MOUNT VERNON — Aaron Burgess sees a gap to fill in the healthcare field that’s existed predating the COVID-19 pandemic.
He’s taking steps to fill that hole by inviting interested students into Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s MBA (Master Business Administration) program.
“We’re facing a lot of labor shortages in that area,” he said.
Since 2019, MVNU has had 281 students enrolled in the MBA program and 124 in the university’s Health Care Administration program, according to Ryan Stagg, Executive Director of GPS Enrollment at MVNU.
Positions need filled from entry level all the way up to physicians, Burgess said. A lack of staff adds to delays on patients seeking appointments.
Burgess has also reviewed recent census data that shows negative birth rates.
“There’s just not enough people replacing the folks who are leaving the job market, especially in the healthcare industry,” he said.
“If you don’t have the people to do (the job) … there’s really not a lot of positive predictions in the labor shortage in healthcare.”
Hanna Ford, employment specialist with Knox Community Hospital (KCH), pinpoints burnout caused by the pandemic as a challenge staff is facing, leading to employment shortages.
KCH currently has 145 job openings, Ford said, with many in clinical positions but others in support services, technical and professional services.
“For example, we’re hiring for physicians, RNs, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, food service associates, secretaries, billers and coders, phlebotomists, just to name a few.”
In order to help with filling positions, KCH is in partnership with OhioMeansJobs, Dept. of Jobs & Family Services, local colleges/post-secondary institutions and WorkDev through the Knox County Area Development Foundation.
MBA students can take courses or even complete their degree through partnered healthcare facilities by working at their facilities, Burgess said. Partners in the program include OhioHealth, Licking Memorial Health System, Avita Health System, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Central Ohio Primary Care, Knox Community Hospital, Ciena Healthcare Management and Laurel Health Care.
Location plays a factor too, with Knox County being around an hour away from Columbus, which has multiple healthcare facilities.
“We have an aging population,” Burgess said. “Boomers retiring and going into Medicare seek a lot of healthcare.
“We have a disease-ridden population with lifestyle diseases.”
Burgess also believes this field is “recession proof,” citing it’s an expanding field and there’s always a demand for healthcare.
“We anticipate during the recession … (we’re) thinking a lot of people might change their careers,” he said.
One barrier of entry is higher education, with tuition continuing to rise with every generation of college students.
Burgess says MVNU has conversations on how the school’s curriculum can stay relevant during market changes. Thus the MBA program, according to Burgess, can be completed within 18 to 24 months, with the cost per credit hour $498, according to MVNU’s website.
Thirty-six credit hours are required for completion of the program and six credits can be transferred.
“Several of our students are already serving in healthcare positions and are looking to upscale. Many are looking to apply their current experience to transition to the healthcare industry,” he said.
“Healthcare organizations do not just hire doctors and nurses but they hire accountants, finance directors and IT professionals.”
MVNU is incentivizing potential students to enter into its MBA program by the prospects of financial safety, employment security and the duty of helping the sick.
“I think the barriers of entry, especially for upper level healthcare, is the level of education you need,” Burgess said.
Despite the barriers set, employers need to tell the story of why potential employees should work for them, Ford said.
“Our smaller size provides the chance to develop closer bonds with patients, their families and fellow colleagues,” she said.
