Montana Healthcare WorkforceStatewide Strategic Planning

Kristin Juliar, DirectorMontana Office of Rural Health/

Area Health Education CenterNational Governor’s Association

April 20, 2012

Montana Office of Rural Health (MORH)/AHEC is located at Montana State University and is affiliated with the WWAMI Medical Program

MORH manages multiple collaborative grants and projects for healthcare workforce development

Awarded to MT Healthcare Workforce Advisory Committee (MHWAC) and State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB)

Outcome: Development of the Strategic Plan

Enthusiastic Participation from….◦ MHWAC Membership (Now Over 100 People)◦ Regional Focus Groups◦ Profession/Sector Specific Workgroups

State Health Care Workforce Development Planning Grant

A lot of history brought us to this point

Montana’s Geographic Spread

Previous Planning Efforts

Blue Ribbon Panel – Gov. Martz

Primary Care Liaison Group

MT HC Workforce Advisory Committee          

Advisory to Board of Regents & Governor Schweitzer

HC Workforce Planning Grant

Collaboration with DOL

Effective workforce planning is a

collaborative effort across traditional

organizational boundaries

Access Plan athttp://healthinfo.montana.edu

State Government◦ SWIB◦ Health/Human Services◦ Education◦ Licensure Boards

Associations◦ Hospital◦ Professions◦ CHCs

Providers

Partnerships

Higher Educationo Universitieso Community/Technical

Collegeso Private Collegeso Tribal Colleges

Regional Representatives AHECs and Rural Health

Engage Montanans in understanding and addressing the State’s healthcare workforce needs

Educate and train Montana’s workforce

Recruit health professionals to Montana’s health professions shortage areas

Retain a skilled healthcare workforce

Four Overarching Recommendations

15 workgroups helped to develop….◦ Allied Health◦ Behavioral Health◦ Community Health Centers◦ Dental/Oral Health◦ Direct Care Workers◦ Emergency Medical Services◦ Health Informatics Staff◦ Medical Laboratory Science/Technicians◦ Nurses◦ Pharmacists/Pharmacy Technicians◦ Physicians◦ Public Health

Sector/Profession Specific

Dedicated economist to specialize in healthcare workforce research

Preparation of reports at the request of the MHWAC

Improved capacity of DOL to analyze healthcare industry

Memoranda of agreement with higher ed Increased cooperation with licensure boards

Partnership with MT Dept. of Labor

Healthcare Professionals by county

Develop reliable data on the healthcare workforce

Financial incentives for allied health professionals

Expand primary care workforce

Develop and expand healthcare career pathways

Priority Areas

New concepts of healthcare workforce for care coordination, HIT implementation, quality

MHWAC convened workforce group with new partners in research and HIE to develop care coordination model

Linking workforce development to improved quality, cost savings

Addresses CMS, PCMH, ACO and quality improvement

MT ORH/AHEC and ACA

Creating briefing papers for 2013 Legislature, candidates for Governor

“Deep dives” into specific recommendations◦ Primary care◦ Nursing◦ Recruitment and retention◦ Allied health loan repayment

Structured partnerships with higher education programs

Care coordination projects

Next Steps

Kristin Juliar

MT Office of Rural Health/AHEC

406-994-6003; kjuliar@montana.edu

Contact