Publications

California’s Open Door Providers: Ten Case Studies of the Health Care Workforce

Author(s): 

Catherine Dower, Tina McRee, Bram Briggance, Jenny Vance, Ed O'Neil

Date: 
Jul 2002

Critical health care issues related to the available supply of professional workers have emerged across the nation as hospitals and clinics struggle to provide needed services. Despite this increased awareness, little attention has been paid to these issues as they play out in health care “safety net” or “open door provider” institutions. This report starts with descriptions of the characteristics that define and describe open door providers and provides overviews of health care workforce issues common to all delivery sites. Ten case studies of California public hospitals and community clinics are included to provide qualitative information about the workforce experiences of these open door providers. Findings and recommendations are offered as next steps to ensure the workforce needs of California’s open door providers are met.