The Southwest Florida economy is experiencing a rapid shift in population and subsequent need for health care services. Positioned in one of the fastest growing regions in the State of Florida, Collier and Lee counties have seen an increase in population from nearly 20 percent to almost 28 percent, respectively, since the 2010 census. Projections for population growth, according to The Office of Economic and Demographic Research for the State of Florida, estimate that Collier and Lee counties will grow by 253,000 community members by 2035. Looking closely at the health care needs of our community, we note that over 30 percent of our community members are over the age of 65; the percentage of this demographic is also growing.
This increase in demand for health care services adds to the already strained health care delivery system where staffing challenges are compounded by workforce housing insecurity and other complicated social challenges. One of the greatest forces of change in our growing community is a nursing shortage which threatens our ability to provide access to care for the people in our communities. Where the threat exists, opportunities are presented, and one of these incredible opportunities is partnering with the FutureMakers Coalition at Collaboratory.
The Healthcare System Strategic Alignment Team of FutureMakers Coalition began as a pilot in 2016 and consists of regional health care employers, educators, local and state government agencies. Since that time, industries from almost every sector in the region have also experienced a high demand for skilled talent. We are focused on not only meeting the current staffing needs but closing workforce gaps by developing strategic, sustainable, career pathway programs to grow and advance the health care industry. The workforce ecosystem is a complex network of activities, processes and resources which can either create threats or opportunities for individuals to attain gainful employment of in-demand jobs. Our goal is to minimize the threats and increase the opportunities.
Coming together regionally helps us share expertise, coordinate best practices and activate our collective potential to leverage the resources we already have. As an aligned coalition, this synergizes our collective abilities to attract local, state and national funding and expertise. Recently, Florida Gulf Coast University, in partnership with FutureMakers Coalition at Collaboratory, was awarded a $22.9 million investment to develop industry specific education, training and career development programs.
In 2023, The SWFL Equitable Jobs Pipeline is launching and we are optimistic about roundtable discussions with regional leaders in health care, education and government agencies. We see it as a tremendous opportunity to collaborate in the service of developing sustainable workforce solutions which contribute to job growth, local commerce and advance the health workforce in Southwest Florida. By getting a better understanding of the changing workforce needs and a picture of the future workforce health care, the outcome will ultimately lead to a more robust and dynamic economy. The Health System Alignment Team will explore and set goals related to workforce forecasting, development, planning and considering solutions to meet the current and projected needs in our communities. In addition, this team holds multiple county-aligned health care exposures and hiring events throughout the year. We will continue to engage with the school districts and technical colleges engaging with students to share information about a future career in health care and how they can get there, breaking down barriers and demystifying perceived barriers to starting a career in health care.
The call to action now is to continue to engage employers, schools and other supporting agencies in collaboration. An impactful quote from the trailblazing advocate for positive social change, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
The Healthcare System Strategic Alignment Team is led by Jennifer Thayer, Lee Health, Lisa Wright, Lee County Schools and Tessa LeSage, Collaboratory. I have been a member since 2020. For more information about FutureMakers and the impactful work being done in our area, visit futuremakerscoalition.com/
Christina Volpicelli, MBA, MSN, RN, CNML, CAPM is manager of Strategic Learning & Organizational Development, NCH Healthcare System.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Workforce needs strain health care delivery