b'| ELITEHEALTH GUIDEState of the Industry Report: Palliative CareResearch Finds Potential For Workforce Valley Among Palliative Care ProfessionalsBy Joe DarrahT he long-existing pattern of the aging adult population in theoutcomes when specialty palliative care teams are integrated into United States combined with the shortage of healthcare pro- their care, 2more research that examines the workforce gaps is needed viders who work full-time with the healthcare systems oldestto propose solutions to policy makers and health system leaders. 1and sickest of patients has loomed over the industry for some time.According to Arif H. Kamal et al, the impact of timely policy But new research that also calculates and projects the impact of cli- proposals to expand the specialty workforce, such as the recently nicians currently employed in palliative care services, but leaving thisapproved Palliative Care Hospice and Education Training Act by the field at an early age, predicts an impending workforce valley thatU.S. House of Representatives, and the expansion of more options to could stress the industry into the 2040s and 2050s.enter the workforce, must be considered in assessing the future of According to a study by Arif H. Kamal et al., little research existsthe field. When considering provisions anticipated with the legisla-that examines whether the specialty of palliative care can meet thetion, these researchers project that more than 9,000 additional health growing demand for its services. 1Although research does show thatprofessionals could receive palliative care education and training ISTOCKthe care of people who are living with serious illness have improvedthrough the career-development awards that are reportedly part of www.elitecme.com |2019| ELITEHEALTH GUIDE 19'