One thing the pandemic has not changed is the need for the healthcare workers in rural areas.
A 2018 Wisconsin Hospital Association report says only 8% of Wisconsin hospital CEOs believe the state will have enough physicians in ten years to meet the health care demands of an aging population.
Hospitals and clinics in rural parts of Wisconsin need more workers.
The Wisconsin Hospital Association estimates every county in Wisconsin will have 20-percent or more their population over the age of 60 by 2030. And an aging population requires more health care.
The North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board is one of several organizations recently granted funds to help bring more healthcare works to rural Wisconsin.
“Through this grant is to assist individuals with their tuition, their training and then employment needs after training. Helping them not only pay for tuition for the training part to assist with connecting to employers when they’re done with that training,” said NCWWDB Executive Director Jane Spencer.
The workforce development board got more than $331,000 to help place workers in Lincoln, Langlade, Adams, and Wood counties.
There are certain services they’re focused on.
This includes ADN Registered Nurses, Home Health Aides, Medical Assistants, Medical and Clinical Lab Technicians, Substance Abuse Counselors, Social and Human Services Assistants, and phlebotomists.
“Our goal is to attract people who are interested in working in those northern counties of Lincoln and Langlade to fill specifically those positions,” said Spencer.
Spencer says their work will be a combination of recruiting and people reaching out to them. NCWWDB is currently working with another board. People interested in the grant can call 715-204-1640 or email info@ncwwdb.org.
The job service centers will also be able to help find workers for rural healthcare positions.
