WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

A strong and sustainable health care workforce is essential to ensuring Floridians receive high-quality care. Florida’s hospitals are facing critical shortages across all health professions, from physicians and nurses to allied health professionals. FHA supports policies that strengthen workforce pipelines, expand training opportunities, and provide necessary resources to attract and retain health care professionals.

SESSION PRIORITES: ADDRESSING FLORIDA’S HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE

The Florida Hospital Association’s legislative priorities focus on strengthening the health care workforce to meet the increasing demand for care and ensuring hospitals can recruit and retain top talent.

Allied Health Professionals

Allied health professionals make up nearly 60% of the workforce, yet training programs lack sufficient funding. FHA supports greater investment in education and workforce development to meet growing demand.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers

Graduate Medical Education Expansion

Florida is projected to face a shortage of 18,000 physicians by 2035. FHA advocates increased GME funding and lifting Medicare caps to expand residency training and retain physicians.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE

Florida faces a severe shortage of behavioral health professionals, limiting access to care. FHA supports expanding loan forgiveness programs to recruit and retain a skilled workforce.

WORKFORCE REPORT

Florida hospitals are strengthening the health care workforce amid rising demand, highlighting improvements, staffing gaps, and data-driven strategies shaping nursing and allied health roles statewide.

ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL

Collaborative efforts across hospitals, community groups, and advocates aim to ensure Floridians receive timely, appropriate behavioral health care in the right setting.

Nursing Vacancy and Turnover

Florida’s hospitals have poured immense effort and resources into addressing workforce challenges. By partnering with educational institutions, implementing their own recruitment and retention strategies, and collaborating with policymakers on stateside funding initiatives, hospitals are all in to tackle this crisis.

Allied Heath Vacancy and Turnover

Allied Health Professionals are Essential: Comprising nearly 60% of the health care workforce, allied health professionals are vital to patient care, providing a wide range of services from laboratory testing and emergency medicine to wellness promotion and administrative support. Their diverse roles are critical in maintaining the overall health system's efficiency and effectiveness.

Leveraging Federal Medicaid Reimbursement

Hospital Investment in the Workforce

Florida’s hospitals are strengthening workforce education and professional development to address staffing challenges. According to FHA’s 2024 survey, representing 32% of the state’s licensed hospital beds, hospitals are partnering with educational institutions and community organizations to expand recruitment and retention efforts, supporting employees and training future health care professionals.

ISSUE BRIEFS

Explore key workforce challenges and policy solutions aimed at strengthening Florida’s health care workforce. These briefs highlight strategies to address shortages, improve workforce retention, and expand training opportunities.

ENGAGING MEDIA

As the largest voice for Florida's hospitals, FHA proactively engages state and national media to ensure consistent and frequent messaging supportive of hospital needs.

Opinion: Florida Hospitals Make Gains in Workforce Shortages | Sun Sentinel
Column: Thank You, Florida Hospitals and Health Care Heroes | South Florida Hospital News
Column: Progress on Addressing the Healthcare Workforce Shortage | South Florida Hospital News
Press Release: Florida Hospital Leaders Unite at 2024 FHA Workforce Summit