MAINE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Special Report January 31, 2007 2006 Healthcare Occupations Report By: Matthew Kruk STATE OF MAINE LAURA A. FORTMAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR COMMISSIONER DIVISION OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION SERVICES 19 UNION STREET JOHN DORRER AUGUSTA, MAINE DIVISION DIRECTOR JOHN ELIAS BALDACCI 04330-6826 GOVERNOR 2006 Healthcare Occupations Report Prepared by Maine Department of Labor Labor Market Information Services Matthew Kruk Economic Research Analyst Issued January 31, 2007 Augusta, Maine PHONE: (207) 287-2271 TTY 1-800-794-1110 FAX: (207) 287-2947 The Maine Department of Labor provides equal opportunity in employment and programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request Tel: (207) 287-2271 TTY: 1-800-794-1110 Fax: (207) 287-2947 Preface The Maine Legislature, through the deliberations of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, passed “An Act to Ensure an Adequate Supply of a Skilled Health Care Workforce (L.D. Document 892). This legislation charged the Maine Department of Labor, Division of Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) in conjunction with the Office of Health Data and Program Management, Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics to compile a health care occupations report. Health services represent not only a vital component for protecting the physical well being of Maine’s people, but also generate over 75,000 jobs and payrolls totaling $2.7 billion dollars annually. One of the keys to a healthy Maine population is the availability of a health care workforce with the skills and qualifications needed to perform complex technical work, patient care and growing number of professional specialties involved in the delivery of health care services. As Maine faces the prospects of growing retirements by baby boomers over the next 30 years, we will face significant challenges in replacing the knowledge, skills and experience of this critical segment of Maine’s workforce. Close monitoring is needed to ensure that workforce availability and skills match the needs of the health care sector. This collaborative effort between the Maine Departments of Labor and Health, and Human Services, Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics represents the first time that such a comprehensive array of data related to health services employment has been assembled in one report. Funding for this effort was provided through a transfer of Homeland Security emergency funds from the Maine Center for Disease Control, Office of Public Health and Emergency Preparedness to the Maine Department of Labor, Division of Labor Market Information Services The report draws together a wide array of data sources including employment, earnings and occupational projections maintained by the Maine Department of Labor and detailed survey data on licensed, registered and certified professionals collected by the Department of Health and Human Services. Together, these data sources permit more detailed and improved workforce analysis. While every effort was made to compile all the data available, there are some exceptions that must be noted. The multi-year rotational aspect and year-end schedules for license renewals prevented us from including all the data required under the legislation. A complete listing of data inclusions and exclusions is provided in the Appendix of the report. We are pleased to transmit this report in cooperation with the Health Workforce Forum, established under LD 892, section 257. The Forum, made up of representatives of health professions, licensing boards, employers, health education programs and Maine Department of Labor, was convened by the Department of Health and Human Services to review this report and to provide guidance on critical workforce issues confronting this vital sector. We are indebted to members of the Forum who provided critical guidance in preparing this report. We would also like to acknowledge the valuable review and suggestions that came from the Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance and the Maine Health Access Foundation. John Dorrer, Director Labor Market Information Services Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 7 INTRODUCTION DIRECT CARE WORKERS Introduction 1 Direct Care Workers 103 Highlights 3 Recommendations 5 CHAPTER 8 THERAPISTS AND RELATED CHAPTER 2 Occupational Therapists 113 HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY Occupational Therapist Assistants 117 Healthcare Industry 9 Occupational Therapist Aides 121 Maine’s Healthcare Industry 17 Physical Therapists 123 Physical Therapist Assistants 127 CHAPTER 3 Physical Therapist Aides 131 Radiation Therapist 133 PHYSICIANS, SURGEONS, AND Recreational Therapists 135 RELATED Respiratory Care Therapists Physicians and Surgeons, All 25 and Technicians 139 Physicians and Surgeons, Massage Therapists 143 Specialties 35 Physician Assistants 41 CHAPTER 9 Surgical Technologists 45 PHARMACISTS AND RELATED Pharmacists 147 CHAPTER 4 Pharmacy Technicians 153 DENTISTRY AND RELATED Dentist 51 CHAPTER 10 Dental Hygienists 61 Dental Assistants 65 HEALTH TECHNOLOGISTS AND TECHNICIANS CHAPTER 5 Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists 159 OTHER DOCTORAL-LEVEL Medical and Clinical PRACTITIONERS Laboratory Technicians 163 Chiropractors 69 Cardiovascular Technologists Optometrists 73 and Technicians 167 Podiatrists 77 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers 171 Nuclear Medicine Technologists 175 CHAPTER 6 Radiologic Technologists NURSING and Technicians 179 Registered Nurses 83 Emergency Medical Technicians Licensed Practical Nurses 95 and Paramedics 183 Table of Contents CHAPTER 11 WORKS CITED DIETITIANS, NUTRITIONISTS, Works Cited 247 AND RELATED Dietitians and Nutritionists 189 APPENDIX Dietetic Technicians 193 Methodology for Data Collection 251 Data Processing 253 Data Editing 253 CHAPTER 12 Sample Survey 255 SPEECH-LANGUAGE Table: Physicians and Surgeons, PATHOLOGY County of Employment and AND AUDIOLOGY Residence 257 Audiologists 199 Speech-Language Pathologists 203 CHAPTER 13 MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS Social Workers 209 Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors 215 Psychologists 219 CHAPTER 14 OTHER HEALTHCARE OCCUPATIONS Medical Equipment Preparers 225 Medical Records and Health Information Technicians 227 Athletic Trainers 231 Medical Assistants 235 Medical Transcriptionists 239 Opticians 243 Orthotists and Prosthetists 245 Chapter 1 Introduction This report is the first in what is anticipated to be a series highlighting the healthcare industry and related workforce data. For optimal use of this report by policymakers, the following sections are provided to explain what data is available and from where it is obtained. Occupational Description This section describes the featured occupation, as defined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Where applicable, descriptions of subspecialties are provided. Characteristic Data This data was obtained through surveys of licensed healthcare professionals. During the relicensure process of healthcare workers, surveys were administered and the results of these surveys are presented here. However, many occupations have yet to be surveyed or lack complete data sets; only full data sets were used for this inaugural report. The methodology for the survey and data collection can be found in the Appendix. Educational Requirements This section describes typical educational requirements, as well as licensing requirements, as provided by Choices, an interactive career decision-making program that provides interest and skill profiling as well as career and educational information. Schools The schools in Maine offering the featured programs are listed in this section. If no program is offered in Maine for a particular occupation, some out-of-state schools are provided—many of which take part in the New England Board of Higher Education’s Regional Student Program, which allows Maine residents access to degree programs not available in Maine. Also provided in this section is completer data for specified programs. This data, provided by IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), indicates the 1 1 INTRODUCTION number of graduates from the specified program by institution. In some instances, this data is either unclear or incomplete, and, as a result, is not included in this report. Statewide Employment This information, taken from Labor Market Information Services’ Maine Employment Outlook to 2012, provides 2002 estimated employment, 2012 projected employment, the net change over this ten-year period, the annual growth rate, the annual openings attributed to both growth and replacement needs, and the top industries (in terms of employment) in which the featured occupation is employed. Maine Job Vacancies As part of a national effort to develop a state and local job vacancy information system, Labor Market Information Services conducted a survey of Maine employers in 2002 and 2005. This survey, the Maine Job Vacancy Survey, approximates the number of job vacancies by occupation and by major industry, as well as at statewide and regional levels. It is important to note that occupations may have information available for 2002, 2005, both years or neither years due to confidentiality reasons. Wages Wage data is provided from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey, which produces occupational employment and wage estimates on a semi-annual basis. This section presents entry and experienced wage levels (both hourly and annual) for the state of Maine. A mean wage for Maine and the nation are also provided, as well as the relationship between