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Health Care in the News

Job Fair Announcement
Spring Health Care Fair, March 12, 2012

11:00 am - 3:30 pm
Fox Valley Technical College
1825 N. Bluemound Rd., Appleton
For more information, please contact Sarah Kriha, 920.424.2181
See complete list of other job fairs: http://www.wisconsinjobcenter.org/jobfairs/

Articles in Abstract


Registered nurses encouraged to pursue bachelor's degrees

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 26, 2012

In order to meet the needs of this increasingly complex health care system, industry leaders, such as the Institute of Medicine (IOM), recommend an increase in the proportion of nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from 50 percent ...


State awards $1.47 million to improve health care workforce training programs

Lake County News, January 25, 2012

SACRAMENTO – Strengthening California's commitment to increasing the state's primary care workforce, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) announced awards of $1.47 million to enhance Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and ...


Massachusetts Health Reform: How It Fared In 2010

Health Affairs, January 25, 2012

Massachusetts’s health reform bill, which provided the template for the federal Affordable Care Act, went into effect in 2006. In a statewide survey taken in 2010, 94.2 percent of the state’s nonelderly (19–64) residents reported being covered, a significant increase over the 86.6 percent estimate of 2006.

The survey also showed first-time reductions in emergency department visits and hospital inpatient stays as well as improvements in self-reported health status. At the same time, there was a significant increase in premium costs paid by workers, reflecting Massachusetts decision to put off efforts to address lowering health care costs in the 2006 legislation. The study was released today as a Web First by Health Affairs and will appear in the journal’s February 2012 issue.

Some other key findings:

  • More than two-thirds (68.0 percent) reported coverage through an employer, a significant increase (from 64.4 percent) over 2006. The study finds no evidence that employers are dropping coverage under health reform.
  • Although access to care was generally better in 2010 than 2006, the number of respondents who had reported a general doctor visit declined by 3.5 percentage points between 2009 and 2010, perhaps reflecting increases in the use of specialists and preventive care under reform.
  • In 2010, 6.1 percent of respondents said that their level of out-of-pocket health spending was at least 10 percent of their family income—a decline from 9.8 percent in 2006. The cost to employees of premiums, however, increased between 2006 and 2010 from $1,011 to $1,200 for single coverage and $3,128 to $3,444 for family coverage.
  • Overall, the authors found that in Massachusetts coverage and access to care remain strong, and the effectiveness of health care delivery continues to improve. The affordability of health care remains a challenge as the Bay State, like the rest of the nation, continues to struggle with rising care costs.

“Just as Massachusetts’s 2006 health reform legislation provided the template for the Affordable Care Act...the state’s experience under that legislation provides an example of the potential gains under federal health reform,” concluded the authors. “It is likely that the path to near-universal coverage nationally will be slower and bumpier than it was for Massachusetts in 2006. Yet the findings for Massachusetts are a reminder that major gains in coverage and associated benefits are possible.”


Contest aims to inspire students to create healthcare apps

Healthcare IT News, January 25, 2012

Students pursuing degrees toward careers in health, engineering and computer science could earn a distinctive addition to their resumes by participating in the "Go Viral to Improve Health" contest, officials say. The contest is the second annual ...


HEALTHCARE: Jobs Will Be Hard to Create

National Journal, January 25, 2012

These shortfalls will only be worsened as an additional 30 million people get health insurance under the 2010 health reform law. But a national workforce commission established under the health care law has been chronically underfunded by Congress.


Herzing University Strengthens Position as Leader in Healthcare Education by Acquiring Medical Technology Management Institute

DigitalJournal.com (press release), January 24, 2012

“The continuing education programs of MTMI are very complementary to the healthcare education offerings of Herzing University, and we look forward to serving the clientele we have built over the years, as well as Herzing alumni who can now look to us ...


College Is Still Worth It, But Jobs And Pay Depend on Major

Forbes, January 24, 2012

Majors such as Healthcare, Education and those related to technical occupations tend to have lower unemployment rates than more general majors, like Humanities and Liberal Arts, where graduates are broadly dispersed across occupations and industries.


Nursing grads struggle to find jobs, despite projected shortages

Medill Reports: Chicago, January 24, 2012

By Megan Miller -- Nursing is the largest healthcare occupation, adding more than a quarter million jobs last year alone, according to government figures. So why couldn't Candice Dyer find a nursing job? Dyer, a June 2011 graduate of Chamberlain College ...


How Healthcare is Helping the US Economy

MedCity News, January 24, 2012

Most workers have jobs that require less than 4 years of college education, but health diagnosing and treating practitioners are highly educated. Healthcare has been noted as one of the largest employers, providing 14.3 million workers with jobs.


University of Nebraska proposes new healthcare initiative

KHAS-TV, January 18, 2012

Nearly 50 percent of qualified applicants are turned away from the Nursing division, now with the new initiative enrollment that's expected to grow. This will in turn help address the critical shortage of nurses and nurse educators and ...


Hospital Executives Facing Big Challenges From Health Care Reform, Towers Watson Survey Finds

MarketWatch, January 11, 2012

The survey also found that workforce issues, including shortages of primary care physicians, the need for a wider array of staff skills and new leadership models, will rise in importance as the industry grapples with this transformation. ...


Medical Billing and Coding “Jump Start” Program Launched by the American

PR Web, January 10, 2012

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical billing and coding is one of the ten fastest growing allied health occupations and employers are actively seeking qualified candidates. The medical billing and coding industry is projected to grow ...


U.S. News Ranks Top Online Graduate Nursing Programs

U.S. News & World Report, January 10, 2012

By Kelsey Sheehy -- Fears of a nursing shortage prompted nationwide recruiting efforts over the last several years to train more nurses, but US nursing schools turned away more than 67500 qualified applicants in 2010, according to the American Association ...


HRSA's Wakefield on CHCs, ACOs and Strengthening the Health Workforce

Medscape, January 10, 2012

We have health workforce programs that invest in the next generation of healthcare providers that will be making services available to our elderly. ...


Healthcare workforce growth seen in key labor markets

Healthcare Finance News, January 9, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO – The Q4 HWS Labor Market Pulse Index (LMPI), a quarterly barometer of local market healthcare workforce fluctuations released Monday, shows a 6 percent uptick in near-term demand for healthcare workers in 30 key US markets. ...


Hawaii hopes to address shortage of physicians, speciality nurses and others in health care

The Republic, January 9, 2012

The agency also plans to create an early warning system to track impending work force shortages. James Hardway, the council's executive director, ...


Primary care workforce shortage Some more solutions

Healthcare Finance News, January 9, 2012

In Matching Supply to Demand Addressing the U.S. Primary Care Workforce Shortage the National Institute for Health Care Reform observes that the primary care workforce...


Virginia coalition takes action on IOM report

Nurse.com, January 9, 2012

In response to the IOM's recommendation that 80% of the nursing workforce have BSN degrees by 2020, Jeannette Cain, RN, BS, MSN, CPHQ, developed a forecasting tool that enables healthcare providers to determine how certain factors, including hiring ...


Caring often goes beyond the technical expertise

USA TODAY, January 8, 2012

By Andrea Kay, Gannett -- Teams of doctors and nurses operate like a well-oiled machine in the operating room. Another valuable part of patient care happens after the operation when staff communicate with families. ...


Grow primary-care doctors

The Augusta Chronicle, January 8, 2012

Building the health-care workforce that Georgia needs will require targeted investments in primary care and in developing a more diverse medical workforce ...


In the Future, Nurses May Need to Earn Bachelor's Degrees

U.S. News University, December 30, 2011

In order to develop these skills, the report states that more nurses should pursue bachelor's degrees. Nurses in New York may need to earn bachelor's degrees under a new bill. more educated nursing workforce would be better equipped to meet the demands ...


Geriatric nursing program may ease growing shortage

SunHerald.com, December 28, 2011

By JESSICA BAKEMAN - The Clarion-Ledger JACKSON -- The Mississippi Office of Nursing Workforce may have accidentally found a way to increase the number of students one nursing educator can reach. A grant-funded program launched in 2009, the Geriatric


Studies prove effectiveness of nurse practitioners

The News Herald, December 28, 2011

23 column, “If nurses want to practice medicine, train them as doctors,” is full of untruths. According to a recent report by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, almost 600 million patient visits are made to nurse practitioners each year. ...


Expanding scope of practice may be solution to primary care workforce shortages

Healthcare Finance News, December 28, 2011

... analysis from the National Institute for Health Care Reform (NIHCR). ... to Demand: Addressing the US Primary Care Workforce Shortage," written by ...


UW-Eau Claire nursing programs receive national reaccreditation

UW-Eau Claire News Release, December 22, 2011

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has been granted full reaccreditation for its baccalaureate and master's programs in nursing and full initial accreditation for its doctor of nursing practice program by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.


Special NCWWDB Workforce Retraining Programs Graduate First Classes from Healthcare Training, Machine Tool/CNC and Production Welding

North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board WDA#6 Workforce News Bulletin, November/December 2011

After analyzing hundreds of survey results from north central Wisconsin employers, NCWWDB quickly realized that workforce development efforts need to focus on the development and funding of training projects customized to meet the specific needs of area employers.


Health Care Future Bright for Nurses, Stinks for Doctors

Forbes, December 21, 2011

But there are also winners, especially nurses and physician assistants (PAs). Indeed, nurses and PAs win big in part because doctors lose badly. Surveys repeatedly show doctors are fed up with low reimbursement rates from Medicare and even lower from ...


Wisconsin Hospital Association. Joins national patient safety, quality improvement initiative. Builds on Association’s successful collaborations with member hospitals

WHA Press release, December 20, 2011

The Wisconsin Hospital Association will start work early next year on a national project aimed at preventing avoidable hospital-acquired conditions (HAC) and reducing unnecessary hospital readmissions.

“Partnership for Patients” is a national initiative supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS awarded $218 million to organizations that will develop a “hospital engagement network.” The American Hospital Association, who has been designated as a CMS primary contractor, has sub-contracted the quality and safety improvement work in Wisconsin hospitals to WHA. It is a good fit for the Madison-based Association


How states are keeping doctors from moving out

American Medical News, December 19, 2011

In the face of physician shortages, they are focusing efforts on keeping medical students and residents within state boundaries. Widespread concerns about physician shortages have many states working to keep doctors trained in medical schools and residency programs there from crossing state lines to practice medicine.


CMS: Innovation Challenge is where health reform 'rubber hits the road'

Government Health IT, December 19, 2011

Grant Letters of intent to take part in the CMS Innovation Center's Health Care Innovation Challenge, which promises up to $1 billion for new ideas that improve care, shift incentives and help train a newly-focused healthcare workforce, are due today.


Career and technical education prepares students

Marshfield News Herald, December 19, 2011

Career and technical education enables students to discover their interests, talents, abilities and the niches where their talents and abilities might best be used. Students are equipped with research skills to enable them to form a realistic picture of job opportunities. In essence, career and technical education brings greater satisfaction and relevance to career choices


Marshfield High School students learn about health care careers from professionals

Wausau Daily Herald, December 17, 2011

"This year, there are so many kids on the waiting list for a one-on-one (mentor) in the health career, but not as many mentors," said Leah Boon, director of Pathway Partners. Pathway Partners is serving more than 230 students this year, with about 70 ...


Training for home health aides is behind the times

Healthcare Finance News, December 16, 2011

As President Barack Obama noted Thursday when introducing proposed regulations for minimum wage and overtime protection for home healthcare workers, the home healthcare workforce is the largest and fastest growing in the country. ...


Doctor, nurse shortages unlikely, new research finds

The Republic, December 14, 2011

"These findings were a real surprise and are a very positive development for the future health care workforce in the US," said David Auerbach, the study's lead author and an economist at RAND. "Compared to where nursing supply was just a few years ago, ...


Young nurse workforce grows by 62 percent

Healthcare Finance News, December 14, 2011

BETHESDA, MD – The number of young people entering the nursing profession is surging, providing relief from the recent nursing shortage, according to an article in the December issue of Health Affairs. In the article, “Registered Nurse Supply Grows ...


The Workforce Corner: Generation Y Is Health Care's New Workforce

Ashland Current, December 13, 2011

According to Wisconsin's Healthcare Workforce 2010 Report, hospitals and other healthcare facilities struggle with recruiting and retaining their workforce. Within the last six years, healthcare providers in Wisconsin have started to adapt creative ...


Jobs partnership a solid initiative

Chicago Sun-Times, December 13, 2011

Medical facilities such as Rush University Medical Center and Advocate Health Care have agreed to help develop curricula. “You can teach allied health, but if it is not the allied health program that Rush or other facilities are using, all you have is ...


Diversity: Our Societal Imperative

Color Magazine, December 13, 2011

As part of creating a diverse workforce, it's critical to create a corporate culture of awareness and understanding. At Network Health, we wanted to create ...


Improving Work Environments Can Decrease Nursing Burnout

eMaxHealth, December 12, 2011

By Denise Reynolds RD on December 12, 2011 - 11:29am A recent survey by the RAND Corporation has found that there is an increase in the number of people entering the nursing profession. But unfortunately, there is also an increase in the number of ...


Georgia to require students to pick career path

Atlanta Journal Constitution, December 12, 2011

"Educators need to prepare kids for a lifetime of learning, not a specific ... a student would be qualified for upon graduation such as a certified nurse. ...


Report: SC faces doctor shortage

Charleston Regional Business, December 12, 2011

A new report by the Office for Healthcare Workforce Analysis and Planning shows that South Carolina continues to lag other US states in providing an adequate medical workforce. While the number of physicians practicing in South Carolina has grown ...


Physician assistants, nurse practitioners fill health-care gap

Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, December 11, 2011

Ott, who treats patients at Covenant clinics in Tripoli and Fairbank, is one of a growing number of medical professionals who choose a so-called "mid-level" path between MDs and nurses and become PAs and nurse practitioners. Contrary to common belief, ...


Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Funding To Improve Access to Education and Health Care in Rural Areas

USDA press release, December 8, 2011

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that recipients in 34 states and one territory will receive funding to improve access to health care and educational services in rural areas. Funding is provided through the USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Program.

"This program delivers educational and medical opportunities that are urgently needed in remote, rural areas," Vilsack said. "President Obama has said that no matter where you live in America, you should have access to quality educational opportunities. Rural Americans deserve the same opportunities for education and medical care as metropolitan-area residents, and these funds will make that happen." In Wisconsin:

Cooperative Educational Services Agency #7: $245,005

Cooperative Educational Services Agency #8: $500,000

Aspirus Health Foundation, Inc.: $53,000


Janesville in midst of health care building boom

The Janesville Gazette, December 7, 2011

The Dartmouth Atlas Project studies regional variations in health care spending and workforce capacity issues that it says can sometimes lead to unnecessary care. In a 2006 study, it found that the Janesville area was above the national average in 33 ...


Florida faces health care workforce shortages, report warns

Business Journal, December 6, 2011

Emergency nurse vacancy rates in Florida are the highest of all nurses, at 8.3 percent. A copy of the full report, titled “Florida Hospitals' Workforce Challenges: DataBrief,” can be viewed here. The Florida Hospital Association is comprised of 175 hospitals and health systems, 50 corporate members and 16 professional membership groups that include 1,300 professional members from across the state.


Nurse Workforce Grows Faster Than Expected; Younger Nurses Joining Ranks

Health Affairs, December 6, 2011

The number of young people entering the nursing profession is surging, providing relief from the recent nursing shortage, according to an article in the December Health Affairs, released yesterday. Aggressive efforts to make nursing a more attractive career choice have helped spur a 62 percent increase in the number of younger nurses (ages 23–26) entering the field between 2002 and 2009. As a result, rather than declining as previously projected, the registered nurse workforce is now expected to grow at roughly the same rate as the population through 2030.


New AACN Data Show Significant Enrollment Increases in Baccalaureate, Master's, and Doctoral Nursing Degree Programs

Market Watch, The Wall Street Journal, December 6, 2011

Supplemental Survey Found a Strong Employer Preference for Hiring New Nurses with Baccalaureate Level Education


NurseTogether.com Supports Need for Nurse Educators through Free Online Job Postings

DigitalJournal.com, December 6, 2011

Given the critical lack of nurse educators in today's academic institutions, the nursing profession has suffered from the inability to train enough nursing ...


Connie Boerst named as new president of Bellin College

Green Bay Press Gazette, December 5, 2011

Our simulation lab provides clinical experiences for students and nurses; we can help achieve the best health care outcomes possible. My knowledge and expertise of the college, its relationship with Bellin Health, community relationships and knowledge ...


Study finds dramatic increase in young RNs

Nurse.com, December 5, 2011

"These findings were a real surprise and are a very positive development for the future healthcare workforce in the United States," David Auerbach, PhD, the study's lead author and an economist at RAND, a nonprofit research organization, said in a news ...


Wisconsin Broadband Project Earns Top Rural Development Award

University of Wisconsin-Extension press release, December 5, 2011

Building Community Capacity through Broadband, the stimulus-funded project led by the University of Wisconsin-Extension, has been awarded a Top Rural Development Award 2011 from Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. BCCB is a public-private collaboration that is benefitting Wisconsin communities by connecting 182 community anchor institutions (libraries, education, government and health care). Commercial providers can use this network to provide services to homes and businesses.


How technology can connect doctors and caregivers

American Medical News, December 5, 2011

Caregivers want technology that can help facilitate the care of loved ones. Not only can physicians provide those tools, they also can benefit from them.


AMA releases medication tracking app

American Medical News, December 5, 2011

The mobile application is designed to improve communication among patients, physicians and caregivers.

The American Medical Association on Nov. 22 introduced its second mobile application, a program designed to allow patients to store, carry and share their medical information.

The 99-cent My Medications app, available from the iTunes store, enables patients to create and update a list of medications, including dosing and schedule information (www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/apps/my-medications.page).


Study finds dramatic increase in young RNs

Nurse.com, December 5, 2011

"These findings were a real surprise and are a very positive development for the future healthcare workforce in the United States," David Auerbach, PhD, the study's lead author and an economist at RAND, a nonprofit research organization, said in a news ...


Local hospital, clinics prepare for doctor shortage

Fond du Lac Reporter, December 4, 2011

Wisconsin’s impending doctor shortage has Fond du Lac medical providers and educators on their toes.

Representatives from Aurora Health Care, Agnesian HealthCare and Marian University say their organizations are well aware of the issue and have plans to address it.

A recent Wisconsin Hospitals Association (WHA) report shows that if the state doesn’t add at least 100 doctors every year, Wisconsin could need more than 2,000 physicians by 2030.


Western receives piece of $12.69 million jobs training grant

Vernon County Broadcaster, December 3, 2011

Western Technical College will be able to give extra guidance to dislocated workers transitioning into health care programs, thanks to money from a recent federal grant. The three-year $12.69 million grant was awarded to a consortium of seven colleges in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, including Western and two other Wisconsin technical colleges.


Looming primary care shortage starts with med school

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 3, 2011

Bard, a family practice physician, moved to Richland Center after completing his residency in 1980.

"We just thought this was a better place to live," he said. "And there was a need."

Bard knows that he could have made millions of dollars more over the past 30 years if he had gone into a medical specialty other than primary care. "For me, the trade-off was well worth it."

The variety and intellectual challenge of practicing family medicine have appealed to him. He has delivered babies and cared for patients at the end of their lives. And he has been part of a community.


Rural Health: Biggest need: More rural health care providers

Tri-State Neighbor, December 2, 2011

One of the biggest problems is the aging health care workforce in rural areas. "We know many in the rural communities will be retiring in the next 5 to 10 years," she said. A 2011 report recently released by the department shows that thousands of ...


Growing Elderly Population Sparks Job Growth for Allied Health Degree Holders

U.S. News University, December 2, 2011

This rising number of elderly individuals has led to an increased demand for professionals in a variety of allied health fields, which includes clinical healthcare professions outside of the dentistry, medicine and nursing industries. ...


States work to expand GME

AMA Medical Education News, December 2011

During the past decade, in response to an aging and growing U.S. population, medical schools have increased their MD and DO graduates by 20 percent. However, entry-level GY1 residency positions have increased by only 10 percent, and physicians completing core residency training programs (leading to initial board certification) increased by less than 5 percent. Meanwhile, Medicare funding for GME is capped, cuts to indirect medical education (IME) funding have been proposed, and several states have withdrawn Medicaid GME funding.


Medical schools changing to meet future needs

AMA Medical Education News, December 2011

As a cosponsor of the New Horizons in Medical Education conference and the Innovative Strategies for Transforming the Education of Physicians initiative, the AMA is interested in the ways in which medical schools are changing to meet current and future health care needs.


Use Of 13 Disease Registries In 5 Countries Demonstrates The Potential To Use Outcome Data To Improve Health Care’s Value

Health Affairs, December 2011

Five-Country Study Of Disease Registries: Improved Care And Reduced Cost

As health care costs increase around the world, many countries are beginning to rely on disease registries, which can produce substantial savings. An international study of thirteen registries in five countries (Australia, Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States) found that registries enable health care professionals to engage in continuous learning as well as identify and share best clinical practices.


Ministry Health Care Offers Significant Physician Education Opportunities in Wisconsin

Ministry Health Care press release, December 1, 2011

Today’s news that the Wisconsin College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCOM) is considering the development of a medical school in central Wisconsin is one of many actual and potential efforts of the health care community to meet the demand for physician services.

In the last year, Ministry Health Care has significantly increased rotations for medical students to receive training in rural health care settings working with the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison.


More 2011 articles