Hassan Creates Commission to Study Health Care Workforce

CONCORD, NH - In order to address the health care workforce shortage facing New Hampshire and ensure that the state can meet the health care needs of Granite Staters, Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, issued an executive order creating the Governor’s Commission on Health Care Workforce on April 29, 2016.

The governor’s commission will bring together experts from nursing, child and elderly care, developmental and long-term services, the broader health care community and education to make recommendations for addressing New Hampshire’s short- and long-term health care workforce needs, according to a statement.

“New Hampshire is facing a healthcare workforce shortage in fields ranging from direct care workers to pediatric nurses to psychologists, which is increasingly threatening our ability to meet the health care needs of our citizens and making it harder to provide home- and community-based care to New Hampshire residents,” Governor Hassan said. “Addressing this shortage will allow more Granite Staters – from those who experience disabilities to those living with chronic illness to New Hampshire’s seniors – to stay at home and live independently, increasing choices for our citizens and improving affordability of care.”

The commission will examine short- and long-term needs for health care and direct care workers in New Hampshire. Recommendations to address those needs will include improvements to recruitment methods; education and training practices; rate and payment structure; state rules, regulations and laws; and New Hampshire’s loan repayment program.

Other members of the commission are:

• Kathy Bizzaro-Thunberg, Executive Vice President of the New Hampshire Hospital Association
• Lisa DiMartino, parent of a child receiving long-term care services and support
• Jon Eriquezzo, Executive Director of Residential Services at Crotched Mountain
• Todd Fahey, State Director of AARP New Hampshire
• Dr. Mike Ferrara, Dean of the University of New Hampshire College of Health and Human Services
• Margaret Franckhauser, Chief Executive Officer of Central New Hampshire VNA and Hospice
• Dr. Yvonne Goldsberry, President of the Endowment for Health
• Brenda Howard, Medication Nursing Assistant/Licensed Nursing Assistant at Maplewood Nursing Home of Cheshire County
• Dr. Judith Joy, Interim Nurse Executive Director of the New Hampshire Nurses’ Association
• Joelle Martin, Council for Youths with Chronic Conditions Board Member
• Stephanie Pagliuca, Director of Bi-State Recruitment Center
• Dennis Powers, Chief Executive Officer of Community Crossroads
• Dr. Susan Reeves, Dean of the Colby-Sawyer College School of Health Professions and Gladys A. Burrows Distinguished Professor of Nursing
• Deb Scheetz, Health Care Policy specialist at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Read the full statement and the governor's executive order online.