Leading stakeholders collaborate to develop policy solutions to address the nation’s severe shortage of healthcare professionals, including nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals.
Burlington, MA - Ascend Learning – a leading provider of online educational content, simulations, software, and analytics whose portfolio of brands includes ATI Nursing Education, National Healthcareer Association, MedHub, and BoardVitals – today announced it will join the newly formed Healthcare Workforce Coalition as a founding member. The coalition aims to unite healthcare stakeholders from across disciplines and the entire care continuum to develop and advocate for policies that will grow the nursing, physician, and allied health professional workforces.
The coalition’s primary goals are to
- increase student enrollment in health-related fields by expanding the capacity of schools and improving the academic preparedness of students,
- preserve and retain the nation’s existing healthcare workforce, and
- attract skilled international clinicians and nurses to the United States.
“I hear from nurses at the bedside, and those working as educators about the severe staffing shortage that is pervasive throughout our entire country, and it’s clear we can no longer wait to address this crisis,” said Dr. Patty Knecht, Chief Nursing Officer at Ascend Learning. “I look forward to collaborating with stakeholders from across the healthcare sector to ensure the growth and stability of our healthcare workforce, including through investments in bolstering enrollment, supporting faculty, and ensuring learners are prepared both academically and on the job.”
The country currently faces a critical shortage of professionals throughout the healthcare system. Specifically, it’s predicted the U.S. must double the number of new nurse graduates entering and staying in the field every year between 2022 and 2025 to meet future demands. Additionally, 85 percent of healthcare facilities face shortages of allied healthcare professionals. The U.S. could also see an estimated shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034 in primary and specialty care. These troubling numbers make clear the urgency with which policymakers must implement solutions.
In addition to Ascend Learning, other founding members of the coalition include the American Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals, Shearwater Health, American Society of Nephrology, Vitas Healthcare, American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment, MedPro International, National Rural Health Association, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and Avant Healthcare.
“Ascend Learning is pleased to be joining the Healthcare Workforce Coalition and collaborating with the experienced leadership this coalition brings together,” said Sean Burke, President of Healthcare at Ascend Learning. “The U.S. healthcare sector is at a dangerous crossroads. But we stand ready to make progress and drive meaningful solutions for the nurses, physicians and allied healthcare professionals who are the backbone of our healthcare system.”
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About Ascend Learning
Ascend Learning is a leading provider of online educational content, simulation, software and analytics serving students, educational institutions and employers. With products that span the learning continuum, Ascend Learning focuses on high-growth careers in a range of industries, with a special focus on healthcare and other high-growth, licensure-driven professions. Ascend Learning products, from testing to certification, are used by frontline healthcare workers, physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, certified personal trainers, group fitness instructors, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers.