The four-year grant is funded by the state of California and managed by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). Through the partnership, OCHIN will train 275 learners in one of three health information technology (HIT) fields: medical billing and coding, health information management, and electronic health record analysis. Participants will receive stipends to reduce economic barriers to training, and the program will assist with job placement following successful completion.

Uncovering gaps in care

A recent OCHIN network analysis revealed that members are experiencing a shortage of operational staff, which hinders health centers’ ability to function efficiently, affects patient access to care, decreases financial stability, and contributes to provider burnout. According to OCHIN Epic satisfaction surveys, more than one in three providers report feeling burned out following the pandemic, in part due to the increase in administrative and operational duties.

Meanwhile, a network analysis of 2018-2021 member data revealed that patient encounters at OCHIN member clinics in California began rising in 2021. While this follows a decline in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, the analysis suggested that the 2020 decline created a significantly increased patient need in 2021 even as clinic staffing dwindled.

Based on these insights and the direct input and experiences of nearly 50 OCHIN Epic members in California, OCHIN recognized that the current workforce is not sufficient to meet the growing demand for community care in California. In response, OCHIN leveraged its experience with workforce development and offered integrated solutions to help the state rebuild its health care workforce in a way that is more sustainable, skilled, and representative of the patients served.

The new program was made possible with the generous support of two visionary champions in the California legislature: State Assembly Members Phillip Chen and Evan Low.

“Building and sustaining a workforce that is prepared to meet both current and future patient needs requires innovative solutions and technology that can be put in place in the short term and last well into the future,” said State Assembly Member Phillip Chen, who represents California’s 55th Assembly District. “When necessary health IT staffing is in place, providers can focus more on patient care without added burden.”

“Ensuring that Californians have access to high quality, equitable care requires a workforce that is sustainable and representative of the patients they serve,” said State Assembly Member Evan Low, who represents California’s 26th Assembly District. “Rural and medically underserved communities were and continue to be disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and rebuilding the workforce through this initiative led by OCHIN and HCAI is a major step towards addressing this inequity.”

Building the workforce of the future

The new partnership in California is part of the growing portfolio of learning and workforce development programs led by OCHIN, which is now supported by more than $20 million in grant investments. Training will be administered by OCHIN’s learning and workforce development portfolio, OCHIN+, which launched last year to build clinical capacity and increase opportunity in the health care industry. OCHIN+ currently supports a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funded community health workers training program, a Public Health AmeriCorps program, and a growing suite of online trainings and certifications.

Access to affordable, timely, and culturally and linguistically responsive care is critical to improving both individual and population health outcomes. Partnerships, such as the new HCAI program and the others supported by OCHIN+, help improve access to whole-patient care while fortifying a depleted health care workforce with more diverse, representative, freshly skilled, and ready-to-hire talent.

“OCHIN believes equitable access to health care requires a sustainable and representative workforce, and partnering on initiatives like this is instrumental in achieving that goal,” said Scott Christman, Chief Deputy Director for the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. “By collaborating with OCHIN, we are building the health workforce in a way that is sustainable long-term and will advance health equity across California.”

OCHIN and HCAI will partner with OCHIN network members, other California health center networks, and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to recruit participants. For more information, email ochinpluslearning@ochin.org.

We acknowledge that this program is made possible through the coordination of and funding from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI).