America’s Health Care Workforce: The Urgent Need for Strategic Staffing in Underserved Communities

The state of the U.S. health care workforce presents a defining moment for health equity, workforce sustainability, and community care delivery—especially in Native American and rural communities. According to the latest HRSA November 2024 National Center for Health Workforce Analysis report, the United States faces significant medical staffing shortages across nearly every major health care discipline: medicine, nursing, oral health, behavioral health, and allied support services.

At Ellsworth LLC, a Native American-owned medical staffing enterprise, we see these challenges as both a wake-up call and a clear opportunity. With 48 federal contracts awarded and over $4.8 million in funding secured, Ellsworth stands committed to addressing workforce gaps through fast, culturally competent medical staffing solutions tailored to Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal 638 health systems, and federal agencies.

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The Numbers Speak: A Looming Workforce Crisis

The U.S. health care sector employed over 17 million people in 2023—more than any other industry. Yet, the distribution and adequacy of these workers is unbalanced, with severe shortages forecasted:

• 187,130 full-time equivalent (FTE) physicians are projected to be missing by 2037.
• A 36% shortage in licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and an 8% decline in nurse midwives is predicted.
• 29,740 dental hygienists and 11,860 general dentists will be in shortfall, disproportionately affecting non-metro and Native-serving areas.

These shortages are especially critical in areas designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). As of June 2024, over:

• 75 million Americans live in primary care HPSAs,
• 58 million in dental care HPSAs, and
• 122 million in mental health HPSAs.
  Explore the data

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Indigenous and Rural Communities at Greater Risk

Rural and tribal areas are projected to bear the brunt of medical staffing shortages. For example, states like New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Alaska, which are home to large Native populations, consistently rank in the bottom third for per capita access to patient care practicing physicians. Burnout, early retirement, and underinvestment in culturally appropriate health training have only intensified the disparities.

Ellsworth recognizes this reality on the ground. Our mission is to recruit and place qualified professionals—particularly those with prior IHS or tribal experience—into communities where they are most needed. Our placements help fulfill local health missions, preserve cultural integrity in care delivery, and reduce costly vacancies that harm patient outcomes.

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Addressing Workforce Burnout and Attrition

At Ellsworth, we offer retention-friendly strategies including:

• Streamlined onboarding
• Travel-ready credentialing
• Referral and continuation bonuses
• Cultural competency training
• Flexible staffing terms tailored for remote regions

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Building a Riverway: Encouraging Native Youth in Health Professions

Encouragingly, enrollment in medical and nursing programs is growing, though unevenly. Between 2019 and 2023:

• Medical school enrollment grew 6%, with female students now making up 55% of the cohort.
• New RN licensure rose 36.1%, with 250,078 new RNs in 2023 alone.

However, dental hygienist and dental assistant program graduation rates are in decline, and some RN-to-BSN programs have seen a 5-year downward enrollment trend.

We believe investment in Native youth is critical. Ellsworth supports initiatives that mentor young Native Americans into medical careers—many of whom aspire to serve their elders and communities with culturally aligned care.

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The Call to Action: Scalable, Culturally Aligned Staffing

The U.S. workforce faces deep structural challenges. But there is also a clear path forward. We must:

• Strengthen educational pipelines for underrepresented communities.
• Improve distribution of providers into HPSAs and tribal areas.
• Reduce clinician burnout through staffing relief and cultural support.

Ellsworth LLC is proud to be part of that solution. As an Indigenous-owned enterprise, we remain focused on serving Indian Country with speed, respect, and cultural understanding. Whether it’s deploying nurses to Shiprock, behavioral health specialists to Santa Fe, or dental providers to rural Arizona, we are committed to being a bridge between need and service.

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To join Ellsworth LLC’s locum tenens services, medical staffing solutions, and current job placement opportunities, create a free profile at:

We look forward to helping you embark on a rewarding and adventurous career. Ellsworth LLC is proud to confirm its eligibility under the Buy-Indian set-aside ISBEE (UEI: E84NXMLHLMS5) and operates under NAICS Codes 561320 — Temporary Help Services and 621111 — Offices of Physicians, except Mental Health Specialists. Our business model and services are designed to meet these specific requirements, and our partnership with LiquidAgents Healthcare, LLC and StaffingEngine, LLC supports us. With over 22 years of combined recruiting expertise, we ensure culturally competent staffing solutions that meet the needs of healthcare professionals and organizations alike.