Care Providers Oklahoma

PROJECT PURPOSE

The long-term care health care workforce has historically faced a chronic shortage. COVID-19 has accelerated the staffing shortfall and staffing is now at a crisis point. Residential providers are on admission holds due to inadequate staff numbers to provide care. This means that Oklahomans are not receiving care in the optimal setting. This proposal will allow Care Providers Oklahoma (and collegial organizations) to recruit workforce entrants, facilitate networks for building career entrance and facilitate certification for applicants. If the proposal were funded, the educational instruction required to sit for certification would occur at no-charge to the applicant and would create ample employment opportunities. The certifications of certified nursing aides (CNA) and certified medication aides (CMA) are essential in meeting the necessary staffing to serve Oklahoma seniors and other vulnerable populations. Furthermore, these two levels of employment will serve as concurrent employment options for individuals that might be pursuing RN or LPN licensure as part of their respective career progressions.

EVIDENCE

Earlier this decade, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority initiated a free certification path for those interested in achieving certification. Once marketing of the program and natural linkages occured, demand for the program was robust. Health care career progression has repeatedly demonstrated economic benefit, care benefit and preservation of service ability.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Long-term care residential facilities (nursing homes, assisted living, & ICF-IID) were at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the most recent OSDH weekly epidemiology report, 1835 residents and twenty-three staff members have died from COVID-19 (1/23/22 ? 1/29/22). Positive cases and recoveries number in the thousands for this sector. Prior to COVID-19, shortage in qualified staff was prevalent. Post epidemic, staffing is now at a crisis. Oklahomans needing care will not be served in the optimal service environment. Research suggests Oklahoma was short 5000 CNAs prior to pandemic and that number has grown exponentially since March 2020. With an expected growth in seniors needing both community based and residential care over the next few decades, addressing the workforce shortage is essential if our seniors are to receive the high-quality care they deserve. Employment as a CNA or CMA can provide a meaningful career path for Oklahomans. For those seeking an avenue for career advancement, access to a professional career ladder of CNA to CMA to LPN to RN can have generational changing value for Oklahoma families and benefit the absolute shortage Oklahoma is experiencing in healthcare workers.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Progress will be measured by number of certifications achieved through the OSDH Nurse Aide Registry. Each newly certified individual will receive a certification number. Performance will be tracked against that list to measure the number of new professionals entering the field. Measurement will be comparable for the CMA certification. This number is important to document career progression and retention. Applicants will go through an enrollment process and their enrollment will be measured. It is important to note that some enrollees will not be able to achieve certification standards. To minimize this number, our plan includes educational remediation when needed.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma