The Perinatal Workforce Pipeline and Strategies for Meeting Community Need.

Area of Science:

• Perinatal Health
• Healthcare Workforce Studies
• Rural Health Equity

Background:

• National projections indicate significant perinatal workforce deficits over the next 30 years.
• North Carolina faces these challenges, with rural areas being particularly vulnerable to unmet community needs.
• The existing perinatal care infrastructure requires strategic planning to address future demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze strategies employed in Western North Carolina to sustain a robust perinatal workforce.
• To assess the effectiveness of current initiatives in addressing projected workforce shortages.
• To provide insights into successful workforce retention and development in underserved regions.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing workforce development programs in Western North Carolina.
• Analysis of demographic trends and projected needs for perinatal professionals.
• Qualitative assessment of implemented strategies through stakeholder engagement (details not provided in abstract).

Main Results:

• Western North Carolina is actively implementing diverse strategies to bolster its perinatal workforce.
• These initiatives aim to ensure a well-trained and varied professional presence.
• Focus on maintaining essential perinatal care services in at-risk rural communities.

Conclusions:

• Proactive and multifaceted strategies are crucial for mitigating perinatal workforce shortages.
• Western North Carolina's approach offers a model for other regions facing similar challenges.
• Sustaining a diverse and skilled perinatal workforce is essential for equitable community health outcomes.