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Hawaii faces a serious shortage of healthcare workers. This is a “wake-up call” with solutions coming from all fronts, from incentives by private healthcare companies, to aggressive state policies and funding, to better education pipelines.
from the beginning of pandemicThe Hawaii Healthcare Association (HAH) reports a 76% increase in medical job openings, from 2,200 in 2019 to 3,873 this year. We need nearly 1,000 registered professional nurses. Over 700 positions are open for Certified Nursing Assistants and Nursing Auxiliaries.
With the job openings rate now at 17%, compared to 10% in 2019, this is a pressing issue.
Health care providers should conduct a cost-benefit analysis of employment patterns: Do Hawaii wages and benefit offerings give state youth reasons to plan field and island careers?
In Hawaii, affordable housing is a top concern for health care workers, and workers have sought compensation that reflects their high cost of living. It is up to the insurance company that adjusts the income of the
Preventive health services, such as gym memberships and wellness classes, are also tools to help Hawaii residents avoid serious illnesses. Like access to mental health services, effective services need to be scaled up.
Those who share concerns about health care costs, including employers, are committed to addressing health care needs by promoting public health, pursuing preventative measures against chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and kidney disease, and advocating for a healthy environment. can participate in the reduction of
However, it is also an inevitable fact that Hawaii’s population is aging, making elderly patients more likely to require extended health care services, overburdening hospitals and creating shortages of health care workers. It’s becoming more pronounced.
State and county governments must play a role in addressing this need. The best strategy here is to foster Hawaii’s educational pathways towards these careers.
The Healthcare Workforce Initiative, a volunteer group of leaders from various fields, does just that, supporting partnerships with community colleges and high schools to enroll students in entry-level certification programs.
Another promising pilot program allows certified nursing aides to continue working while taking classes at work to become a certified nurse practitioner and advance their careers. This type of coordinated incentive for locally-bred health workers to advance is encouraging, as is the expansion of nurse residency and the Registered Nurse “Transfer to Specialty” program.
We also need to step up our training programs outside of Oahu, especially on Lanai and Maui, where we have the highest job opening rates. This year in state funding he directed $1.75 million to the University of Hawaii to hire additional nursing instructors. That’s a step in the right direction.
Federal support can help as well. UH last week announced his $1 million federal grant to support the new UH Rural Health Research & Policy Center. Staff here process data and seek out sources of federal funds, including improved Medicare payments, to meet Hawaii’s specific needs.
Traveling healthcare workers are filling that gap, and HAH is seeking an extension to state emergency rules that allow out-of-state nurses to temporarily practice in Hawaii. This should be allowed, but it should be understood that using temporary fly innerwear is not a permanent solution. long-term investments and preventive incentives to keep Hawaiians healthy.
