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Nurse at UCSF

Many Nurse Practitioners Cannot Provide Medications to Treat Opioid Addiction

At least six states with high opioid abuse rates also have strong work restrictions that hinder nurse practitioners (NPs) in prescribing medication that can help treat the problem, according to a...
Photo of registered nurses at UCSF

Despite Regional and Skill Gaps, Balanced Labor Market Projected for Registered Nursing in California

Projections by Healthforce Center at UCSF demonstrate a balanced labor market of registered nurses (RNs) in California. “If there are shortages, they are regional, and they are for RNs with specific...
UCSF doctor takes pulse of patient

Six Solutions to Meet California’s Health Care Needs 

California faces serious shortages in its health workforce, which makes it difficult for too many people to access the care they need. For example, in the next decade, California will face a...
A physician works with a  patient

Five Ways to Cure California’s Doctor Shortage (CHCF)

Source: California Health Care Foundation We know that primary care is essential for good health, but access to primary care in California varies greatly, with large swaths of the state competing for...
UCSF nurse

Nurse-Researchers Instrumental in Planning for the “Silver Tsunami”

Source: UCSF Nursing's Science of Caring As the so-called “silver tsunami” of aging baby boomers rolls across the country, addressing their long-term care needs is critically important. Yet a...
A registered nurse works with a patient

Nursing Shortage Looms for San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley and Central Coast of California

By Joanne Spetz, PhD, Associate Director of Research, Healthforce Center at UCSF Some regions of California face nursing shortages, according to new Healthforce research. Substantial shortages are...
Carol Lei, caregiver, discuss with Lena Driscoll, MSN, at UCSF Mission Bay.

16 Workforce Recommendations to Deliver High-Quality Care for People With Serious Illness (Health Affairs)

Healthforce Center at UCSF Associate Director of Research Joanne Spetz, PhD, co-authored a blog in Health Affairs that includes 16 workforce recommendations for field experts, policy makers and...
Amanda Clarke, MPH, right, speaks with Giovanna Giuliani, left, of the California Safety Net Institute

After Some Hurdles, California Whole Person Care Pilots Hit Stride

The California Improvement Network (CIN), which is a project of the California Health Care Foundation and administered by Healthforce Center at UCSF, is a community of health care professionals...
Medical lab technicians examine a health test

Victory: Governor Brown Signs Bill Expanding Scope of Practice for Medical Lab Technicians (MLTs)

Last week, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 2281 into law, which expands MLT scope of practice. The new law’s provisions were informed by Healthforce Center at UCSF research and...
California community paramedics record their first-hand accounts of what they've experienced in the field.

Boots on the Ground: Community Paramedics’ Experiences in the Field

By Maile Richardson Since 2015, the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) has been testing the viability of asking paramedics to step outside of their traditional scope of practice....