Addressing Healthcare Access: Health Care Workforce Shortage
Purpose:
To support the development of a strong, local healthcare workforce.
A well trained and accessible workforce is the cornerstone of the health delivery system. The ability for our region to thrive economically is also forever linked to the availability of a high quality, skilled workforce. Charting the Course: A Coachella Valley Healthcare Workforce Needs Assessment was commissioned by the Desert Healthcare District in 2009 (click here for the report).
As part of our commitment to support the healthcare workforce needs of the region, the Desert Healthcare District has been working in collaboration with local hospitals, educational institutions, workforce development, local healthcare industry partners and the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership to expand and enhance the pipeline for new healthcare workers.
The District has awarded grants to expand and equip local healthcare teaching facilities, create new certificate and degree programs, enhance teaching capacity, develop healthcare industry councils, research and prepare technical studies, support career exploration for students and fund nursing and health career scholarships. Future registered physicians, nurses, licensed vocational nurses, therapists, managers, teachers, techs, and other allied health workers are helping to fill the pipeline as a result of these collaborations and grants.
District Funds committed to date: $ 11,760,852
2005 -2014 California State University, SB – Palm Desert Campus
- 2005 – 2006: Health Sciences Building construction ($3 million)
- 2004 – 2007 & 2008 – 2011: RN to BSN Program – total of 50 cohorts achieving their Bachelor of Nursing degree ($309,352)
- 2011 – 2014: BSN Program support $(300,000)
2005 -2016 Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP) - “Healthcare Workforce Excellence: Job Placement, Health Pathways Development and College & Career Readiness”
- Health Industry Council and Scholarships ($1,981,320)
- iHub Accelerator Campus – development of the Health and Medical Innovation Center ($500,000)
2012 – 2016 UCR School of Medicine – “A Partnership with Desert Healthcare District to Advance Health Care Access & Outcomes” – ($5 million)
- Provide infrastructure and administrative support for the hiring of primary care physicians at Desert Regional Medical Center
- Develop residency training programs and clinical clerkships in partnership with Desert Regional Medical Center, Borrego Community Health Foundation, the Riverside County Family Care Center and other healthcare facilities
- Build a telemedicine infrastructure in the District that will link students and medical residents at District locations to the education programs in Riverside and beyond, as well as enable telemedicine consults for FQHC patients to specialists outside the region
- Prepare students in the District for careers in medicine and other health professions through expanded enrichment programs
2003 – 2014 College of the Desert – ($670,000)
- 2003 – Fast Track Evening and Weekend Nursing Program ($150,000)
- 2007-2009 Endowed the Director of Nursing Position – this position guarantees the nursing program's ability to recruit, admit, and educate students as well as address the constraints that will continue to impact nursing educational programs in future years ($500,000).
- 2013 – 2014 EMT Medical Training ($20,000)
Partners
