About
The HealthFORCE Movement is a coalition of healthcare associations, health systems, private sector companies, nonprofits, and educational institutions united in our mission to reform and strengthen the healthcare workforce.
Through collaboration and advocacy, we aim to address workforce shortages, improve retention, and career pathways, expand access to education and training, and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare.
Join us as we work towards a future where every individual in the United States can swiftly, affordably, and reliably access high-quality healthcare.
The Problem
As the aging population grows and chronic diseases are on the rise, our healthcare workforce is shrinking. Too many providers are burning out and retiring, while the pipeline of future healthcare workers is falling far short of demand.
The vast majority of people across America today struggle to access a healthcare provider. As our aging population grows and the number of patients living with chronic diseases increases, many patients cannot receive timely, accessible, quality, safe care. Healthcare workforce shortages, particularly of nurses and physicians, have been brewing for years and worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic when burnout hit an all-time high.
With rising costs of healthcare education and lower pay in primary care and other non-specialty settings, fewer prospective workers can invest the time and money required to pursue careers as licensed providers. The crisis has coalesced into a perfect storm for people in America who, now more than ever, need access to quality healthcare providers.
Healthcare Trends
91k+
Qualified nursing school applications declined in 2021 due to lack of resources such as available faculty.
1 in 5
Primary care physicians will reach retirement age by 2026.
73%
73% of Americans say the healthcare system is not meeting their needs.
The Harris Poll; The Patient Experience: Perspectives on Today’s Healthcare
65%
of adults find coordinating and managing healthcare overwhelming and time-consuming.
The Harris Poll; The Patient Experience: Perspectives on Today’s Healthcare
What’s causing these shortages?
Multiple factors contribute to the workforce crisis, including:
- Stressful workplaces, demanding schedules, and insufficient pay lead to worker burnout and early retirement
- Limited upward career mobility
- The high cost of higher education is prohibitive to many would-be healthcare providers
- Limited availability of clinical faculty to teach residencies and preceptorships leads to a reduced number of providers receiving their licenses
- Outdated state laws and regulations restrict some healthcare providers from practicing at the top of their education, training and experience
- Lack of interstate licensure recognition for telemedicine and in-person care
- And more…
Our Priorities
- Strengthening career paths and improving retention
- Unleashing state access to care
- Transforming higher education
- Raising awareness of healthcare careers among K-12 students
- Improving health equity and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workforce
