Writer: Chérie Lynn Canada
3 min read March 2024 — In the vibrant tapestry of Greater Orlando’s economy, one sector stands out as both essential and ever-evolving: healthcare. As the region grows and diversifies, the demand for skilled healthcare professionals has never been higher.
According to the 2023 Physician Workforce Annual Report, Florida physicians aged 60 years or older represent more than one-third (34%) of the total workforce, and more than double the number of physicians under the age of 40.
At 20.9%, Florida’s senior population (65 years and older) is the second-highest population ratio in the United States. With both an aging population and an aging physician workforce, the healthcare sector in Greater Orlando will need to find innovative ways to attract and retain talent for the industry. In addition, the aging population needs continued primary care, and less than one-third of the physician workforce practices primary care as of 2023.
“Most doctors out of residency don’t want to work in primary care because it is not lucrative,” John Frederick, a Central Florida-based internal medicine physician, told Invest:.
This trend puts a strain on primary care services, leading to longer wait times, reduced access to care, and increased healthcare costs. Addressing this issue requires innovative approaches to incentivize new doctors to pursue primary care roles, ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of healthcare delivery in the face of demographic shifts.
“Culture is huge because when you have a diminishing resource, you have to make sure that the job environment includes a culture that is positive and promotes longevity for that doctor. Culture drives success. The main clinics of the world all invest in culture-building strategies because they know that if they have a positive culture, they can retain their employees. One of the biggest hurdles in professional development is retention because attrition is a system killer,” said Frederick.
As the area continues to recover from the pandemic’s effects, collaborative efforts between healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and policymakers are imperative to rebuild and fortify the healthcare workforce, ensuring the delivery of high-quality care to the community.
The state of Florida signed a state budget last year that included a $22 million investment in the University of Central Florida’s College of Nursing, nearly doubling the size of the program to help address the nursing shortage. Frederick noted, “The number one and smartest effort developmental strategy toward developing the workforce is to target nursing, which is a good marketing tool for the one constituent you need to run a successful healthcare system. One may think it’s the provider, but actually, it’s the nurse. You cannot have a successful practice without quality nurses.”
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