Workforce
The health care workforce consists of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. A sufficient number and the right mix of professionals is essential for ensuring access to quality services delivered efficiently. Professional education and training are sponsored and overseen by colleges and universities, academic health centers, professional organizations, and hospitals; government agencies also participate in financing and oversight. An extensive hierarchy of professional organizations and public-sector regulatory authorities at both state and federal levels oversee the accreditation of education and training programs and the licensing of professionals. Medicare and, to a lesser extent, Medicaid provide considerable support for graduate medical education (GME) in hospital residency programs. Numerous federal and state health profession programs also support education of other professionals to ensure an adequate overall supply and to provide resources to shortage areas.
Analysts disagree about the adequacy of the current and likely future supply of physicians, although shortages are known to exist in some rural and low-income communities. The optimal mix of specialist versus general practice physicians, nurses, and other professions is also a subject of debate. Experiments with alternative delivery system models that make greater use of nurses, team-based versus sole practitioner care provision, and technological innovations have implications for future workforce policies, including professional credentialing and licensing processes and the structure, content, and number of education and training programs.
The Forum's workforce programming addresses the content, organization, and financing of health professions education; the adequacy of the current and future health workforce; and the potential impact of delivery system changes on workforce needs.
Search Results for Workforce
Background Paper
No. 83
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December 13, 2011
The Aging Services Network: Serving a Vulnerable and Growing Elderly Population in Tough Economic Times
Forum Session
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December 2, 2011
Mission Possible? Saving on Health Care Costs by Reducing Unnecessary Services
Forum Session
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November 4, 2011
Expanded Scope of Practice: A Response to Demand for Primary Care?
Forum Session
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October 7, 2011
Graduate Medical Education: Producing the Right Workforce for Tomorrow?
Forum Session
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September 23, 2011
Who’s Using Whom? Experience with User Fee Programs at FDA
Background Paper
No. 82
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September 14, 2011
Aligning Graduate Medical Education with Public Policy
Forum Session
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June 17, 2011
Team-Based Care Takes Training: The Push for Interprofessional Education
Site Visit
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May 31–June 2, 2011
Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows: Efforts to Improve Health and Reduce Costs in Denver
Forum Session
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April 8, 2011
Pioneering Transformation: Treating Chronic and Complex Disease in Underserved Areas
Fundamentals Briefing
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April 1, 2011
Health Policy Essentials: The Fundamentals of Long-Term Services and Supports
Issue Brief
No. 842
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March 30, 2011
The Hospitalist: Better Value in Inpatient Care?
Forum Session
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March 18, 2011
Caring for Patients with Advanced and Serious Illnesses: Changing Medical Practice and Patient Expectations
Briefing Book
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February 11, 2011
Health Policy Essentials
Forum Session
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January 21, 2011
Oral Health Update: Ten Years After the Surgeon General’s Report
Forum Session
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November 4, 2010
100 Years After Flexner: Time for Innovation in Medical Education?
Forum Session
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October 15, 2010
Transforming Primary Care: Implications for Practice Design and Workforce
Background Paper
No. 76
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July 6, 2010
Tapping the Potential of the Health Care Workforce: Scope-of-Practice and Payment Policies for Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants
Forum Session
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June 11, 2010
Incorporating Innovations in Health Care: Workforce Implications
Background Paper
No. 75
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June 4, 2010
Health Care Shortage Designations: HPSA, MUA, and TBD
Background Paper
No. 74
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May 11, 2010
Physician Assessment: Measuring Competence and Performance
Background Paper
No. 73
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February 17, 2010
The Medical Education of Physicians
Forum Session
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December 11, 2009
Conflicts of Interest in Medicine II: Issues Surrounding Industry Funding of Physician Education
Small-Group Session
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July 24, 2009
Diversifying the Health Policy Workforce: Mentoring
Forum Session
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May 15, 2009
Conflicts of Interest in Medicine: What's the Problem?
Issue Brief
No. 827
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November 3, 2008
Primary Care Physician Supply, Physician Compensation, and Medicare Fees: What Is the Connection?
Small-Group Session
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May 2, 2008
Physician Income and Medical Practice Differences Across Specialties: Should Medicare Care?
Forum Session
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November 9, 2007
Shampoo, Sunscreen, and Strep Tests: The Retail Approach to Primary Care
Small-Group Session
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October 31, 2007
Diversifying the Health Policy Workforce
Site Visit
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May 24–25, 2004
The Economics of Quality: Changing Incentives in Cincinnati
Background Paper
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April 11, 2003
The U.S. Health Workforce: Definitions, Dollars, and Dilemmas
Forum Session
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December 9, 2002
Primary Care: Why and Whither?
Forum Session
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September 10, 2002
Too Few? Too Many? The Right Kind? Physician Supply in an Aging and Multicultural Society
Issue Brief
No. 764
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June 22, 2001
Federal and State Perspectives on GME Reform
Forum Session
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June 22, 2001
Federal and State Perspectives on GME Reform
Issue Brief
No. 763
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June 1, 2001
Nurse Workforce: Condition Critical
Forum Session
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June 1, 2001
Nurse Workforce: Condition Critical
Site Visit
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April 10–11, 2000
Site Visit to Seattle — University of Washington Academic Medical Center
Issue Brief
No. 746
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September 13, 1999
The Nursing Center in Concept and Practice: Delivery and Financing Issues in Serving Vulnerable People
Forum Session
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September 13, 1999
The Nursing Center in Concept and Practice: Delivery and Financing Issues in Serving Vulnerable People
Issue Brief
No. 742
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June 25, 1999
Canada's Generalist Training: Are There Lessons for the United States?
Forum Session
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June 25, 1999
Canada's Generalist Training: Are There Lessons for the United States?
Issue Brief
No. 731
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February 11, 1999
Biological Terrorism: Is the Health Care Community Prepared?
Forum Session
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February 11, 1999
Biological Terrorism: Is the Health Care Community Prepared?
Issue Brief
No. 648
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May 6, 1994
Federal Support of Medical Education: Framing the Issues for the Systems Reform Debate
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