THE VALUED VOICE

The Governor’s Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce has been meeting throughout 2024 to discern policy and budget solutions to the workforce challenges health care faces. On Aug. 19, 2024, the task force delivered their full report of action items to Governor Tony Evers for his consideration for inclusion in the 2025-2027 biennial budget. 
 
At WHA's urging, the final report recommendations include WHA-crafted Grow Our Own grants; revising the limits on qualified health professionals who can teach health care students to expand the pool of applicants for health professions faculty positions; and more robust resources to support health care career exploration, such as resources for high school health science pathways. Just as importantly, the final report does not include a recommendation to increase Department of Health Services regulatory capacity, in response to WHA’s urging of “caution about the unintended consequences of recommendations that, while well-intended, will divert precious patient-care resources away from the bedside to regulatory compliance and reduce access to care.” 
 
The Governor’s Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce was chaired by Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez and co-chaired by Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-Designee Kirsten Johnson and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary-Designee Amy Pachacek. 

The task force recommendations and report were informed by the inclusion of hospital and health system data, expertise and experience represented by a strong and diverse group of WHA member leaders. The Governor’s Task Force on Healthcare Workforce includes six leaders from WHA member hospitals and health systems:
 

• Kelly Buchholtz, chief nursing officer, Mayo Clinic Health System NW Wisconsin
• Sharon Cox, vice president/chief nursing officer, Beloit Health System; 
• Eric Humphrey, chief human resources officer, Froedtert ThedaCare Health; 
• Shawn Lerch, chief executive officer, Sauk Prairie Healthcare;
• Heather Schimmers, president, Gundersen Health System; and
• Robyn Woolever, director of Integrated Care Services, Children’s Wisconsin.  

WHA Senior Vice President of Workforce and Clinical Practice Ann Zenk provided support and resources to these task force members, and also received outreach from the task force chairs and co-chairs. Contact Zenk with questions or feedback about the Governor’s Task Force on the Health Care Workforce Report or about any other workforce issue.