The study found the following vacancy rates for allied technologists at hospitals in the state:
• Physical therapist — 7.8 percent
• Cardiovascular and interventional radiology technologist — 6.8 percent
• Medical lab technician —6.3 percent
• MRI technologist — 6.2 percent
• PET technologist — 5.6 percent
• Clinical lab scientist — 5.3 percent
• Physical therapy assistant — 5.3 percent
• Ultrasound technologist — 5.0 percent
• CT technologist — 4.5 percent
• Respiratory therapist —4.5 percent
• Nuclear med technologist — 4.3 percent
• Radiological technologist — 3.8 percent
• Pharmacist —3.1 percent
• Pharmacy technician — 2.9 percent
The study also found the vacancy rates were more severe at smaller hospitals, compared to larger ones.
The study then outlined the following recommendations to address these shortages: making allied health education funding a priority for the state, aligning health science curriculum with needs of employers, standardizing prerequisites across health science programs, enhancing articulation among California institutions of higher education, encouraging the use innovative models of education that benefit non-traditional students and addressing barriers to clinical training.
Read the full report, “Critical Roles: California’s Allied Health Workforce” (pdf).
