MAHONING VALLEY Hospital systems schedule summit

Officials say the health-care careers most in demand in the Valley are nurses, radiologic technologists and pharmacists.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR HEALTH WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Area hospital systems, faced with problems recruiting and retaining nurses and other employees, will convene a work-force summit Oct. 8 at Youngstown State University to collectively address the issues.
The Mahoning Valley Regional Healthcare Workforce Summit is led by the presidents and chief executive officers of Humility of Mary Health Partners, Forum Health, Salem Community Hospital and East Liverpool City Hospital: Michael Rowan, Kristopher Hoce, Howard E. Rohleder and Melvin Creely, respectively.
YSU is also participating along with governmental officials and representatives from the Job and Family Services departments and One-Stop consortiums in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
Author to speak
The keynote speaker will be Carolyn A. Martin, noted educator and author, who will talk about generational differences in the workplace, management practices and regional talent strategies. Martin will address attracting, developing and retaining the health-care work force and how to encourage "outside-the-box thinking and action" in the community, workplace and classroom.
Hoce, Rohleder, Rowan and Creely will participate in a panel discussion about the challenge of thinking differently about the human capital in health care.
"Thinking regionally will push our industry to the fore of economic development because of the collaboration that exists and the recognition that we have to compete as a region to be successful," Rowan said.
"We hope that the summit will be a turning point for the way in which our region and the health-care industry thinks about its work force and its future. The purpose of gathering the community and its leaders together is not only to inspire us, but to also learn from one another and understand what it will take to compete," Hoce said.
Another panel will discuss strategies for attracting, retaining and developing a work force.
Careers in demand
Officials say the health-care careers most in demand in the Mahoning Valley are nurses, who earn $17.36 to $22.89 per hour; radiologic technologists, who take X-rays and CT scans, $11.64 to $15.59 per hour; and pharmacists.
Healthcare Summit work session topics include changing perceptions of the health-care industry; providing knowledge and career options and educational resources; preparing and placing talent; encouraging and supporting skill development career ladders in the workplace; collaboration among employers and training providers; education while developing understanding and respect among staff; and creating incentives to build a better workplace community.