Abstract
Americans are not as healthy as we could be. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 6 in 10 Americans have at least one chronic disease. Many factors play a role in determining the health of Americans. One major contributor is healthcare. Quality of healthcare can be affected by having an available, well-trained workforce to meet the needs of a population. However, there is currently a healthcare workforce shortage in Western North Carolina. This paper will focus on the healthcare workforce shortage and explore possible policies to address it. The research included a review of secondary resources and engagements with professionals in the healthcare industry. The author found that multiple factors impact current healthcare recruitment and retention. These factors include but are not limited to education pathways, practice and system finances, and workplace burnout. Regional, state, and national policies addressing these factors can mitigate current and future healthcare workforce shortages. Understanding factors contributing to the healthcare workforce shortage and developing policies that address the various needs of healthcare workers and workplace inequalities is beneficial to the region’s current and future healthcare workforce system.
How to Cite
Hoosier, E., (2025) “Does the Healthcare Workforce Need Stitches? Exploring Policy Approaches in Western North Carolina”, Capstone, The UNC Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship 38(2).
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