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Mission: To advance the development of a high-quality health care workforce in order to improve the health of every Oregonian.
Oregon is facing a major health care workforce shortage. The growth and aging of our population contribute to this crisis, creating the need for an estimated 60,000 additional health care workers by 2016. The challenging task of improving and developing the health care workforce reaches far and wide into data collection, educational and provider institutions, public policy, diversity, retention and a myriad of other factors.
OHWI exists to coordinate and advance a comprehensive statewide response to the growing health care workforce shortage. Developing out of an initiative from the Governor's office and sustained by dedicated health care professionals from the public and private sectors, OHWI was incorporated as a nonprofit institute in December 2005 and officially launched in April 2006. In 2007, OHWI was recognized by the Oregon State Legislature as a leader in addressing Oregon’s health care workforce shortage and designated as a workforce advisory entity to state agencies.
OHWI's focus includes accurate supply and demand data, educational program and clinical expansion, development of public policy and connection of interested parties for problem solving, funding and information sharing. Currently, OHWI is focused on four initiatives:
- Build the workforce to ensure access to high quality health care.
- Build the workforce to support emerging models of health care delivery.
- Recruit bilingual/bicultural students and workers into health care careers.
- Build Oregon’s health information technology and informatics workforce in support of state and federal health reform efforts.
Select OHWI Accomplishments:
- Through a grant from CCWD, convened a statewide Brain Trust of HIT experts and developed an action plan to build a specialized HIT workforce and train the current and future healthcare workforce in using electronic health records and related technology.
- Created a web page profiling 19 high-demand healthcare occupations and sharing resources on financial aid, career planning, bilingual opportunities and self-assessment for high school students and beyond.
- Produced a study on supply and demand and curriculum recommendations on health informatics’ programs for Oregon’s community colleges.
- Compiled data profiles and briefings on the state’s healthcare workforce to analyze trends, forecast needs and identify gaps between supply and demand.
- Conducted studies on the supply of health profession graduates and on investments in career education from partnerships among industry, government and education.
- Developed a plan to collect workforce data via the licensing processes to inform public policy and educational investments.
- Provided policy support and recommendations on education funding and workforce development as a member of Senator Ron Wyden’s workforce group to inform national health care reform efforts.
- As requested by the Office of the Governor, convened and facilitated a high-level stakeholder group to develop key recommendations for rural health care workforce policies.
- Convened the Behavioral Health Workforce Development Taskforce, consisting of employers and educators, to align curriculum and clinical skills training with employer needs.
- In partnership with CCWD, convened the first statewide Healthcare Career Pathways Summit of the hospital and long-term care industries, educational institutions and workforce organizations to create career pathways for new students and incumbent workers. Partnerships stemming from the Summit are active on the local level.
- With support from the Oregon Workforce Investment Board, convened representatives from Oregon’s public allied health care education programs to build collaborative efforts to expand clinical training capacity.
- Worked with our education and health industry partners for increased funding to expand the state’s health profession education system.
- Created a web-based avenue to share successful health care workforce education and development programs in support of evidence-based “Best Practices”.
- Facilitated forums involving stakeholders to form and implement sustainable solutions to healthcare workforce shortages.
Together the OHWI staff and Board are committed to establishing OHWI as a primary information resource and problem-solver to improve Oregon's healthcare workforce.
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