An aging population, better care coordination and integrating behavioral and physical health care are all challenges the changing health care workforce must address.
The American Hospital Association’s Workforce Center supports hospitals facing unique workforce issues by providing the most up-to-date models and research on care delivery, supply and demand of health professionals, and clinical work environments.
Hospitals view employees and employee relations as a top priority, and the importance of employee relations issues grows daily.
The AHA respects the right of individual hospitals and health care systems to determine the appropriate hospital-employee relationship for their organization and community.
In the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Congress anticipated a surplus of physicians and capped the number of Medicare-funded physician training positions. The freeze has severely limited hospitals' ability to train the next generation of providers and has contributed to a shortage of physicians, especially in behavioral health, primary care and general surgery.
Violence — in its many forms — is a major public health challenge. The AHA, along with its nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, are committed to addressing all forms of violence affecting our staff as well as the patients and communities we serve.