As leaders in Delaware's health promotion and healthcare sectors, we see firsthand the critical need for more healthcare workers in our state. The demand for healthcare professionals is pressing and expected to grow dramatically in the coming years. Delaware's aging population will require more medical services, leading to a projected increase in the shortage of healthcare workers. This dire situation calls for immediate and sustained efforts to train and retain healthcare professionals within the state.
Currently, Delaware faces significant challenges in meeting the healthcare needs of its residents. Long waits to see primary care doctors, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals are common, especially in Kent and Sussex counties. This shortage affects the quality of care and stresses existing healthcare workers, exacerbating burnout and turnover rates.
Statistics paint a stark picture: according to the State of Delaware Annual Population Projections 2022, the population of Delawareans aged 65 and older is expected to grow by nearly 20% from 2025 to 2035. This demographic shift will inevitably increase the demand for healthcare services, from routine check-ups to specialized treatments. Without a robust workforce, our healthcare system will struggle to keep pace with our growing needs. Unsurprisingly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts faster-than-average growth in healthcare fields. Training for a job in healthcare can lead to a fulfilling career — health-related fields offer good-paying jobs, meaningful work and vast opportunities for growth.
There are affordable paths to enter the healthcare profession. Here in Delaware, residents beginning their college journey at Delaware Tech or the UD Associate in Arts program are eligible for SEED — Student Excellence Equals Degree — scholarships, which fully cover tuition for a two-year associate degree and one additional year pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
In-state high school students who attend a Delaware higher education institution are more likely to remain in the state upon graduation and work at a Delaware healthcare facility. This is important. Of our University of Delaware Nursing BSN graduates this year, 60 are applying to be licensed in the state of Delaware — that's 40% of the total. We were also pleased to see a 20% increase in deposits from Delaware high school students committing to attend the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences this fall, with the largest increase coming from Sussex County. We hope this trend continues since institutions that serve the Sussex community, like Beebe Healthcare, desperately need healthcare workers, as do all Delaware hospitals.
Beyond needing more doctors and nurses, college-bound high school students have many other options to consider. These include careers in medical laboratory technology, dietetics, athletic training, health coaching, physical and occupational therapy, public health, physician assistant, speech pathology and exercise physiology. Beebe Healthcare and other Delaware institutions regularly hire in many of these areas and routinely fill both patient-facing positions and critical behind-the-scenes positions like medical laboratory scientists.
We need passionate individuals to join and advance within this vital sector. We urge students, parents, career changers and school counselors alike to consider the numerous opportunities available in healthcare and explore traditional and non-traditional pathways to enter the health profession. With collaborative and concerted efforts in education and healthcare delivery, we can seize this opportunity for the benefit of our future and build a stronger, healthier Delaware together.
Bill Farquhar, PhD, is the Dean of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Delaware. David Tam, MD, is the CEO of Beebe Healthcare .
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: We need a healthier Delaware. We must address the urgent need for healthcare professionals
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