ELKRIDGE, MD – According to the Maryland Hospital Association the hospital workforce shortage has continued to persist in the state of Maryland, particularly for nursing.

The MHA's annual survey revealed that nursing vacancy rates have remained higher than across the United States, with Maryland hospitals seeing a nursing vacancy rate of 10 percent for budgeted but unfilled positions and the United States experiencing an 8 percent vacancy rate.

MHA, which surveyed 41 hospital positions, also found there was a shortage of allied health professionals. Almost half of the positions surveyed experienced increased vacancy rates in 2007.

Positions such as physician assistants, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and respiratory therapists were particularly hit hard, with vacancies over 15 percent.

Entry-level and advanced positions in laboratory, nutrition services, pharmacy, rehabilitation, and respiratory therapy saw vacancy rates above 10 percent.

The survey findings show that even though vacancy rates dropped for nurses between 2006 and 2007, Maryland still needs an additional 2,603 full-time nurses.

"The shortage of nurses is something we have to deal with immediately," said Catherine Crowley, MHA vice president. "While a slower economy is bringing some nurses back to work, our workforce is still aging. These vacancy rates will climb in future years unless we address this problem."

 A report by RESI, conducted for MHA in 2006, projects Maryland will have a shortfall of 10,000 nurses in less than a decade if nothing is done.  

In an effort to double the number of nurses educated in Maryland, MHA is collaborating with nursing schools and others in a strategic effort called "Who Will Care Care?"

"Maryland hospitals and the MHA are committed to working with the state's stakeholders to improve the supply of nurses and all allied health professionals working in Maryland. This is an imperative so hospitals can continue to provide access and the best care for Maryland's patients," said MHA president and CEO Carmela Coyle.