MassAHEC Network Conference Health Care Pathways: Connecting Education with Careers.

Closing the Gap in Health Disparities: From the Classroom to the System

Onesky Aupont MD, MPH, MA, PhD

University of Massachusetts Medical School April 11, 2008

Objectives

• To highlight the gap between current workforce and system needs

• To emphasize the need to promote health careers in the school

Where are we?

Physician-to-Population Level per 100,000

Population living in Federally Designated Shortage Areas

Context in MA and New England

- Nearly 80 hospitals in Massachusetts**- Admission: 125/1000 ; ER visits: 488 / 1000 populations**- Nursing Homes residents :44,532** - Occupancy rates: 90%**- Registered Physicians : 33,409 392 per 100,000 population**- Active Primary care providers: 125 per 100,000 population - Registered Nurses : 76,870 1201 per 100,000 population, as of May 2005**- Projected Number of Physician Assistants: 1,186 19 per 100,000 population - Number of Dentists, 2007 : 6,356

- Dental assistant and hygienist : 85 -100 / 100,000 *- 69-76 Pharmacists /100,000 with on average 130 Pharm Tech / 100,000 *- Nearly 75 Psychologist / 100,000*- Social workers : 400 / 100,000* - Physical Therapist: 70/100,000* - EMT and Lab tech 80 and 140 / 100,000*

** Health Facts 2007* Data for New England (2004)

Aging Physician Workforce

First-Year M.D. Enrollment per 100,000 Population

Workforce Projections

Projected baseline for Physician requirements per 100,00 populations

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

Source: Bureau of Health Professions. / AAMC 2007

Occ

upat

ion

Primary care

Specialty

Non-patient care

Total

Workforce Projections

Projected baseline and shortages for Nurses per 100,00 populations

Source: Bureau of Health Professions, RN supply and Demand Projections

Service gaps and discrepancies

Challenging health care crisis

Persistent DisparitiesWorkforce shortages

Health Careers Opportunities Program Centers of Excellence

Area Health Education Centers

Nursing Workforce Diversity Program Career Academies Community Health Centers

Migrant Health Center Program Border Health Program

From the classroom to the system

Service gaps and

discrepanciesImproved

Workforce

Health Careers Opportunities Program

Centers of Excellence Area Health Education Centers

Nursing Workforce Diversity Program

Career Academies Community Health Centers

Migrant Health Center Program Border Health Program

Rationale for an early start

Examples of Health ProfessionsEmergency Medical Technician Athletic Trainer Physical TherapistMedical Doctor Nurse Respiratory Therapist Radiology Technologist Surgical Technologist Dispensing Optician

Environmental Health Specialist Dispensing Optician Pharmacy Technician Physician Assistant Uniform Services: Medical Corps Occupational Therapy Assistant Certified Nurse-Midwife Genetic Counselors Bio Engineer Public Health Professional

Motivation! Exposure! Engagement!