Workforce shortages are not a new concept in the Pikes Peak region, or Colorado or even the U.S. There has been much discussion surrounding skilled trades and the lack of workers to fill them, whether in the manufacturing sector, construction or information technology. Many of those shortages are blamed on a lack of exposure and educational opportunities within the public school system.
High school woodworking and metal shops are a thing of the past, remnants of an age when the intent was to get every student into a four-year school upon graduation.
But many schools have realized the error of their ways and are bringing back vocational programs.
Health care’s workforce is quickly mirroring manufacturing’s, with existing and expected shortages hitting all fields — from certified nursing assistants and phlebotomists, to registered nurses, physician assistants and the physicians themselves.
Issues such as the expansion of Medicaid and the aging Baby Boomer population, as well as worker shortages, will significantly impact health care for future generations.
Last week, to begin addressing these workforce issues, COShealth launched its Healthcare Work Force Enablement Seminar Series, which is intended to stimulate dialogue concerning workforce issues.
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