|
2009
Northeast Ohio Regional Allied Health Workforce Summit Held Sept. 24 21 September, 2009 Contact: Julie Uehara Sur, Phone: (330) 375-7117, Email: ueharaj@summa-health.org
Northeast Ohio Regional Allied Health Workforce Summit Held Sept. 24
Akron, Ohio, Sept. 21, 2009 – At a time when thousands of healthcare jobs are going unfulfilled throughout Northeast Ohio, a historical summit of education, training and employer groups across the region has been called to find solutions specifically for the allied health workforce shortage.
Among Northeast Ohio Health Science and Innovation Coalition hospitals*, there are approximately 2400 job vacancies, of which 730 of them are in allied health. Allied health professions provide healthcare services by licensed and trained professionals in areas such as occupational therapy, speech pathology and physical therapy.
The goal of the Northeast Ohio Regional Allied Health Workforce Summit is to align public and private sector resources to facilitate best practice education, training and clinical practice strategies for the region’s allied health disciplines. A two-part series, the first meeting is scheduled for September 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. with presentations on healthcare reform and its impact on workforce development. Local healthcare employers’ perspectives of allied health workforce challenges and opportunities also will be discussed.
Summit attendees will work alongside other key decision-makers representing healthcare employer, education, and training interests to maximize the region’s efforts in building a qualified allied health workforce to serve patient needs. The second meeting of this group will take place on December 4 where attendees will discuss what work needs to be done based on ideas from the first meeting.
The allied health professions currently in demand in Ohio** include medical coder, health information administrator, medical technologist, medical laboratory technician, occupational therapist, occupational therapist assistant, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, radiologic technologist, respiratory therapist, speech and language pathologist, and state tested nursing assistants.
The Northeast Ohio Regional Allied Health Workforce Summit is sponsored by Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education (NOCHE), Northeast Ohio Health Science and Innovation Coalition (NOHSIC), NEO HealthForce, Ohio Skills Bank, Regional Talent Network, Akron Regional Hospital Association, Center for Health Affairs, and Ohio Hospital Association.
Northeast Ohio Regional Allied Health Workforce Summit
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
University of Akron Student Union Ballroom B
303 Carroll Street
Akron, OH 44325
The summit is free but requires a reservation. Call 800-237-8662. Part two of the 2009 Northeast Ohio Regional Allied Health Workforce Summit will be held Friday, Dec. 4 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hilton Akron Fairlawn.
-30-
*NOHSIC hospitals include Cleveland Clinic, EMH Regional Healthcare System, The Louis Stokes VA Hospital, MetroHealth System, SouthWest General Hospital, Summa Health System, and University Hospitals
**Source: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
|
