U.S. Hospitals Struggle with Healthcare Worker Shortages Amid Rising Demand
U.S. hospitals are facing significant challenges due to a shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in rural areas. According to a report by Covista, there are over 702,000 healthcare job vacancies each month, but only 306,000 unemployed workers available to fill them. This shortage is exacerbated by the aging baby boomer population, which is increasing demand for healthcare services. The report highlights that primary care providers and specialists are the most difficult positions to fill, with rural hospitals experiencing the greatest difficulty in hiring. The shortage is part of a broader issue affecting hospitals, including dwindling funding, changes to Medicaid, and the closure of hundreds of hospitals since 2010, primarily in rural areas. 
