Healthcare Workforce, Equity and Access

The three keys to a healthier Delaware

BY BRIAN FRAZEE

THE SECOND LEG of the 152nd Delaware General Assembly is underway, and the Delaware Healthcare Association (DHA) – representing hospitals, health systems and health-related organizations – is advocating for policies that help Delawareans achieve optimal health. To this end, we are prioritizing strengthening Delaware’s healthcare workforce, advancing health equity, and ensuring access to care.

Bolstering the healthcare workforce is critical to our state. Delaware’s population is growing rapidly and is aging — Delaware is the fifth-oldest state in the nation. These factors will continue to increase demands on the state’s healthcare infrastructure. At the same time, Delaware faces a healthcare workforce shortage.

The First State’s hospitals are doing everything possible to recruit and retain doctors, nurses, and other providers.

DHA is also working collaboratively on strategies to support today’s workforce while also developing a future pipeline of healthcare professionals to meet Delaware’s evolving care needs in the future.

Advancing health equity is a top priority for the Delaware Healthcare Association and our members. Hospitals play a vital role in ensuring equitable access to care for all Delawareans. DHA is launching a new Health Equity Council in 2024 to help inform the internal and external policies that will reduce healthcare disparities and promote health equity in Delaware. DHA will also lead and support initiatives that enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion within Delaware’s healthcare systems and beyond. Some of these initiatives include providing health coverage to populations without access to such coverage.

Facilitating access to care means ensuring that every individual in our state receives essential care precisely when it is needed. Delaware hospitals are committed to delivering top-tier care to all those they serve. In the absence of a government-run hospital, Delaware’s nonprofit hospitals play a vital role as a much-needed safety net, extending treatment to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. They foster access to care within their communities through various means, including primary care, school-based health centers, mobile health units, and more. Regrettably, unprecedented financial challenges loom over nonprofit hospital missions due to soaring labor, medical supply, and increasing drug expenses. Despite these hurdles, DHA is championing policies that ingeniously enhance access to care, addressing today’s unique challenges.

The Delaware Healthcare Association looks forward to working with the Carney Administration, legislators, and stakeholders to address the workforce, health equity, and access needs of the state as we collectively strive to achieve a healthier Delaware.

Brian Frazee is the president and CEO of the Delaware Healthcare Association. He joined DHA in October 2023 after eight years with the Maryland Hospital Association. Learn more at www.deha.org.