Business and Economic Research Center
Jennings A. Jones College of Business
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
In Cooperation with
Dyersburg State Community College and
Northwest Tennessee Workforce Investment Board
Dyersburg, TN

1.
Setting up Northwest Tennessee Healthcare Consortium
BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
2.
Identifying shortages in the healthcare industry in northwest
3.
Analyzing factors affecting shortages
•
•
Tennessee
Thorough provider and workforce professional surveys
Thorough school perception surveys
4.
Developing career ladder for healthcare occupations
5.
6.
Identifying elements of a marketing campaign to help students develop a positive attitude toward education and healthcare occupations
Identifying sources of funding for education and workforce training

BUSINESS
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ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
Primary Data Sources:
 Interviews with local healthcare professionals
(28 individuals across seven counties)
 Provider survey (52 completed surveys)
 Middle (268) and high school (473) perception survey
Secondary Data Sources:
 ES 202 data from Tennessee Department of Labor
 Census data
 Employment projections from different sources
 Tennessee Department of Health-Joint Hospital
Survey

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
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An Overview:
 More than 6,000 workers are employed in the healthcare sector in northwest Tennessee, 6.6 percent of nonfarm employment.
 Nursing and residential care is the largest employer, followed by doctors’ and dentists’ offices (ambulatory services) and hospitals.
 Employment growth experienced by nursing homes and doctors’ and dentists’ offices is faster than the state average.
 Regarding pay, average northwest Tennessee wages in the healthcare sector are significantly lower than the state average.

Major Sources of Demand for Healthcare workers:
BUSINESS
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STATE
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 First, the industry needs more workers right now.


Second, retirees and other job leavers will create additional demand for workers .
A third source of the demand for workers is rising demand for healthcare services .
the

 Vacancies are across healthcare occupations, but these occupations will grow fastest in the region.
Top Ten Fastest Growing Allied Health Occupations in Northwest Tennessee (2005-2015)
Estimated Employment
Current
Employment
Current
Vacancies
Projected Vacancies (2015)
Replacement
New
Additions
Total
Vacancies
Projected Employment and Changes
Total
Employment
(2015)
% Change
(2005-2015)
Numerical
Change
(2005-2015)
Certified Nurse Assistant
Registered Nurse
Licensed Practical
Nurses
Dental Assistants
Physical Therapists
Personal and Home
Care Aides
Dental Laboratory
Technicians
Physical Therapy
Assistants
Medical Record and
Health Information
Technicians
Medical Secretaries
Total
786
584
519
164
137
27
98
43
60
117
2534
55
61
44
16
24
7
11
15
1
5
240
159
120
136
109
29
9
44
19
29
18
671
174
124
85
49
45
34
33
29
29
29
630
333
244
221
158
74
43
76
48
57
46
1302
960
707
604
213
182
61
131
72
88
145
3164
22.11
21.20
16.33
30.00
33.03
128.15
33.33
67.65
48.05
24.58
24.87
174
124
85
49
45
34
33
29
29
29
630

BUSINESS
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ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
 Four in 10 healthcare providers in northwest
Tennessee currently need more workers.
1.
Employers that need more workers cite turnover and increased demand for services as the primary reasons.
2.
Among larger employers, more are displeased than pleased with the quality of new hires.
3.
The level of education and soft skills among entrylevel workers is a major concern for a significant number of employers.

BUSINESS
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ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
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NORTHWEST
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WORKFORCE
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STATE
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COLLEGE
4.
A number of students entering healthcare training programs lack the necessary educational background.
 Efforts to increase the flow of new workers entering healthcare occupations should focus on young people in middle school and high school.
5.
Institutional training capacity for some occupations is limited.

BUSINESS
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ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
1.
Market-Based plans involve increasing the attractiveness of healthcare occupations by boosting pay for entry-level workers, improving benefits, and improving the working environment.
2.
Training-Based plans focus on increasing the local institutional training capacity by increasing the number of instructors.
3.
Perception-Based plans involve efforts to change the public’s perceptions of healthcare occupations and especially the perceptions and attitudes held by young people in middle and high school.

Workforce Shortages: Does the Region Have the Labor Pool to Fill Shortages?
 Yes, but they need to be motivated.
BUSINESS
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ECONOMIC
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WORKFORCE
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 Yes, but they need substantial educational help.


Yes, but emphasis should be on dislocated workforce members.
Yes, but they need to have access to healthcare employment.

Workforce Shortages: How Do Middle and High
School Students’ Perceive Healthcare Occupations?
BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
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 By and large, survey results show students understand that a college degree will help them get a good job in the future.
 Encouragingly, the vast majority of students plan to attend college, but this desire could be unfulfilled due to:
•
• Low high school grades – Although most 11th graders know what classes they need to get into college, many are not sure their grades are good enough.
The cost of college – Many students believe they cannot afford college.

Workforce Shortages: How Do Middle and High
School Students’ Perceive Healthcare Occupations?
BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
 The biggest challenge discovered by the survey of students is the lack of desire to pursue an occupation in healthcare.
 However, the survey also shows that some of the problem may be due simply to lack of knowledge of the various careers available in healthcare.
 Also, the vast majority of students don’t know which courses to take in high school if they desire to pursue a career in healthcare.

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
Workforce Shortages: How Do Middle and High
School Students’ Perceive Healthcare Occupations?

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
Workforce Shortages: How Do Middle and High
School Students’ Perceive Healthcare Occupations?

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
Workforce Shortages: How Do Middle and High
School Students’ Perceive Healthcare Occupations?

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
Workforce Shortages: How Do Middle and High
School Students’ Perceive Healthcare Occupations?

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
College Education Pays
$900
$800
$700
$600
$500
$400
$300
$200
$100
$0
$224
$389
$463
Less than a high school diploma
High school graduates, no college
Some college, no degree
$521
$792
Associate degree
Bachelor's degree or higher
Source: Tabulated from Current Population Survey ( www.census.gov
)
(December 2004). Weekly earnings from main job reported in
December 2004 CPS survey for the age group between 25 and 65.

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
Higher Education Means More
Employment Opportunities
8.1%
9.0%
8.0%
7.0%
6.0%
5.0%
4.0%
3.0%
2.0%
1.0%
0.0%
4.6% 4.4%
3.4%
2.4%
Less than a high school diploma
High school graduates, no college
Some college, no degree
Associate degree
Bachelor's degree or higher
Source: www.bls.gov
(2004 Q4)

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
 Career ladder helps students and professionals understand the opportunities in the healthcare industry.
 Starting a career in healthcare requires a strong high school math and science education.
 There are several tracks one may choose as a career:
 Pharmacy, dental, imaging, nursing, therapy, and clerical.
 Whichever choice one makes, there are ample opportunities for advancement and upward/cross mobility.

It’s possible to start anywhere with proper training and education.

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
 Getting attention – Make students aware of local opportunities in the healthcare field.
 Developing interest – Bring healthcare professionals into the classroom.
 Generating desire – Bring students into contact with healthcare professions through mentoring, internships, and a healthcare summer camp.
 Producing action – Having excited the students’ interest in healthcare professions, use the action plan to make it as easy as possible for students to act on their interest.

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
 There are many sources of financial aid available to qualified students who want to go through healthcare workforce training/education.
 Planning early is critical to securing necessary funding for your education.
 Many available funding opportunities are administered through the financial aid office of area colleges.
 Consult with the financial aid office of these colleges for eligibility requirements.
 There are many types of financial aid. Determine which fits your financial needs.
 The available resources, however, may not be enough to cover all costs.
 Regional cooperation under the healthcare consortium may provide necessary support for the unmet portion of the cost of school in the region.

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
 There many types of federal financial aid:
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Federal Pell Grant
Federal Perkins Loans
Federal Supplemental Educational Grant
Federal Work-Study
Non Work-Study
Federal Stafford Loan
Federal PLUS Loan
 Tennessee-Based Financial Aid Sources:
• Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program
• Ned McWherter Scholars Program
• Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship
• Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
 Region-Based Financial Aid Sources:
• Check local hospitals and other medical facilities for the availability of grants for healthcare workforce training.
 Other Sources
• Many healthcare career related associations also offer financial aid. For more information, visit the following Web sites:
 www.mapping-your-future.org
 U.S. Department of Education at www.ed.gov
 Free Application for Federal Student Assistance at www.fafsa.ed.gov

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
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WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
 There are also local healthcare facilities that allow one to work and get training at the same time.
• Most Certified Nursing Assistants work at nursing care facilities while going through their training.
• Similarly, a Certified Nursing Assistant would pursue LPN training while working at a healthcare facility.
• Check the nursing care facilities in your county to inquire about these opportunities.

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
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DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
 Federal Sources
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/)
• National Institutes of Health
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm)
• U.S. Department of Labor
(www.dol.gov/oasam/grants/main.htm)
• National Science Foundation (www.nsf.gov/funding/)
• U.S. Department of Education
(www.ed.gov/funding.html)
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (www.usda.gov/rus)
• Department of Commerce, Economic Development
Administration, Economic Development Assistance
Program (www.eda.gov).

BUSINESS
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 State Level Agencies/Organizations
• Tennessee Department of Workforce Development
(www.state.tn.us/laborwfd/maininfo.html)
• Tennessee Department of Economic and Community
Development (www.state.tn.us/ecd)
• Tennessee Center for Health Workforce Development
(www.healthworkforce.org)
• Tennessee Hospital Association (www.tha.com)
• Tennessee Center for Nursing
(www.centerfornursing.org)

BUSINESS
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RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
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 Private Sources
• Andrew W. Mellon Foundation ( www .
mellon .org)
• Anne E. Casey Foundation (www.a
e cf.org)
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
(www.
gatesfoundation .org)
• The Ford Foundation (www.
ford found.org)
• Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (www.kff.org)
• The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
(www.macfoun
d .org)
• Lawrence Foundation (www.the
lawrencefoundation .org)
• Pew Charitable Trusts (www.
pew trusts.com)
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (www.rwjf.org)
• W. K. Kellog Foundation (www.
wk kf.org)
• William T. Grant Foundation (www.w
t gran t founda t ion.org)

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
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DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
 Focus on that which is amenable to change.
Attitudes, perceptions, and desire can be changed. Training programs can be tweaked and new sources of funding pursued.


Build and reinforce lines of communication among
healthcare stakeholders.
The healthcare consortium is a start; build on it.
Write down an implementation plan.
What actions should be taken? Who is responsible for each action? When will each action occur? Who will monitor progress of implementation, and how often will they report to the consortium?

Study Co-Authors
BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
DYERSBURG
STATE
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
 David A. Penn, Ph.D.
The director of the BERC and associate professor of economics
 Susan K. Harmon, Ph.D.
Associate professor of management and marketing
BERC and Study Information www.mtsu.edu/~berc

BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMIC
RESEARCH
CENTER in cooperation with
NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT
BOARD and
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STATE
COMMUNITY
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Thank You!