Workforce

About Workforce

California’s shortage of health care workers is severe. Statewide, more than 22% of Californians live in an area without enough primary care providers. There, patients often face a health care system lacking enough nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and others.  California needs to add 500,000 new allied health care professionals such as medical assistants, imaging specialists, and more. Closing the gap will require partnership among employers, workers, policymakers, colleges, licensing entities, and others.

Join HQI’s Virtual Forum on Use of Force in Managing Workplace Violence

What’s happening: CHA’s Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) will hold a virtual forum on Hospital Workplace Violence: Security Personnel and the Continuum of Force on April 18 from noon to 1 p.m. (PT).  

What else to know: The forum will discuss the pros and cons of various methods used by hospital security officers when responding to escalating levels of threats within a hospital facility, including the use of stun guns. Registration is open.  

Panel Explores Reasons for Hospital Maternity Ward Closures 

What’s happening: The closure of labor and delivery units in California hospitals was the focus of a recent panel discussion sponsored by the nonprofit news organization CalMatters. Peggy Wheeler, CHA vice president, policy, appeared on the panel.  

What else to know: The discussion “No Deliveries: When Maternity Wards Close, Where Do Patients Go?” focused on the pace and impact of maternity unit closures and efforts to protect access. Wheeler shared the reasons underlying these closures, including low birth rates, workforce challenges, and insufficient Medi-Cal reimbursement rates.  

BRN Seeks Input on Areas for Improvement

What’s happening: The California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) invites registered nurses and community stakeholders to complete its consumer satisfaction survey.   

What else to know: Anyone who has interacted with or been contacted by the BRN is encouraged to complete the survey by May 27. 

House Passes First Package to Fund Federal Government, Includes Health Provisions

What’s happening: The U.S. House passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which will fund a portion of the federal government through the end of the fiscal year. The package includes a group of CHA-supported health care provisions important to hospitals.  

What else to know: Congress has until March 22 to pass a second package to fund the rest of the federal government, including the Department of Health and Human Services.  

House Ways and Means Committee Advances Bipartisan Tax Package

What’s happening: The House Ways and Means Committee voted 40-3 last week to advance the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (TRAFWA) of 2024, which includes provisions that have bipartisan support.  

What else to know: To pay for the package cost, the legislation accelerates the employee retention credit (ERC) claims submission deadline to Jan. 31. The ERC is a refundable tax credit for employers, including hospitals, who kept workers on their payrolls during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

HQI Will Facilitate Community of Practice on Workplace Violence in 2024

What’s happening: The Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) will facilitate a Community of Practice on Eliminating Hospital Workplace Violence from January to December 2024.   

What else to know: The purpose of the Community of Practice is to connect individuals working on the issue of workplace violence in hospitals through a collaborative network designed for peer-to-peer learning and exchange.