All Californians should have access to health care professionals they know and trust. In a large state like ours, this means having access to health care professionals who represent the races, ethnicities, and languages of our diverse communities. Many of them are undervalued today.
CHCF is dedicated to building a health care workforce that ensures all Californians receive quality care from professionals ready to meet their needs, no matter where they live.
California is the largest and most diverse state in the United States. It is essential that we have a stable health workforce that can provide excellent care to all communities.
Labor shortages are hurting Californians, especially people of color and communities in rural counties.
California especially needs primary care and behavioral health providers. Approximately 11.4 million Californians, one-quarter of the state's population, live in federally designated primary care health professional shortage areas, and two-thirds of them are Black or Latino/x , or Native American, highlighting the disproportionate impact labor shortages have on society. communities of color in California; California's rural counties, particularly the Northern/Sierra regions, do not meet national standards for minimum provider ratios per capita.
These regions also have the highest average age of health care workers in the state, meaning many health care workers will soon need to be replaced.
Looking to the future by creating opportunities for future healthcare workers
Current and future California health care workers need more opportunities to excel in a variety of health care professions, from physician assistants to nurses, pharmacy technicians and respiratory therapists. This is especially true for communities that have been systematically excluded, such as people of color, first-generation college students, and people with disabilities.
California can build the health care workforce it needs by:
- Investing in students from underrepresented communities. Pathway programs (also known as pipeline programs) provide academic, financial, and social support (such as mentoring) to college students from underrepresented groups. Such support has proven especially important for Latino and Black medical students who lack access to higher education opportunities.
- Streamline education and training options, including reducing costs and time to become a healthcare professional.. Californians pursuing health care are eager to learn what it takes to care for their patients. However, obtaining a medical degree or professional license can be expensive and cumbersome, and many people who lack family resources or support are hesitant.
- Creating professional growth opportunities for healthcare workers. California's current health care workforce wants the opportunity to continue their education, earn a family-supporting wage, and take advantage of training programs without taking on debt or leaving their jobs. California health care employers and hospitals play a critical role in helping current health care workers learn new skills and advance their careers.
The California Healthcare Foundation partners with the state of California, public and private academic communities, research institutions, and community-based organizations to drive change in these areas. To guide effective statewide planning and action, we support:
