University of Phoenix Shares Key Findings from "Moving at the Speed of Health Care: Intersection of Health and the Health Care Workforce" Convening

Thought leaders discuss rapidity of change within health care industry

PHOENIX, Dec. 2, 2015 — University of Phoenix® College of Health Professions today shared key findings from the “Moving at the Speed of Health Care: Intersection of Health and the Health Care Workforce” forum held in July. Co-sponsored by Sodexo in collaboration with STEMconnector®, the forum invited health care industry executives, higher education leaders and workforce development experts from across the country to participate in a daylong roundtable about the implications of emerging health care trends on the delivery of quality care and the skills needed by the workforce.

“It’s both encouraging and timely to see such an emphasis on opportunities for STEM careers in health care given that it represents a growing segment of STEM jobs,” said Michael Norris, CEO Hospitals for Sodexo North America. “From 2012 to 2022, the U.S. economy is expected to increase by 15.6 million jobs, and many of the new jobs being added are projected to be in fast-growing fields such as health care*.”

A series of six panel discussions throughout the day, moderated by health care industry leaders, focused on innovation and delivery systems; the future of retail health; ensuring quality care in a changing environment; preparing the future workforce; and a conversation about leadership in today’s dynamic industry. The goal was to shed light on how rapid shifts in the delivery and consumption of health services are influencing the educational and professional demands on the health care workforce.

The panel identified three industry trends—the growth of retail health, the rise of telehealth, and changing perceptions of quality—that require the health care workforce to expand its scope of practice while demonstrating increased technological proficiency; analytical and data management capabilities; communication and interpersonal skills; cultural competence; and innovative thinking.

“Health care professionals must gain new skills in order to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving health care industry,” said Tamara Rozhon, executive dean for University of Phoenix College of Health Professions. “By partnering with employers in every facet of the health care system—providers, payers, health technology firms, pharmaceutical companies, community health organizations, and policymakers—we can help prepare a highly skilled workforce to bridge gaps in this often fragmented industry.”

Points of discussion regarding health care professional development included the necessity of accommodating new delivery models; new technologies; new payment structures; growing demographic diversity; evolving consumer expectations; and continuing medical discoveries.

To view the findings from the forum, access the full report at www.phoenix.edu/degrees/healthcare.html. To learn more about programs offered through the College of Health Professions, visit www.phoenix.edu/chp.

For general information about University of Phoenix programs, including on-time completion rates, the median debt incurred by students who completed the program and other important information, please visit phoenix.edu/programs/gainful-employment.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics,
www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2013/article/occupational-employment-projections-to-2022.htm

About The College Of Health Professions
The University of Phoenix College of Health Professions offers leading-edge graduate, undergraduate, certificate, and non-degree programs aimed at preparing students to improve the quality of health care in their communities and the industry. By leveraging our vast network of industry relationships to keep us on the pulse of change, aggressively adapting our curricula to align with current and emerging needs, and delivering our education in a fashion that aligns with the realities of our students’ lives, The College of Health Professions is helping to ensure that today’s graduates can effectively tackle tomorrow’s health care challenges. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu/chp.

About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc., University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.