Work Force Newsletter

Health Care

Workforce Updates

December 2024

New York expands the number of professionals who can provide fluoride treatments

More licensed professionals are now authorized to provide fluoride treatments to pediatric dental patients, through legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul (S.9308A/A.7402B). Registered dental assistants and licensed practical nurses are now among the professionals allowed to apply topical fluoride varnish to teeth.

This legislation is intended to improve children’s dental health by allowing more professionals to provide fluoride treatments in dental offices. Fluoride treatments work to prevent tooth decay and are an important part of pediatric dental health.

“Fluoride is scientifically proven to prevent cavities and protect our kids' teeth,” Governor Hochul said. “As a mom, I know how difficult it can be to get an appointment at the dentist's office and how critical it is for our kids to maintain good oral hygiene.”

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Parents can be confident that their children will receive fluoride dental treatments that can significantly improve their child’s dental health, which as we know can impact the health of the entire body. This legislation, allowing additional licensed professionals to apply the fluoride, will make accessing these treatments easier than ever.” Read more.

Master’s Direct Entry into Nursing Practice (MDE) program. Starting in Fall 2025, the University of Rochester School of Nursing is launching a new 16-month, full-time program will prepare students to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and become registered nurses. This program goes beyond foundational nursing education by integrating graduate-level coursework in leadership, ethics and healthcare policy, preparing graduates to tackle today’s complex healthcare challenges. Learn more.

HIV, Substance Use, and Social Justice free CME – Dec. 10 from noon to 1 p.m. Learn how shame and stigma against persons living with HIV and/or persons who use drugs undermines progress. Presented by the Clinical Education Initiative HIV Primary Care and Prevention Center of Excellence and the Catskill Hudson, Western New York, Hudson Mohawk, and Central New York Area Health Education Centers. Register here.

Aging and caregiving strategies webinar via Zoom, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. Israel Cross, PhD, MA, CAPS, ECHM, CDP, public health gerontologist, Health Resources & Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care, will address aging and caregiving strategies as he advocates for Age-Friendly Communities and aging in place. Presented by the NYS Association for Rural Health. Register here.

Providing Care to LGBTQIA+ Youth, Jan. 14, 2025, from noon to 1 p.m. Learning objectives: recognize gender identity and expression, sex assigned at birth, and sexual orientation, describe the distinction between transgender patients and intersex patients, and review initial management strategies for appropriate and competent care to young LGBTQIA+ patients. Register here.

Trauma-Informed Care: Through the Lens of HIV, Jan. 28, 2025, from noon to 1 p.m. Learning objectives: define trauma, the effects of trauma on the body, and trauma- informed care, discuss the scope and impact of trauma for persons living with HIV (PWLH), review resiliency and risk factors of trauma for PWLH, and review evidence-based practices to mitigate trauma for PLWH. Register here.

Age-Friendly Pharmacist Home-Study Program. The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) is offering a home-study series of trainings as part of their Age-Friendly Pharmacist Badge Program for long-term care pharmacies and pharmacists. The aim is for pharmacists to be recognized as achieving age-friendly national recognition through a pharmacy-based credential or badge. Learn more.

Rural research and policy fellowship announced

The New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH) is accepting applicants for its Research and Policy Fellowship program, which introduces graduate students and early professionals to rural health issues and engages them in advocacy activities. During their fellowship, participants receive education about rural health equity, the legislative process in New York State, and effective advocacy practice.

Applicants must be committed to improving the health of New Yorkers by providing equitable health care services; have a bachelor’s degree or higher in a broadly health-related field; commit to weekly virtual check-in meetings with advisors and mentors; and have access to the computer equipment needed to participate in video conferences, online discussions and to produce written work.

Fellows will receive a one-year NYSARH membership, a $4,000 stipend, Public Health Partnership registration and hotel (April 30-May 2, 2025, in Ithaca, N.Y.), and NYSARH Rural Health Symposium registration and hotel (date and location TBD). Apply online.

Consumer Survey: Barriers to Accessing Oral Health Services in New York State. This new report, released by the Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS) at the University at Albany’s College of Integrated Health Sciences, states that improving access to oral health services in New York State requires a broader understanding of oral health needs and the challenges that underserved populations face.

Supply and Geographic Distribution of Geriatric Physicians and Geriatric Nurse Practitioners, JAMA Network. This article reveals the findings of a study on the temporal and geographic trends in the supply of geriatric physicians (GMDs) and geriatric nurse practitioners (GNPs), and whether there are disparities between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties. Authors Ying Xue, Lusine Poghosyan, and Qinyun Lin found that the combined GMD and GNP workforce kept pace with the growth of the older population, but considerable disparities existed between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties.

Please share your health care workforce updates

If you have workforce updates to share, or any feedback or ideas for this newsletter, please contact Melissa Wendland at melissa.wendland@commongroundhealth.org.

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