CHEST Guidelines-Adequacy-of-the-Provider-Workforce-for-Persons-Wit

Adequacy-of-the-Provider-Workforce-for-Persons-Wit

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This systematic review, conducted by a team of researchers, examines the adequacy of the healthcare workforce for individuals with cardiopulmonary disease in the United States. The study highlights the challenges faced in recruiting and retaining healthcare providers, noting significant workforce shortages in cardiology and pulmonology, which are projected to worsen by 2030. The team conducted structured searches of medical databases following systematic review guidelines to find relevant studies published from 2006 to 2016. Due to the scarcity of quantitative data, a qualitative synthesis of the findings was performed.<br /><br />Key findings from the review include evidence of current and anticipated future shortages of cardiopulmonary providers across various clinical settings, exacerbated by factors such as an aging population and the expansion of healthcare access. The lack of specialty-trained providers further complicates these shortages. Advanced practice providers (APPs), including nurse practitioners and physician assistants, often receive their cardiopulmonary training on the job, which can lead to gaps in patient care.<br /><br />The study identifies six main themes, divided into workforce shortages and solutions. Solutions include recommending models addressing shortages, optimizing personnel utilization, and expanded use of APPs to provide care traditionally managed by physicians. While APPs can potentially fill these gaps, their current training often falls short of specialty requirements, necessitating additional education in cardiopulmonary care.<br /><br />The study calls for strategies to bridge the care gap, possibly through reducing administrative burdens and ensuring the availability of well-trained providers. It suggests that while APPs could be a part of the solution, enhancing their training specific to cardiopulmonary needs is crucial in reducing the identified workforce gap. The review underscores the urgency in finding a resolution to meet the increasing healthcare demands of an aging population with rising incidences of cardiopulmonary diseases.

Keywords

healthcare workforce

cardiopulmonary disease

United States

workforce shortages

cardiology

pulmonology

advanced practice providers

nurse practitioners

physician assistants

training gaps