Gaining a Competitive Edge in Workforce Development: The Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers

A quality workforce is the single most important factor for companies, regions, states, and countries to gain an economic competitive edge.  Many states and regions are recognizing this and organizing demand-driven cluster partnerships to compete for the best talent, cultivate their current workforce, and develop incentives to retain workers in critical industries. These partnerships are composed of public, quasi-public, and private sector entities that collaboratively identify key issues, prioritize needs, and develop, implement, and measure strategies to strengthen the industry’s workforce and ultimately the region’s or state’s economy. 

Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell implemented a cluster strategy in April 2004 to address the Commonwealth’s acute workforce needs in the health care industry (see the Fall 2004 edition of Insight and Innovation).  The Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers (Center) is a public-private initiative of employers, Commonwealth agencies, industry associations, labor unions, professional associations, and educational institutions.  It responds to Pennsylvania ’s short- and long-term health care workforce challenges by relying heavily on input from health care leaders and stakeholders from across Pennsylvania.  The Center is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board.

The Center is a successful example of how regions and states can address critical workforce issues using a demand-driven, industry partnership model.   Three key issues formed the foundation of the Center’s inaugural year:  

1.      The Nursing Education Capacity Committee examined key issues regarding the ability of Pennsylvania ’s educational system to prepare nurse educators and nurses.  The report can be found at
http://www.paworkforce.state.pa.us/about/lib/about/pdf/health_careers/panursingeducationsystemcapacityrecommendations1.pdf 

2.      The Center developed a relationship with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation (PHEF) to create financial incentives for individuals to pursue nursing careers and continue professional development once practicing in the industry.  The PHEF also supports the recommendations outlined in the Center’s benchmarking report, “Addressing Pennsylvania’s Nursing Education System Capacity” (see the link in one above).  

3.      The Health Care Retention Working Group is developing incentives to keep qualified workers in the health care field.  Look for the final report of this initiative later this spring on the Center’s website, http://www.paworkforce.state.pa.us/about/cwp/view.asp?a=471&q=152435.  

The Center will build on this work in 2006 by examining the extent to which the Commonwealth’s nursing programs and clinical education sites are meeting the demand for nursing students and faculty.  The Center also will examine strategies to meet many of the recommendations regarding nursing education and clinical education outlined in “Addressing Pennsylvania’s Nursing Education System Capacity.”  

If you would like more information on how your organization can meet its workforce challenges or how your area can take advantage of demand-driven industry partnerships, please contact our consultant specializing in workforce development initiatives, Kelly L. Glass.  Kelly can be reached at 412.722.1111 or via email at kglass@hillgroupinc.com.

 
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