care providers, like the Georgia Departments of Corrections and Human Resources, are being forced to operate with vacancy rates at or above 20% for nursing positions. Private sector acute and long-term care providers are being forced to spend increasing amounts of money for agency and contract  professionals, and still these programs are operating with vacancy rates ranging from 9% to 15% depending upon the profession. Pharmaceutical prescription volume increased 44% in the past ten years while the number of licensed pharmacists remained level. 

Secondly, population growth in general and the aging of the population are driving increased demand for health services. The events of September 11, 2001, coupled with the economic downturn, have forced governments and business to cut budgets and staffing, having a devastating impact on the economy. Employers have been forced to reduce health benefits coverage for many citizens. Yet, health care service utilization remains high and is expected to grow exponentially in this decade. The supply of health care professionals in Georgia is woefully inadequate to meet current demand, let alone the increased level of need forecast for the near future.

Thirdly, it will require slow, steady and sustained efforts to address the state’s health care workforce shortages. Victories will be measured in inches not miles. Within the past year, some progress has been made. Nearly 6,000 registered nurses were newly licensed in FY2001, an increase of 9.3% over the previous year. Many of those nurses were reinstating previous licenses or transferring licensure from another state, indicating a desire among professionals to return to the workforce and practice in Georgia. Graduation from public social work programs jumped nearly 30% in FY2001. Enrollment in Georgia’s public nursing schools, both associate and bachelors degree programs, increased by more than 15% in the past year—the first overall increase in enrollment in eight years. Anecdotally, health care educators report rising numbers of applications and enrollment for the term beginning Fall 2002. Overall, however, Georgia nursing and allied health graduation rates remain at low levels. It will take a number of years of steady enrollment increases and matriculation stability to bring the graduation numbers up to a credible level.

National factors also affect Georgia’s ability to address workforce needs. Among current Georgia health care professionals responding to a recent licensure survey, one-third or more reported having been educated in another state. With the workforce shortage draining resources  throughout the nation, it is indeed a concern to realize that Georgia presently lacks the capacity to produce anywhere near the number of health care professionals needed to serve the public.  Further, federal budget cuts and national economic woes are taking a terrible toll on provider reimbursement and state financial support. 

To prepare for the long-term workforce needs of the state within the context of these identified environmental factors, the state and the Health Care Workforce Policy Advisory Committee have implemented a number of strategic initiatives. The Committee’s initiatives have been designed to target the four key dimensions necessary to address the workforce shortage over the long-term: data and forecasting, workplace environment and productivity enhancement, recruitment and marketing; and educational programming and student finance. Some highlights include:

• The Health Care Workforce Planning Act became law in July 2002. It provides for ongoing data collection, analysis and forecasting to more effectively address health care workforce needs. Governor Roy Barnes and the General Assembly have provided funding that will help establish a data and research program to work with the various state agency partners.

• The Georgia Student Finance Commission, with support from the Governor and the General Assembly, has tripled the amount of funding available for service cancelable loans to young people pursuing health careers. In FY2002, more than $2.5 million was dedicated to support 1,219 students in nursing and allied health education programs. Another $3.1 million will be available in the coming fiscal year.

• The Department of Labor has included health careers in numerous job fairs and media events to provide opportunities for displaced workers to understand more about this exciting career choice. Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond has secured more than $750,000 in grant funding to support a wide range of recruitment and training efforts to help Georgians select and succeed in health careers.

The state and national data, combined with reports from providers and professionals alike, are indisputable—Georgia is in the midst of a critical shortage of health care professionals. Further, absent effective intervention, the gap between what is needed and what is available is projected to increase with potentially devastating impact.

Successful intervention to address the looming shortfall will require steady and sustained efforts over many years. Policy makers must recognize and embrace a multi-faceted strategy designed to:  

The FY2002 Annual Report and Research Findings from the Health Care Workforce Policy Advisory Committee details numerous accomplishments during the group’s first year, outlines workforce supply and demand issues, and presents summary research findings on health care educational programming. The document seeks to clearly convey the serious nature of the current and long-term health care workforce shortage while illuminating pathways and initiatives that have and will continue to improve educational achievement, workforce supply, and workplace conditions.

Georgia is fortunate to have gubernatorial, legislative and government leaders who recognize the serious challenges posed by the state’s inadequate workforce supply and are willing to respond with bold, innovative solutions. The state also has benefited from the tremendous cooperative and supportive spirit between and among health care providers, professional associations, advocates, and the business community. The health care workforce crisis will be solved only if government, education, providers, professionals and communities work together, using the talents and contributions of all sectors. That spirit of partnership already has led to significant progress. With continued cooperation, leadership vision, and straightforward hard work, Georgia will have the necessary tools to address the important health care workforce needs of her many citizens and communities.