The Iowa Medical Society has released a report identifying three strategies to help address Iowa’s health care workforce shortage, based on input from its May 14 Healthcare Workforce Summit.
The report highlights priorities in early career exposure, workplace improvement, and structural redesign:
- Support early exposure to health care careers, particularly for middle and high school students, through hands-on opportunities and coordinated recruitment efforts among schools, colleges, employers, and workforce boards.
- Improve work environments by reducing administrative burdens, supporting employee autonomy, and addressing burnout. Recommendations include evaluating current burdens and promoting staff well-being.
- Redesign work structures to systematically tackle burnout and improve sustainability. Strategies include piloting new care models and involving clinical leaders, wellness teams, and policy advisors.
“These recommendations are an important start toward making real progress to help solve the healthcare [sic] labor shortage in Iowa,” said Steven W. Churchill, MNA, CEO of the Iowa Medical Society in a news release. “The action steps are tangible, doable, and demand urgent attention.”
The report will guide the Iowa Rural Healthcare Workforce Taskforce, a group of health care leaders, educators, and workforce professionals that meets multiple times a year to develop recruitment, education, and retention strategies. The next meeting is set for Sept. 18.
The summit and report are part of the Iowa Healthcare Workforce Strategic Planning and Stakeholder Engagement Initiative, led by IMS in partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Hospital Association, Iowa Pharmacy Association, and Iowa Primary Care Association.
Established in 1850, IMS represents nearly 6,000 Iowa physicians, residents, and medical students.
For more information, contact IMS at [email protected].
