Center for Health Workforce Development Much of the nation is facing a serious health workforce shortage, a gathering crisis that already is exerting a profound influence on the delivery of health care services throughout Maryland and the region. Access to care, quality of care, and patient safety are dependent upon the availability of an adequate supply of well-educated professionals and trained workers who are the backbone of our health care delivery system. The Center for Health Workforce Development at the University of Maryland, Baltimore is a newly established enterprise and one of a growing number of similar entities in the nation dedicated to analyzing and understanding health workforce issues, dynamics and trends. Our goal is to translate this knowledge into policies and programs to develop the health workforce. As a component of Maryland's only public academic health campus, the Center relies upon the expertise of the schools of nursing, medicine, pharmacy, social work, dentistry, and law. MISSION The core mission of the Center, which was founded in 2002, is to assist health care professionals, educators, the health care industry, public policymakers and other stakeholders in anticipating and effectively responding to the challenges of recruiting, educating, managing, and retaining an evolving health workforce in order to promote the safety, quality, and accessibility of health care in an era of cost containment. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES - Document shortage areas and other major health workforce challenges in Maryland and the region by conducting and reporting research related to workforce recruitment, retention, distribution, and utilization
- In partnership with the health care industry and government agencies, identify interventions and develop demonstration projects aimed at resolving workforce and workplace issues
- Strengthen and institutionalize interdisciplinary education, community-based learning, and regional cooperation among educational institutions
- Enhance leadership and management skills among health professionals in order to improve their effectiveness in managing a dramatically changing health care environment and delivery system
- Help inform, shape, and advocate for public policy as it relates to health professions education and health workforce planning and development
- Develop innovative strategies to promote health professions careers and increase the diversity of the workforce
CURRENT PROJECTS Elder Abuse/Neglect for Surveyors of Nursing Homes
The Center is directing a project funded by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to develop a national curriculum in elder abuse/neglect for surveyors of nursing homes. This project is being conducted in collaboration with the Depatment of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Maryland Board of Nursing and the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. INOVA Health Systems Nurse Retention Demonstration Project
The Center is collaborating on a project funded by a grant from the Division of Nursing, HRSA in the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a demonstration project to reduce work intensity. The objective of this initiative is to employ "new care delivery strategies" to increase nurse satisfaction, productivity and retention. AmeriCorps Program
The purpose of this project is to develop a model health care volunteer experience that will: 1) provide auxiliary support within hospitals and long-term care settings; 2) enhance service delivery to patients; and 3) create an alternative educational/career pipeline that encourages AmeriCorps participants to pursue health careers. Program sponsors include: Medstar Health and the University of Maryland Medical System. Americorps Program at Center for Health Workforce Development
Specially trained volunteers prepare for service in area health care settings as part of a Health Workforce Development initiative.
View Full Article COMPLETED PROJECTS The Nursing Workforce Project
This definitive study, "Maryland's Nursing Shortage: A Workforce Crisis" which was released in April 2003 examines Maryland's nursing supply and projected demand. The project was supported by grants from the Aaron Straus and Lillie Straus Foundation, Inc.; CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield; MedStar Health; the Governor's Workforce Investment Board; and the Maryland Board of Nursing. The complete report can be accessed at this site. Nurse Practitioners as Primary Care Providers in HMOs
Under contract to the Maryland Board of Nursing, the Center prepared a report and recommendations for the state's Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee on whether HMOs in Maryland should individually credential nurse practitioners and allow for the designation of nurse practitioners as primary care providers in HMOs. Legislation incorporating recommendations from the report was enacted and signed into law by Governor Ehrlich in May 2003. Leadership Competence for the New Millennium
Funded by a grant from the Helene Fuld Health Trust, the purpose of this project was to design an innovative course to prepare registered nurses enrolled in bachelor's or master's degree programs for front-line leadership and management positions. The course was developed, approved and offered for the first time in the Spring 2003 semester. The Virginia Lee Franklin Lectureship in Nursing and Health Workforce Development
The Center has coordinated a series of lectures on, "Seeking Solutions to the Health Workforce Shortage: Best Practices in Recruitment and Retention." Speakers included state, regional, and national experts in nursing and health workforce development. Supported by a grant from the Virginia Lee Franklin Memorial Trust, the 2004 event focused on the long-term care workforce and was co-sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Life Span; the Health Facilities Association of Maryland; the Gerontology Geriatrics Education and Research (GGEAR) Program, the University of Maryland; the John A. Hartford Foundation; and Nursing Spectrum. For more information contact the Center at (410) 706-1146 Back to Top | 
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