ITuE1 - Future-Proofing Health IT: Building a Resilient Health IT Workforce in Community Healthcare

Session Description: The Health IT workforce plays a crucial role in the ever-changing field of community healthcare, ensuring the provision of efficient and cutting-edge healthcare services. The panel discussion "Future-Proofing Health IT: Building a Resilient Health IT Workforce in Community Healthcare" is designed to address the pressing challenges and harness the opportunities within the Health IT area, particularly in community health settings. This session aims to conduct a comprehensive examination of the present condition and future potential of the Health IT workforce, with a specific focus on the distinct requirements and challenges faced by community health centers. NACHC is aware that health centers and their partners have significant challenges in the current job market in attracting and retaining informatics and IT professionals and that they are rightfully looking for a diverse health IT workforce. The session will describe strategic approaches to mitigate workforce shortages and prepare for upcoming shifts in workers and health center needs. The conversation will involve a diverse group of experts from different fields, including Health IT professionals, educators, and policy makers. The goal is to stimulate a meaningful exchange of ideas and best practices, with a specific focus on creating a strong and flexible Health IT workforce that can effectively navigate the changing field of community healthcare.