The NGA Center for Best Practices works with states and territories to strengthen their healthcare workforce with the goals of improving health outcomes and reducing costs, generating high quality data, and fostering an accessible, flexible and skilled healthcare workforce. A competent workforce is critical to ensuring that care improves the health of residents and is safe, high quality, available and affordable across a state or territory. The NGA Center works with states and territories to plan for and build a workforce that can meet the needs of a transformed health care system and increase economic activity. This work involves providing technical assistance around key workforce priority areas, including:
- Health care workforce planning and redesign
- Identifying strategies to better collect and analyze data to inform and evaluate policy
- Aligning education and training outcomes with population health needs
- Building workforce capacity in rural and underserved areas through training, recruitment, retention and technology
- Aligning licensure and regulation with healthcare workforce goals
- Identifying mechanisms and implementing state policies to allow providers to practice at the top of their license
Next Generation Of The Healthcare Workforce Project
Concerns about healthcare workforce supply and preparing the next generation of the healthcare workforce have been building for several years for a variety of reasons. In response the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) launched a project to support Governors’ offices and other senior state officials in implementing strategies to strengthen and grow the next generation of the healthcare workforce. By learning directly from other states and national experts, the participating states gained an understanding of innovative and evidence-based policies, programs, and practices to create a positive environment for an enduring healthcare workforce.
Contact Us
For additional information about NGA’s Healthcare Workforce work, please reach out to:
- Brittney Roy, Program Director, Public Health – BRoy@NGA.org
- Amanda Winters, Program Director, Postsecondary Education – AWinters@NGA.org
- Anna Heard, Senior Policy Analyst – AHeard@NGA.org
- Portia Polk, Senior Policy Analyst – PPolk@NGA.org
NGA Resources
Governors Address Healthcare Labor Shortages
The Emerging Field of Behavioral Health Paraprofessionals
Sustaining Healthcare Workforce Planning and Development Through State and Territory Engagement
A Best Practices Dozen – Publications 2023
Four States and Territories to Participate in NGA Healthcare Workforce Policy Academy
American Samoa Supports Behavioral Health and Healthcare Workforce Needs
State and Territory Leaders Meet for the Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce Summit
State Health Workforce Toolkit
Regional Workshops Explore Healthcare Workforce Solutions
Preparing the Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce: State Strategies for Recruitment and Retention
Youth Mental Health: Promoting access and affordability of quality treatment and care
