CLEVELAND — For months, the healthcare industry has struggled to find qualified employees and experts say the problem has only gotten worse.
Tamika Shelburn, owner of Big Heart Home Healthcare based out of Garfield Heights says, she’s having trouble finding nursing and home health aides.
“My office assistant here...she and I went around to different businesses like check cashing places, nail salons, day cares just to pass out some fliers to say we are hiring and we are having interviews,” said Shelburn.
Shelburn says pre-COVID-19, she had dozens of eager job candidates looking to get hired.
“Every Thursday we held orientations, at that time we would have at least five or six people there every week, now there are some weeks we don't have anybody.”
According to Pete Van Runkle of the Ohio Health Care Association, Shelburn is not alone. Van Runkle says the pandemic has make the shortage of healthcare workers worse.
“It's really really bad, we are hearing from members on a daily basis that they just can't find anyone,” said Van Runkle. “There was an issue before covid happened and covid has exacerbated that.”
He says it comes down to wages. Plus, unemployment benefits, which have kept people home, regulatory requirements like masks and for some, fear of the healthcare industry.
“The ability to pay more would definitely be the starting point,” said Van Runkle. “I don’t really see an end in sight.”
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Editor's Note: The below video is from a previously published story