Never have the stakes been higher for the healthcare work force as Oregon’s population continues to expand, while more and more health professionals are approaching retirement.
What's being done to deal with these challenges? You can learn what's ahead by attending a March 31 breakfast forum sponsored by Oregon Health Forum in collaboration with SEIU Local 49. The event gets underway at 7 a.m. at the Multnomah Athletic Club, and is being supported by Grand Canyon University and PH Tech.
Because of their support, Oregon Health Forum is offering a limited number of free scholarships to students interested in attending this forum. Those interested should contact Diane Lund-Muzikant.
Paula Gubrud-Howe, the newest member of our panel, is quite aware of what’s happening in the nursing profession. As a special assistant to the dean at Oregon Health & Sciences University, she understands the dilemmas facing the profession and was among the authors of the Institute of Medicine report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.
Our moderator, Patricia Scruggs, president of Scruggs & Associates LLC, has developed more than 70 work force development plans that have leveraged the resources of private and public sector partners, Around the country, she’s continued her innovation and entrepreneurial services assisting state and regions, including work on rural equity capital for the Ford Foundation’s Wealth Creation in Rural America.
The panelists also include Dr. David Pollack, chair of the Oregon Health Care Workforce Committee; Dr. LeAnn Maupin, dean of OIT Health Arts and Science and Thao Tran, government and communications lead for the SEIU 775 Benefits Group.
Here are just a few of the questions facing our panelists:
- How are we preparing graduates of programs to have the employability skills (team work, time management, customer service, etc.) that employers seek? Specifically:
- How do we work collaboratively to bridge the gap between education credentials and the applied and inter-personnel skills required for today’s healthcare jobs?
- With knowledge, technology, and regulations changing on a regular basis what creative solutions are needed to be “better and faster” at what we do? How do we respond to employer’s need for…
- Work-based training models to keep existing workers up to date and help them transition into new healthcare models?
- Utilization of technology and on-line options to help programs expand reach and be more cost-effective?
- If you had a magic wand and could add/expand or change one thing to address talent needs in the healthcare industry, what would that be and why?
Audience members will also have an opportunity to ask questions. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Diane Lund-Muzikant for details.
Oregon Health Forum is the educational arm of The Lund Report and collaborates with other nonprofit organizations to sponsor monthly breakfast forums. If your organization is interested in such opportunities, please contact our administrative assistant, Rian Sands, at [email protected].
