Minnesota could face 'alarming' health care worker shortage within five years

Minnesota could face a dire health care worker shortage in the near future if the state does not do more to recruit and retain workers, according to a Health Department report released Tuesday.

The report based on surveys of state health care workers found burnout could lead to "alarming" workforce losses, particularly in rural Minnesota. About one in five rural health providers said they plan to leave their profession in the next five years, with the largest projected losses to be among physicians. One in three rural physicians said they planned to leave the profession.

"We are going to need several approaches and solutions aimed at both recruiting the future workforce and retaining the current one," state Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said in a statement Tuesday. "We in government and health care must do more to prioritize retention, work with educational institutions to expand clinical training opportunities and focus more broadly on the care team, including nurses, physicians, physician assistants, respiratory therapists and others."

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-could-face-alarming-health-care-worker-shortage-within-five-years/600164393/