Simulation Committee Meeting
Tuesday, July 7, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Regents' Conf. Room, Level 2

Retention Committee Meeting
Wednesday, July 8, 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Regents’ 2 North Conference Room

Online Clinical Placement Sub-Committee
Thursday, July 16, 1-2:30
Regents’ 2 North Conference Room

Funding Committee Meeting
Thursday, July 16, 3-4:30
Regents’ 2 North Conference Room

Annual Meeting & Election of Officers
Thursday, July 23, 3 – 5 p.m.
Common Area Conf. Room 534, Level 5

Articulation Sub-Committee Meeting
Wednesday, July 24, 1:30-3 p.m.
655 Research Parkway

OneNet Conf. Room on First Floor of Lobby

Board Meeting
Thursday, Sept. 17, 3 – 5 p.m.
PHF Conf. Center, Kiva Room, Level 1

Board Meeting/Retreat
Thursday, Nov. 19, 9 – 1 p.m.
PHF Conf. Center, Kiva Room, Level 1

Critical Funding Needed to Produce More Health Care Workers

OHCWC and OHA Release New Industry Data

In 2005 and 2008, the Oklahoma Hospital Association surveyed member and non-member hospitals throughout the state in order to determine Oklahoma’s need for hospital nurses and allied health workers today and in the future. During this same timeframe, educational programs in nursing and allied health were surveyed to determine their capacity to admit students into these high demand areas. A similar survey was also sent to Oklahoma nursing homes, home health agencies, hospices, public health and ambulatory care facilities. Results of these surveys are available at the following link.

[ Read the report ] or [ Download the presentation ]

OHCWC Makes a Difference

More Qualified Applicants Accepted Into Health Care Program

Sheryl McLain, executive director of the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Center (OHCWC) shared new data on vacancies/educational capacity expansion with the Council of (College) Presidents of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE).

A more comprehensive analysis beyond this top line data, from both the industry and from higher education will be forthcoming.

Legislative Update:

Support Funding for Health Care Education

For the 2009 legislative session, OHCWC's number one priority is to actively secure funding to increase Oklahoma’s health care educational pipeline. According to a report released by the OHCWC and the Oklahoma Hospital Association, funds are critically needed to expand the number of qualified faculty available to teach in nursing and allied health programs, and to support the increased use of innovative education and training methods.

Since SB 1767 passed both the House and the Senate and was signed by Gov. Brad Henry without funding, Sen. Susan Paddack introduced SB 310 for the current legislative session. The bill expresses legislative intent for funding and has been presented to the Senate Rules Committee, the Senate Subcommittee on Education (Appropriations & Budget Committee), and the Senate Appropriations Committee. It is now slated for consideration in the House of Representatives, where Dr. Doug Cox has agreed to be the primary author of the bill.

Help the OHCWC support funding by contacting Oklahoma Senate and House members to increase their awareness about improving health care educational capacity.[ Read the SB 310 Fact Sheet ]

Oklahoma is expected to have a shortage of more than 3,000 nurses, 500 lab technicians, 400 physical therapists, 300 surgical technologists and 200 occupational therapists by 2012.

In addition to the careers above, there is also a great need for respiratory therapists, imaging technologists, pharmacists, medical and laboratory technologists.

With these startling statistics, the primary goals of the OHCWC are:

Ensuring Oklahoma’s education and training systems have the resources and support necessary to produce the number of health care workers needed;
Increasing the job satisfaction and retention rates of current health care workers;
Improving awareness among young people and adults available opportunities in health care, therefore, increasing the number of individuals entering a health career.

A 501(c)(3) organization, the OHCWC is housed in the Presbyterian Research Park, Oklahoma City. The organization is an affiliate of the Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, which represents 300 non-profit organizations and individual donors throughout the state.
For more information on the OHCWC contact info@ohcwc.com, or call (405) 319-8690.