Tasha Allen Vice President of Talent Management and Diversity | Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Tasha Allen Vice President of Talent Management and Diversity | Georgia Chamber of Commerce
The Georgia Chamber Foundation has released its first-quarter report titled "Supporting Healthy Communities," addressing healthcare challenges in the state and suggesting potential solutions. Issues such as an aging population, low reimbursement rates for service providers, and a shortage of healthcare professionals pose significant obstacles to meeting healthcare demands in Georgia.
According to the report, Georgia anticipates the addition of 66,000 new healthcare positions by 2032, coinciding with a projected loss of 173,000 existing workers, including doctors and nurses. This could result in a shortfall of over 239,000 healthcare workers statewide if not addressed.
Hospital closures, attributed to factors like low reimbursement rates, add to the healthcare access difficulties for both rural and urban communities. The report suggests various strategies to mitigate these challenges:
1. Advancement of the Georgia Access and Pathways to Coverage program to connect Georgians with health insurance.
2. Expansion of telemedicine, particularly in rural areas, to facilitate timely consultations.
3. Utilization of rural healthcare stabilization grants to maintain essential services at vulnerable facilities.
4. Enhanced collaboration between educational institutions and hospitals to boost the number of healthcare workforce entrants.
The report highlights Phoebe Putney Health Systems in Albany as an exemplary case with its new Living & Learning Community. This 130,000 square-foot facility provides a combination of medical education and affordable housing for healthcare students, housing programs for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nurse aides, and phlebotomists. It opened in August 2024 on a site with historical roots in Albany's education system.
Founded in 1911, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce is a significant business advocacy organization in Georgia, comprising numerous members statewide. Its strategic initiative, GEORGIA|2050, aims to sustain Georgia's economic opportunities over the next quarter-century. Further information is available at gachamber.com.
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