ATI and Ascend Learning take a foundational step to meet healthcare workforce needs
Solving the healthcare workforce shortage is a challenge that must be met with expertise and ingenuity. Deep knowledge of the healthcare industry, along with a passion for the people in it, is the ideal nucleus for the development of solutions. To that end, Ascend Learning — the parent company of ATI Nursing Education — recently helped establish the Healthcare Workforce Coalition, whose mission is uniting the healthcare community to address its workforce crisis.
The new coalition, established in October 2023 with Ascend Learning as a founding member, brings together leading stakeholders to collaborate on policy solutions that will address shortages of nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals. Ascend Learning brings valued perspective to the coalition thanks to its portfolio of healthcare brands: ATI Nursing Education (which includes Advanced Practice Education Associates and NursingCE), the National Healthcareer Association, MedHub, and BoardVitals.
Uniting efforts across healthcare professions
The Healthcare Workforce Coalition unites healthcare stakeholders from across disciplines and the entire care continuum to develop and advocate for policies that will grow the healthcare workforce. Ascend Learning and ATI are passionate about leading this charge.
“I hear from nurses at the bedside, as well as those working as educators, about the severe staffing shortage that is pervasive throughout our entire country. It’s clear we can no longer wait to address this crisis,” said Patty Knecht, PhD, RN, ANEF, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Ascend Learning. “I look forward to collaborating with stakeholders from across the healthcare sector to ensure the growth and stability of our healthcare workforce, including through investments in bolstering enrollment, supporting faculty, and ensuring learners are prepared both academically and on the job.”
Focusing on healthcare worker shortage solutions
The United States faces a critical shortage of professionals throughout the healthcare system. Specifically, experts forecast that to meet future demands, the country must double the number of new nurse graduates entering and staying in the field every year between 2022 and 2025.
But nurses are not the only professionals in short supply. Surveys show that 85% of healthcare facilities face shortages of allied healthcare professionals such as radiologic technologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. And, an October 2023 projection by the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis estimates a shortfall of nearly 140,000 physicians by 2038. These troubling numbers make clear the urgency with which policymakers must implement solutions.
Working to build a robust healthcare workforce
The coalition’s stated purpose is to “bring together a diverse group of healthcare stakeholders and advocate collectively for a strong, robust, and resilient health care workforce.” To achieve this, the coalition plans to focus its efforts on three areas: education, retention, and appropriate incorporation of internationally-prepared healthcare professionals.
Specifically, the coalition will work to:
- increase student enrollment in health-related fields by expanding the capacity of educational programs and improving the academic preparedness of students
- preserve and retain the nation’s existing healthcare workforce to meet healthcare staffing needs
- raise awareness of the contributions of skilled international clinicians and nurses through legislative and policy solutions.
Meeting at a crossroads in patient care
The founding members of the Healthcare Workforce Coalition bring a diversity of voices and expertise to the group’s mission. In addition to Ascend Learning, coalition members are the American Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, Shearwater Health, the American Society of Nephrology, Vitas Healthcare, the American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment, MedPro International, the National Rural Health Association, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and Avant Healthcare Professionals.
“Ascend Learning is pleased to be joining the Healthcare Workforce Coalition and collaborating with the experienced leadership it brings together,” said Sean Burke, President of Healthcare at Ascend Learning. “The U.S. healthcare sector is at a dangerous crossroads. But we stand ready to make progress. We will work hand-in-hand with members of the coalition to drive meaningful solutions that support the healthcare professionals who form the backbone of our healthcare system.”