Building the Allied Health Workforce of the Future with Van Ton-Quinlivan
Becker’s Healthcare PodcastSummary
At the forefront of addressing the ongoing workforce crisis in healthcare, the 11th Annual IT and Revenue Cycle Conference aims to shed light on practical applications of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, revenue cycle management, and digital health. More than 2,500 executives and over 600 speakers are expected to attend this year's event, scheduled for September 14-17, emphasizing real-world operational questions rather than theoretical discussions.
In a recent episode of Becker's Healthcare Podcast, Vaughn Tone Quinlivan, CEO of Futuro Health, shared insights about the initiative's mission to bolster the allied health workforce. Launched in 2020 with backing from Kaiser Permanente, Futuro Health focuses on workforce development amidst a crumbling healthcare system highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Quinlivan noted that the pandemic exposed existing issues in the healthcare workforce rather than creating new ones, as a staggering 75% of facilities reported shortages in allied health roles.
Futuro Health has made significant strides, assisting nearly 12,000 individuals in obtaining debt-free credentials to join the healthcare workforce. The program notably supports individuals from multicultural backgrounds, with many completers coming from health professional shortage areas. Quinlivan shared inspiring stories of individuals whose lives changed after receiving support from Futuro Health, such as Margaret, a hospital security worker turned phlebotomist, and Justice, a laid-off worker who became a medical assistant.
Despite allied health workers making up 65% of the healthcare workforce, they often remain overlooked compared to physicians and nurses. Quinlivan stressed that ignoring these crucial roles could lead to a decline in patient care and outcomes. Building employer alignment into Futuro Health's programs has been essential, as employers are encouraged to clearly outline their needs and invest in community partnerships to create local talent pools.
Looking ahead, Quinlivan pointed to the urgent need for action, as the ratio of working-age adults to seniors is projected to decline significantly by 2040. This looming workforce challenge necessitates collaboration among healthcare providers and educational institutions to cultivate a sustainable healthcare workforce.
To support these efforts, JPMorgan Chase recently announced a $1 million commitment to the National Healthcare Workforce Resilience Initiative, highlighting a shift in corporate America’s perception of healthcare workforce development as a crucial economic issue. Quinlivan emphasized that when healthcare workers reflect the communities they serve, trust and better patient relationships emerge.
In conclusion, if Futuro Health continues to thrive, it could transform the U.S. healthcare workforce by mitigating shortages and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services for the 75 million Americans currently living in health professional shortage areas. The key to success lies in collaboration and a holistic approach to workforce development, driven by meaningful community partnerships and support from stakeholders across the sector.
Show Notes
In this episode, Van Ton-Quinlivan, CEO of Futuro Health, discusses how workforce development is reshaping healthcare by expanding debt-free allied health training programs and strengthening employer alignment.
More from Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
In this episode, Matt Hare, Vice President of Network Growth and Client Success, CoverMyMeds, and Bill Sicheneder, Vice President of Network Sales, CoverMyMeds, discuss how healthcare organizations can reduce medication access barriers through stronger connectivity, streamlined workflows, and strategic partnerships. They also explore preparing for benefits reverification season and building scalable systems that improve efficiency and patient access.
In this episode, Bahar Bazmi, Chief Revenue Cycle Officer at WVU Health System, joins the podcast to discuss the revenue cycle through the lens of the “sandwich analogy” and how its different components work together to support financial performance. She also shares insights on defining success over the next year and empowering staff to strengthen revenue cycle operations.
This episode recorded live at the Becker's 11th Annual Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Conference features Tinu Tadese, MD, System Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Boston Medical Center, who discusses reducing data fragmentation, preserving clinical context across care transitions and turning patient data into actionable insights
In this episode, John D’Angelo, MD, President and CEO of Northwell Health, discusses a fundamentally different approach to treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA): bioelectronic medicine, which uses the body’s own nervous system to help regulate the inflammation that drives the disease. Delivered by a small implanted medical device that stimulates the vagus nerve, the FDA-approved therapy offers an alternative to costly medications that can also cause significant side effects or fail to provide adequate relief.
In this episode, Ryan Mezinger, Senior Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer at MetroHealth, and Dr. Amit Gir, CEO and Co-Founder of Phox Health, discuss how MetroHealth's pharmacy delivery model is improving medication access, adherence, patient satisfaction, and care continuity while strengthening chain of custody and pharmacy operations.