Department of Workforce Development

Tuesday, June 11, 2002 Governor Scott McCallum Secretary Jennifer Reinert

News Media Contact Rachel (Biittner) Langenohl 608/266-8710 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

Governor’s Health Care Workforce Shortage Committee
Fact Sheet

The Governor’s Health Care Workforce Shortage Committee has met for the first time and set an aggressive agenda in order to announce a plan of action by August, which will address the current shortage of healthcare workers in Wisconsin. The two chairs of the committee are Department of Workforce Development Secretary Jennifer Reinert and Dr. Richard Carpenter, President of the Wisconsin Technical College System.

The Committee’s mission statement: The Healthcare Worker Shortage Committee will bring together partners in the health care industry, labor, education, and government to develop innovative solutions to address the healthcare worker shortage in Wisconsin.

The Committee’s vision statement: We will act collaboratively for sustained, innovative transformational change, utilizing technology in the healthcare and educational systems, to meet current and future workforce and consumer demands. We will ensure a qualified and diverse workforce, which delivers high quality care to all in a positive, rewarding and innovative work environment.

The Committee also named four work groups, with chairpersons and goals defined for each group. Some of the goals are listed:

     Retention and Recruitment – Chair Norma Tirado, President of Wisconsin Society 
       Health and Human Resources Association

• Improve work environment

• Identify and eliminate regulations that are barriers to entry and retention

• Enhance recruitment of health care workers

     Education – Chair Jeffrey Rafn, President of Wisconsin Technical College 
       Presidents Association

• Identify and eliminate accreditation barriers

• Increase capacity in clinical settings

• Increase educational access at all levels through creative and innovative delivery systems

     Redesign of Work – Chair Lynn Polacek, Wisconsin Nurses Association

• Design a coordinated approach to redesign the assignment of work in a more cost effective manner without compromising quality

• Promote and identify innovative models of health care delivery

• Engage consumers in the design of the health care delivery system

     Investment and Resources – Chair John Sauer, Executive Director of 
       Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Inc.

• Build societal support, understanding and personal investment in healthcare workforce development

• Develop infrastructure necessary to support collaboration without increasing bureaucracy

• Establish systems to measure goal attainment

The next meeting is scheduled for June 26, 2002.

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