Information Services

Work Force Trend Analysis

Click Here for the Latest Health Professional Work Force Survey Trends

In 2000, the IHA Health Profession Work Force Survey was developed to identify hospital workforce shortages in Iowa by geographic area (urban, rural and IHA district). The survey was designed to quantify work force demand in hospitals using results from the IHA Health Professions Needs Survey. The survey is now completed in conjunction with the IHA Snapshot Salary Survey.

The Trend Analysis synthesizes the findings of the Health Professional Workforce Surveys to date into a single report focused on analyzing trends in the work force data. The following data elements were collected for 28 categories of health professionals in each hospital. Seven trend charts are presented for each of the professions as follows:

  Vacancies in Iowa's Hospitals
  Three-Year Projected Need in Iowa's Hospitals
  Recruitment Time Frame in Iowa's Hospitals
  Turnover in Iowa's Hospitals
  Retention Difficulty in Iowa's Hospitals
  Use of Strategies to Fill Vacant Positions in Iowa's Hospitals
  Reasons for Leaving Iowa's Hospitals

This report may be used to visualize changes in the health professional work force in Iowa's hospitals since 2002. Findings may be used to identify emerging trends and new strategies to sustain the pool of competent health professionals required to meet Iowa's health care needs.

The IHA Health Profession Work Force Survey is sent electronically to hospital CEOs and completed by human resources directors. Response rates have been exceptional: 95 percent in 2003, 88 percent in 2004, 85 percent in 2005, 100 percent in 2006 and 100 percent in 2007.