The Workforce Solutions'
efforts with hospitals are guided by the Health
Services Steering Committee comprised of senior
executives from area hospitals, health systems,
and academic institutions, as well as representatives
of the Greater Houston Partnership.
The Steering Committee oversees a variety of
activities to develop more collaborative relationships
between business and education. Its work over
the past three years has focused on the critical
shortage of skilled nurses. The Committee has
helped to (1) increase the capacity of local schools
to graduate nurses, (2) increase the supply of
RNs by training current hospital employees to
become nurses, and (3) understand the critical
importance of a good work environment in attracting
and retaining nurses.
Committee activities and initiatives fall into
four primary work groups, each led by senior healthcare
executives. These subgroups are Education, Marketing,
Work Environment, and Legislative/Public Funding.
Committee activities are designed
- To raise the awareness and attractiveness
of healthcare occupations among the general
public, particularly with K-12 students
- To improve the diversity of the current healthcare
workforce to better match community diversity
- To increase enrollment capacity of the region's
healthcare training institutions
- To enhance funding available to students wishing
to pursue such training
- To train existing workers in order to upgrade
their skills so they can move up career ladders
within their chosen profession
- To address the primary obstacle of limited
faculty members in order to increase nurse training
- To improve both the perception and the reality
of hospitals as good places to work
- To reduce the turnover of healthcare professionals
in area hospitals and foster a more professional
atmosphere in the workplace
- To educate the general public, elected officials
and others regarding the need for strong and
continued support of public funding of occupational
skills training in healthcare
For further information on Workforce Solutions's healthcare
workforce development activities, please contact
Mary Koch at (713) 993-4518 or Mary.Koch@wrksolutions.com |
