There’s a healthcare staffing shortage in the United States and the problem is only growing. Thousands of primary care, dental and mental health providers are already needed in areas with identified health workforce shortages, and according to Association of American Medical Colleges, the nation could see a shortage of up to 124,000 doctors by 2034. While you may assume these shortages are mostly felt at privately owned clinics and hospitals, think again—some government facilities are feeling the same crunch. Here are the types of government facilities that often need temporary healthcare staffing solutions.
Correctional Facilities
There are two million people currently incarcerated in correctional facilities, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, and these people are more likely to have health problems like high blood pressure, asthma, and arthritis compared to those who aren’t in jail. Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are needed to care for these people, and when facilities under the jurisdiction of federal or state bureaus of corrections need healthcare staffing help, companies like Wellhart are there to assist.
Behavioral Health Hospitals
Behavioral health facilities often treat people who are struggling with mental illness or substance abuse/addiction. Some of these facilities are run by local, state or federal governments and are often staffed by psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, therapists and other medical providers.
COVID-19 Testing/Vaccination Clinics
The COVID-19 pandemic shook the entire world in early 2020, and while it’s been over three years since it began, there are still clinics that test and vaccinate for the deadly disease. Many of these clinics are run by government agencies, and when they need help staffing them, companies like Wellhart are there to provide high-quality providers quickly and efficiently.
Department of Defense Facilities
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is the part of the federal government that oversees everything related to national security and the six branches of the country’s armed forces. The department has almost 3 million employees, including soldiers, civilian workers, and reservists. Since the DOD oversees the armed forces, that means it also oversees the Military Health System, which provides healthcare to active, reserve and retired service members and their families across the globe.
Veterans Affairs Hospitals and Clinics
According to NPR, the Veterans Health Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, manages over 1,700 hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities for over nine million veterans in the country. Many of these facilities are staffed by government employees, but when there is a staffing shortage, they will often reach out to staffing agencies such as Wellhart to help fill the gaps.
Indian Health Service (IHS) Facilities
The Indian Health Service (IHS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides critical healthcare to 2.2 million Native Americans. There are many hospitals and other health centers under the IHS’ supervision, and like the other facilities on this list, when they don’t have enough healthcare providers, the government relies on companies like Wellhart for assistance.
Staff Your Facility with Us
If you are an administrator of a government facility that is currently suffering from a shortage of healthcare workers, or you are about to begin a project and need additional medical providers, reach out to us today. Our experienced team will leverage its connections to over 500,000 medical providers to find the right temporary staffing solution for you.