Indiana’s healthcare workforce shortage cannot be solved by any one university, hospital or healthcare system. It will take collaboration across institutions and communities statewide.
That is the message Marian University President Daniel J. Elsener and leaders from Purdue University, Ascension St. Vincent and Community Health Network make in a Viewpoint column published by the Indianapolis Business Journal.
The four leaders outline how the Crossroads Academic Medical Institute brings universities and healthcare organizations together to strengthen Indiana’s pipeline of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists and other healthcare professionals while expanding clinical training, research and access to care in underserved communities.
Read the full IBJ Viewpoint below.
Collaboration Is Indiana's Prescription for a Healthier Future
By: Daniel J. Elsener, Mitch Daniels, Don King, and Dr. Patrick McGill
Indiana needs a stronger, more coordinated healthcare workforce pipeline. Across the state, shortages of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and other healthcare professionals continue to limit access to care. Today, 2.8 million Hoosiers lack adequate access to care, and 71 of our 92 counties are designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas – including portions of Marion County.
Many hospitals and medical groups struggle to recruit enough physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and therapists. As a result, patients may wait longer or travel longer to get the care they need.
In fact, our partner organizations have locations in Marion County that fall within both a medically underserved area and a primary care health professional shortage area, according to the Indiana Primary Health Care Association.
Healthcare access is critical to individual flourishing, as well as our social, economic, and cultural success. When communities lack access to healthcare, employers have a harder time attracting talent, workers lose productivity, hospitals face greater strain, and communities become less competitive places to live, work and invest.
But, Indiana also possesses remarkable strength for our size. We are home to nationally respected universities, healthcare systems, two medical schools, and innovative research institutions. The question isn’t whether we have the assets to improve health; it’s how we connect them to better serve every community.
This is why we have rallied our collective strengths to create Indiana’s multi-partner academic medical center, the Crossroads Academic Medical Institute.
The Crossroads Academic Medical Institute, headquartered at Marian University in Indianapolis, connects Marian's nationally recognized health professions programs, including the Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCOM), with Purdue University's world-class research capabilities and pharmacy program.
The Institute includes not only large healthcare systems, such as Ascension St. Vincent and Community Health Network, but also healthcare providers of all sizes across the entire state of Indiana, helping build the talent pipeline for health professions. Our statewide healthcare partners include Daviess Community Hospital, Hancock Health, Indiana Rural Health Association, Margaret Mary Health, Parkview Health, Deaconess, and Reid Health – with the list growing all the time.
The Crossroads Academic Medical Institute’s vision is to improve health outcomes by:
Strengthening the healthcare workforce pipeline. Evidence consistently shows that healthcare professionals are more likely to practice where they train. By increasing and expanding clinical rotations, residency programs, and immersive training opportunities in underserved communities, we create pathways for future physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other allied health professionals to build lasting careers serving in these underserved communities.
Increasing research and innovation. Powered by Purdue University's R1 research infrastructure and WCOM, the Institute will connect hospitals to multi-site clinical trials and broader patient populations, bringing research dollars, innovation, and economic investment.
With greater access to healthcare professionals, individuals flourish, employers have a healthier workforce, and communities thrive. With students finding meaningful healthcare careers locally, hospitals gain access to talent and resources for patient care, research, clinical trials, and innovation. We become more competitive as a destination for research and investment, which cultivates thriving communities, business creation, and retention of key industries.
No single organization, agency, or business can solve our healthcare challenges alone. But together, we will.
We have always solved our biggest challenges by working together. Access to healthcare will be no different. The Crossroads Academic Medical Institute brings employers, healthcare and civic organizations, philanthropists, research funders, policymakers, and innovators together to strengthen our healthcare workforce, cost effectiveness, and provide people access to the care they need to flourish.
Daniel J. Elsener is President of Marian University, Mitch Daniels is Interim President of Purdue University, Don King is CEO of Ascension St. Vincent, and Dr. Patrick McGill is President & CEO of Community Health Network.