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The Solution to Arizona’s At-Risk Healthcare System is Prioritizing Worker Well-Being
If you could make yourself invisible and float in and observe the daily rhythm inside a hospital, nursing facility, county public health office, or outpatient clinic, you would be struck by the intelligence, skill, dedication, and relentless commitment of Arizona’s healthcare workforce. These professionals work tirelessly to prevent disease, treat injuries, and meet the physical, mental, and long-term health needs of ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities.
But you would also notice the providers’ exhaustion. They grapple with the root causes of poor health, weighty administrative burdens, and financial pressures that force clinical and administrative professionals into distressing ethical dilemmas. The relentless strain takes a serious toll on well-being. You might wonder: will these dedicated professionals be at their best when we need them most?
The National Academy of Medicine reports that more than half of U.S. doctors and nurses experience burnout. In Arizona, the pressures are even more severe, especially in rural areas where access to care is already fragile. At the same time, our state faces a worsening workforce shortage. According to the Arizona Board of Regents, to meet 2030 demands, Arizona will need 14,291 additional nurses, 3,644 physicians, and 2,419 behavioral health professionals. The well-being and need for physician assistants, administrators, housekeepers, pharmacists, technicians, outbreak investigators, therapists, and other workers are just as urgent.
The consequences are clear: when stress, shortages, excessive burdens, and ethical dilemmas deplete healthcare workers’ well-being, patient care and public health may suffer. If we do not act now, Arizona’s health systems will be in crisis when we need it most.
Governor Proclaims March 18, 2025: Health Workforce Well-Being Day
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs’ proclamation underscores the great work of our health professionals. This recognition advances the widespread efforts to reduce the burnout, workforce shortages, and systemic barriers impacting our healthcare professionals. The National Academy of Medicine and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation first recognized March 18th as Health Workforce Well-Being Day, and awareness continues to grow each year.
More Arizona leaders are recognizing there is a statewide crisis in our health workforce. Sustainable solutions require investment, policy review, and a commitment from every sector—healthcare, business, education, and government—to create a system that values and protects its workforce.
The Wellbeing Collaborative of Arizona: Turning Recognition into Action
Addressing this crisis requires more than a single initiative or short-term funding—it demands a coordinated, multi-sector effort. The Arizona Wellbeing Collaborative, a coalition of over 150 professional healthcare associations, hospitals, health departments, universities, and frontline professionals, is leading this charge.
Building on national initiatives such as the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Health Worker Burnout and the National Academy of Medicine’s Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being, the Collaborative is driving activities that support systemic change by:
To be sure, these efforts cannot solve every complex financial and ethical challenge facing health and healthcare, but they are promising steps. Progress can be achieved with sustained, collective action, that is aligned with ongoing state, business, and legislative workforce initiatives aimed at strengthening the healthcare pipeline.
This Moment Requires More Than Awareness—It Requires Action
If you work in healthcare, you already feel the impact of this crisis. If you are a patient or a caregiver, you are seeing it firsthand.
It’s time for action. Healthcare systems, policymakers, insurers, and community leaders have an opportunity to commit to lasting solutions that support the well-being of the people protecting and delivering care.
Learn more or join our efforts. https://wellbeingcollaborative.org/
Written by Charlton Wilson, M.D. and Florence Spyrow, R.N., J.D.
Filed Under: Business, Local News
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