Health and Wellness Roundtable
St. Johns County and the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the 2nd Annual Health and Wellness Roundtable. It provided an opportunity to gather local leaders in the field to share insights and challenges each of their industry segments is facing. Last year’s meeting identified several points of concern, including:
- Workforce/Education
- Mental Health
- Collaboration Opportunities
- Housing/Transportation
- Technology
Workforce shortages were the number one concern, with many of the participants struggling to find nurses, surgical technicians, respiratory technicians, pharmaceutical technicians, and certified nursing assistants. Many medical facilities still relied on travel nurses or temp agencies to provide personnel.
Despite the challenges, there are promising developments on the horizon. St. Johns River State College, Jacksonville University, and First Coast Technical College have either expanded their healthcare programs or are in the process of doing so. However, this expansion will need to be accelerated with the recruitment of more instructors and students. UF Health is also looking to broaden its apprenticeship program to include Pharmaceutical Technicians and Respiratory Technicians, offering a potential solution to the workforce shortage.
Since last year:
- Baptist South/Wolfson Children’s Emergency Room and Imaging Center opened
- UF Health St. Johns held a groundbreaking for a 156-bed hospital, medical offices & YMCA
- Acadia Health announced a 104-bed behavioral health facility
- TyMe announced a new Cancer Treatment Center and Research facility
- Urgent Care Cure opened a facility in Silverleaf
This year, some challenges remained the same while others have seen some relief. Most facilities no longer use temp staff and have now recruited permanent nurses. Workforce challenges still exist, and with the additional medical facilities coming online in the coming years, that need will grow by 2,000 – 2,500 new employees. Apprenticeship options will also increase as some facilities provide educational opportunities independently. Work/life balance has also become an area of focus for many participants. There was a strong sense that individuals were now seeking an environment where they could grow and thrive instead of looking to change jobs when something better came along. Nationally, research has shown that the “Great Resignation” employees are now more often seeking stability in the workplace.
Another key point that emerged was the importance of collaboration among vendors. The smaller employers in the room offered specialized services that many of the larger employers and hospitals needed. The roundtable served as a platform for these groups to meet, network, and establish new business relationships, fostering a sense of community and mutual support in the healthcare industry.
