The Allied Health Part of Healthcare Presented by: Page Michie Manager Workforce Planning and Development Carolinas HealthCare System October 3, 2008

The Bad News…

Our Workforce Supply Diminishes and Turns Grayer Annual growth Worker age Total labor force The U. S. Workforce Slowing Growth, Getting Older Bureau of Labor Statistics

People “Impending Crisis” Impending Crisis: Skilled Labor Shortage 10,033,000 More Jobs than People 1,516,000 Less Jobs than People  Jobs Available  Civilian Labor Force VHA, March 2003

Disparity of Minority Workers in Healthcare Over 25% of the US population is African American, Hispanic and Native American, yet minorities make up: Over 25% of the US population is African American, Hispanic and Native American, yet minorities make up: 9% nurses 9% nurses 6% physicians 6% physicians 5% dentists 5% dentists Number of minorities training to become healthcare workers is decreasing Number of minorities training to become healthcare workers is decreasing

The Ugly News…

Unemployment on the rise US unemployment – 6.1% (8/2008 BLS) US unemployment – 6.1% (8/2008 BLS) Char/Meck WDB -7.0%* Char/Meck WDB -7.0%* Gaston WDB – 7.8%* Gaston WDB – 7.8%* Centralina WDB – 7.0%* Centralina WDB – 7.0%* Region C WDB - 8.4%* Region C WDB - 8.4%* Western Piedmont - 8.4%* Western Piedmont - 8.4%* * Workforce Development Area Numbers are based on August 2008 data.

The Good News…..

Healthcare Stats Healthcare will generate 3 million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than any other industry Healthcare will generate 3 million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than any other industry Many healthcare workers have jobs that require less than 4 years of college Many healthcare workers have jobs that require less than 4 years of college(BLS.gov)

Healthcare Growth Health care employment continued to grow in August (27,000), with more than half of the gain in hospitals. Health care employment continued to grow in August (27,000), with more than half of the gain in hospitals. Over the past 12 months, health care has added 367,000 jobs. Over the past 12 months, health care has added 367,000 jobs. (BLS: Sept. 08)

So What is Allied Health? The term "allied health" is used to identify a cluster of health professions, encompassing as many as 100+ occupational titles. Approximately two million Allied Health professionals are employed in the United States and taken as a group, comprise 60% of the health care workforce. (Council for Allied Health in NC)

Roles of the Allied Health Professional Allied Health professionals work directly or indirectly with the patient Some allied health professionals practice independently Others work as part of a health care team, providing continual evaluation and assessment of patient needs They also play a major role in informing the attending clinician of the patient's progress and response to treatment.(explorehealthcareers.org)

Who are some of these professionals?  Athletic trainers  Rad Techs  Clinical Lab Techs  Pharmacists  Pharmacy Techs  Dental Hygienists  Diagnostic Medical Sonographers  Dietitians  Occupational Therapists  Occupational Therapy Assistants Just to name a few…  Physical Therapists  Physical Therapy Assistants  Radiographers  Respiratory Therapists  Speech Language Pathologists  EMT’s/Paramedics  Cath Lab Techs  Medical Coders  Medical Assistants

What is not Allied Health? Nurses: RNs, NPs, LPNs Nurses: RNs, NPs, LPNs Physicians Physicians Chiropractors Chiropractors Podiatrists Podiatrists Optometrists Optometrists Dentists Dentists Aides: psychiatric aides, nursing aides, home health aides, orderlies, attendants Aides: psychiatric aides, nursing aides, home health aides, orderlies, attendants

NC Stats (NCESC.ORG)

Some of NC’s Fastest Growing Occupations are in Healthcare ( ) Occupation Projected Openings % Change Mental Health Counselors 1, Mental Hlth & Substance Abuse Social Workers 1, Medical Assistants 4, Substance Abuse & Behavioral Disorder Counselors OT Assistants Pharmacy Technicians 4, Medical & Public Health Social Workers 1, Physical Therapists 1, Dental Hygienists 1,

Fast growing jobs that your WDB Areas have in common (ncesc.org) Surg Techs Surg Techs EMTs/Paramedics EMTs/Paramedics Medical Records and Health Info Techs Medical Records and Health Info Techs Dental Hygienists Dental Hygienists Med Lab Techs Med Lab Techs Respiratory Therapists Respiratory Therapists Physical Therapy Assistants Physical Therapy Assistants

Certificate/Diploma ▪Jobs that require one year or less of training (from WDB lists and NCESC) EMT EMT Pharmacy Tech* Pharmacy Tech* Phlebotomy Tech Phlebotomy Tech Surgical Tech* Surgical Tech* Medical Assistant* Medical Assistant* * Also an Associates Degree

Associate Degree Jobs that require at least two years of training (from WDB lists and NCESC) Dental Hygienist Dental Hygienist Medical Records and Health Information Techs Medical Records and Health Information Techs Medical and Clinical Lab Tech Medical and Clinical Lab Tech Respiratory Therapist Respiratory Therapist Physical Therapy Assistant Physical Therapy Assistant Occupational Therapy Assistant Occupational Therapy Assistant

Non-clinical Healthcare Positions Additional healthcare positions in demand, not traditionally considered Allied Health but are entry-level: Patient Account Representatives Patient Account Representatives Registrars Registrars 18 percent of healthcare jobs are in office and administrative support. (BLS.gov)

Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) Several statewide planning grants from NC Department of Commerce to address Allied Health workforce needs One of these planning grants is the Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) Grant for following counties: Anson, Alexander, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union; York, Lancaster, Chester and Chesterfield in SC The RSP grant has put together the following to submit to the NC Dept of Commerce: Long term priority- Establish an education articulation to prepare physical therapists at the graduate level through more regionally located graduate level programs for physical therapy assistants to become licensed physical therapists Long term priority- Establish an education articulation to prepare physical therapists at the graduate level through more regionally located graduate level programs for physical therapy assistants to become licensed physical therapists Short term priority – Address insufficient information in the community about allied health through: Short term priority – Address insufficient information in the community about allied health through: Allied Career Expos (regional) Allied Career Expos (regional) Central Communication and Resource Website Central Communication and Resource Website More interaction with regional JobLinks by Employers to provide more information and on-site presence More interaction with regional JobLinks by Employers to provide more information and on-site presence Career Ladder plan – Pilot to create a pathway for dislocated workers to enter the allied health career field at the entry level and progress to higher positions Career Ladder plan – Pilot to create a pathway for dislocated workers to enter the allied health career field at the entry level and progress to higher positions

Resources Careervoyages.gov Careervoyages.gov Nchealthcareers.com Nchealthcareers.com Explorehealthcareers.org Explorehealthcareers.org College.gov College.gov NCESC.org NCESC.org BLS.gov BLS.gov alliedhealthcouncilNC.org alliedhealthcouncilNC.org Healthcareers4me.org Healthcareers4me.org Agreatworkforce.com Agreatworkforce.com

Q & A