Ruggiero, Leah
(2023)
Addressing the Workforce Shortage at Local Health Departments: Is Compensation a Factor?
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Issues with adequate staffing have been hindering both private and public workforces. However, the public health workforce shortage must be more noticed when determining ways to combat employee shortages. Community members rely on their local health departments to provide essential public health services and fill gaps in access to clinical care. Best practices must be established to increase the recruitment and retention of qualified public health employees nationwide. This report examines factors that may contribute to inadequate staffing levels of front-line, field-based staff at local health departments. Data collected through research and review of the current literature is utilized to produce policy actions to help local health departments address critical staffing needs. Using Environmental Health Specialists as a broad classification of front-line, field-based health department staff, the following factors were determined to significantly influence maintaining a competent and qualified workforce: funding, training, and shifting public health priorities. The Covid-19 pandemic brought challenges that resulted from increased strain on public health resources to the forefront of concern. The significance of public health workforce development at local health departments must be noticed. Maintaining a competent and qualified workforce allows health departments to continue ensuring the delivery of needed public health services.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Cole, Evan | evancole@pitt.edu | evancole | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Felter, Elizabeth | emfelter@pitt.edu | emfelter | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Sokol, Jamie | jsokol@pitt.edu | jsokol | UNSPECIFIED |
|
| Date: |
17 May 2023 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Submission Date: |
3 May 2023 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
41 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Health Policy & Management |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Workforce Development, Covid-19, Retention, Recruitment, Public Health, Environmental Health Specialists |
| Date Deposited: |
17 May 2023 15:56 |
| Last Modified: |
17 May 2023 15:56 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/44838 |
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