CLICS/CLICS2021A/commsumm.nsf
PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For WORKFORCE PIPELINE INITIATIVES, EXPANDING THE WORKFORCE, AND DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
INTERIM COMMITTEE STATEWIDE HEALTH CARE REVIEW COMMITTEE
Date Nov 3, 2021
Location HCR 0112
Workforce Pipeline Initiatives, Expanding the Workforce, and Developing Solutions - Committee Discussion Only
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01:33:38 PM |
Ingrid Johnson, President
and Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence, presented
to the committee. She discussed the role of her organization in helping
to develop the health care workforce and the need for health care workforce
data. Ms. Johnson discussed a new grant program focusing on rural
health care nursing residency and a geriatric workforce program, and highlighted
the virtual dementia tour. She discussed an advanced practice registered
nurse rural grow your own program. Ms. Johnson discussed training
programs for preceptors and clinical training.
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01:43:52 PM |
Dr. Mark Deutchman,
Rural Program Director, University of Colorado School of Medicine, provided
a presentation to the committee. His presentation can be found on
the committee's website: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/3_rural_program_for_hc_committee_2021.pdf.
He highlighted the need in rural areas of the state and discussed
the University of Colorado's School of Medicine Rural Program. Dr.
Deutchman reviewed elements of the program's curriculum, which includes
rural ethics, community engagement, and public health. He stated
that the program has had 191 graduates from 2009 to 2021, and 57 are in
practice in rural Colorado. Dr. Deutchman discussed how the model
could be expanded to other professions, such as dentistry and physical
therapy.
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01:51:55 PM |
Michael Macklin,
Associate Vice Chancellor of Workforce Partnership and Development, Colorado
Community College System, presented to the committee on the Colorado Healthcare
Experiential Pathways to Success (CO-HELPS) Program. He discussed
how the program is funded through federal grants and the investment from
the business community. He highlighted how the program helps address
careers with high turnover. He highlighted the partnerships the program
has with various health care providers and state agencies. Mr. Macklin
discussed how the funding stream supports apprenticeships through wage
funding. He also discussed the support services that are provided
to students, such as transportation, child care, and uniforms. He
said that the CO-HELPS Program currently has 12 career pathways established.
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02:03:10 PM |
Dr. Jon Samet, Dean,
Colorado School of Public Health, presented to the committee. He
provided a copy of his comments and a journal article to the committee,
which can be found on the committee's website: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/4_colorado_school_of_public_health_presentation.pdf
and https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/4.1_ajph_article_on_public_health_from_csph.pdf.
He discussed the Colorado School of Public Health and the programs
the school offers. Dr. Samet discussed a decline prior to the pandemic
in the public health workforce and how it was exacerbated by the COVID-19
pandemic. He discussed how the school assembled a team to carry out
epidemic modeling, collaborating with CDPHE and the Governorâs Office.
He stated the the school's students were hired to work as contact
tracers for the state and several local public health agencies. Dr.
Samet discussed a new certificate program in rural public health that is
based at the schoolâs University of Northern Colorado campus in Greeley.
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02:10:12 PM |
Mr. Macklin responded
to questions about concurrent enrollment programs and engaging high school
students in health care careers. Dr. Samet responded to questions
about how behavioral health intersects with public health.
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02:18:25 PM |
Colin Laughlin, Deputy
Office Director, Office of Community Living, HCPF, provided a presentation
to the committee. His presentation can be found on the committee's
webpage: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/5_hcpf_presentation_on_workforce.pdf.
He discussed the workforce need for direct care health care workers,
such as home health aides and nursing aides. Mr. Laughlin discussed
the need to expand cross-agency collaboration, recruit new individuals
into the field, build career advancement opportunities, and improve retention.
He discussed the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative, which is working
to stabilize the direct care workforce. Mr. Laughlin discussed the
American Rescue Plan Act funding that is supporting direct care workforce
initiatives, including increasing payments to providers and workers, addressing
data infrastructure, and further developing a centralized job hub.
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02:46:21 PM |
Mr. Laughlin responded to questions about direct care workforce training and compensation.
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02:48:46 PM |
Sarah Lampe, President
and Executive Director, Trailhead Institute, provided a presentation to
the committee. A copy of her presentation can be found on the committee's
webpage: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/6_trailhead_institute_presentation.pdf.
She discussed the recent threats to public health officials, along
with the burnout and turnover in the public health field. She discussed
increases in the Colorado School of Public Health applications, the enactment
of House Bill 21-1107, and the work of contact tracers during the pandemic.
Ms. Lampe reviewed the specialized and strategic skills needed in
public health. She provided recommendations to the committee about
clearly defining and understanding the public health workforce and the
need for data collection. She discussed developing a skills based
workforce and investing in skills development through pre-apprenticeship
and apprenticeship programs. Ms. Lampe discussed developing a surge
workforce for public health, investing in the system as a whole, and the
need for a common public health workforce development agenda.
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03:05:16 PM |
Sara Leahy, Director
of Member Services, Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC), presented to the
committee on workforce barriers and opportunities in rural health. She
discussed the CRHC's role in workforce development, including the Colorado
Provider Recruitment and Retention Program. She reviewed recent legislation
that addresses rural health, including the Rural and Frontier Preceptor
Tax Credit. Ms. Leahy discussed recruitment and retention barriers,
including housing challenges, the impact of high salaries for traveling
nurses, the need for primary care training, and lessening options for obstetrics
practice opportunities. She discussed issues related to burnout,
lack of diversity in rural areas, and employment needs for a rural provider's
spouse or significant other. Ms. Leahy reviewed some solutions to
rural workforce and retention issues, including the Community Apgar Program.
She discussed the state funded locums support program that is operating
in New Mexico that helps provide temporary personnel in rural areas. She
discussed the need to increase Medicaid reimbursements, as well as addressing
the need for child care and transportation in rural areas.
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03:20:00 PM |
Kyle Rojas Legleiter, Senior Director of Policy, The Colorado Health Foundation, presented to the committee. He provided an overview of The Colorado Health Foundation and how the foundation is working to increase the primary health care workforce. Mr. Rojas Legleiter discussed the need for community ties, connectedness with providers, continuity in care, and cultural responsiveness. He discussed the focus on primary care by the foundation and the continuum of care. Mr. Rojas Legleiter discussed providing funding for loan repayment programs that is expanded beyond physicians. He discussed supporting "grow your own" programs in rural areas of the state.
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03:32:14 PM |
In response to a
question, Ms. Lampe discussed better communicating the need for public
health and framing the field of public health. She discussed the
need to introduce the field of public health into the education system
earlier and further developing career pathways.
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