News Releases

The Center for Health Affairs Hosts Workforce Roundtable

On Sept. 8, The Center for Health Affairs hosted a workforce roundtable on “The Healthcare Workforce of Tomorrow” to discuss the healthcare staff shortage facing hospitals in Northeast Ohio and across the entire United States healthcare system. 

Featuring an impressive panel of national and regional healthcare experts with knowledge and insight into how to best address staffing issues, the event sparked conversations on a range of topics, including the importance of understanding the viewpoint and needs of employees.

“From an employee perspective, I want to feel physically safe. I also want to feel psychologically safe so that when I do see something not right I can speak up without fear of retaliation or retribution,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Equity Officer for The MetroHealth System Alan K. Nevel. “I want to be heard, but also understood. From an employee perspective I want to feel valued.”

Building upon the importance of a strong workforce, the panel shared personal experiences from their diverse backgrounds while also presenting ideas on how to encourage more people to enter the healthcare field. Throughout the event, the conversation also delved into the troubles facing long term care and home healthcare employees, while offering real solutions.

Covering the issue of pay and lack of clear career paths that allow for growth in the industry, State Network Director – Ohio for Unite Us, Toni Cunningham explained, “We need to figure out how to make home healthcare just as important as the care you receive in the hospital so the pay can increase and companies can set themselves to offer benefits and then have that pathway into the medical profession if they want to go.” 

Designed to examine the critical workforce shortage while also focusing on the healthcare workforce of tomorrow, the event showcased insights and strategies for addressing this growing challenge while answering the question: How do we address healthcare staffing shortages while also building trust among patients, employees and our community?

Other key takeaways included:

• Communicating benefits of healthcare education
• How to best attract and keep employees
• Building diversity in our healthcare system
• Impacts of an improved healthcare workforce

If you missed this rewarding discussion, a recording of the event will be available to view on demand beginning Sept. 29, at noon, on The Center’s BrightTALK channel. Register here to tune in.

MODERATOR:
Sherry Kolb, RN, President Emeritus, Qualivis

SPEAKERS:
Alan K. Nevel, SVP, Chief Equity Officer, The MetroHealth System
Toni Cunningham, State Network Director - Ohio, Unite Us
David Leopold, Partner, Ulmer & Berne LLP
Jane Oates, President, WorkingNation