Healthcare Talent Shortage: Fact or Fiction?

LATEST THINKING

Is there a shortage of healthcare talent in the United States? The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts a growing talent gap that will only worsen. Accenture Strategy sees the situation differently.

The population is growing and aging, creating higher demand for healthcare services across the care ecosystem, particularly for healthcare providers. However, rising demand for service does not equate to rising demand for clinicians.

New technologies are shifting the way work gets done, freeing clinicians from routine physical and administrative tasks, while also augmenting providers’ ability to deliver more personalized treatment plans and quality care, more quickly.

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KEY FINDINGS

Our Accenture Strategy U.S. Healthcare Workforce Model reveals that a talent equilibrium can be achieved by 2030 through advances in healthcare technology and changing talent practices.

PATIENTS BECOME PART OF THE CARE TEAM
Patients increasingly want to receive care on their own terms, and are electing to use self-service and automated tools. Patient self-care will meet up to 10 percent of demand for U.S. healthcare services by 2030.

MACHINES GO MAINSTREAM
Clinicians spend about 17 percent of their time on admin tasks. When machines take on these tasks, clinicians can spend more time caring for people. By 2030, we predict that 25 percent of current tasks in the U.S. healthcare workplace will be automated.

HELP WANTED…HERE AND THERE
New talent sourcing models that enable just-in-time utilization of freelance, on-demand and virtual care workers are starting to emerge in healthcare. We believe that by 2030 just-in-time utilization of the workforce will eliminate 11 percent of today’s U.S. talent demand.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

With a solution to the U.S. clinical talent shortage in reach, leaders can begin taking steps to create an adaptive and agile workforce.

Redesign talent strategies

The talent strategy should consider how skill needs will change with the pace of digital, and how new sourcing channels can help to fill gaps. Models can also help meet evolving patient needs in more agile, efficient ways.

Build digital muscle

Begin incrementally embedding an organizational focus on data and digital to improve efficiency and the speed and quality of decision-making. Build capabilities through innovative learning methodologies and create opportunities for real-time, on-the-job learning and career planning.

Shape a winning culture

Foster a spirit of innovation, hospitality and agility by identifying digital advocates who will encourage and mentor through change. Develop on-demand communication channels so employees feel informed and are invested in the transformation.

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