Health Care Workforce Growth and Support
GHA supports efforts to increase the number of qualified, and job-ready clinical staff for hospitals to help quickly address the critical health care workforce shortage in Georgia. Additional funding for education programs, worker incentives and other initiatives all ensure that the health care workforce capacity matches the needs of our communities. As Georgia’s population grows, it is even more important that hospitals are able to appropriately respond to emergencies and other statewide health care demands. GHA opposes staffing mandates and other regulations that add significant costs or barriers to employing an adequate and skilled health care workforce. 

2022 GHA Legislative Priorities

• April 21, 2022 Executive Order Establishing the Health Care Workforce Commission

• Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce – The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce works to see Georgia communities, especially in medically underserved areas, have improved access to needed physicians and other health care practitioners.
• Georgia Board of Nursing – The Georgia Board of Nursing licenses and regulates registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs). The BON also issues authorizations to practice to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
• Georgia Board of Pharmacy – The Georgia Board of Pharmacy licenses and regulates pharmacies and pharmacists.
• Georgia Composite Medical Board – The Georgia Composite Medical Board (GCMB) licenses and regulates physicians, physician assistants, respiratory care professionals, perfusionists, acupuncturists, orthotists, prosthetists, auricular (ear) detoxification specialists, genetic counselors, cosmetic laser practitioners, and pain management clinics. The GCMB also reviews and approves nurse protocol agreements between delegating physicians and APRNs.
• Georgia Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) – The Georgia Office of EMS licenses and regulates EMS agencies, EMS personnel, and EMS instructors.
• Georgia Board of Physical Therapy – The Georgia Board of Physical Therapy licenses and regulates physical therapists and physical therapy assistants.
• Georgia Board of Occupational Therapy – The Georgia Board of Occupational Therapy licenses and regulates occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants.
• Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists – The Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists licenses and regulates professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists.
• Georgia Board of Dentistry – The Georgia Board of Dentistry licenses and regulates dentists and dental hygienists.
• Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians – The Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians licenses and regulates dietitians.
• Georgia State Board of Optometry – The Georgia State Board of Optometry licenses and regulates optometrists.
• Georgia State Board of Podiatry Examiners – The Georgia State Board of Podiatry Examiners licenses and regulates podiatrists.

Program History 

In 1993, retired GHA Executive Director Mr. Glenn Hogan (the association’s first Executive Director) left an endowment to the Georgia Hospital Research and Education Foundation (GHAREF) in honor of his late wife Marjorie.  Mr. Hogan’s stated purpose for the endowment was to provide “financial assistance to young people desiring to prepare for a career in the health care field.”  

Program Description 

The GHA Marjorie Hogan Workforce Development Program has two components:  

• Hogan Hospital Internship 

• HOSA-Future Health Professionals Partnership.  
  (formerly Health Occupations Students of America) 

Interested in this program or for more information visit the Marjorie G. Hogan Workforce Development web page. Contact Rhett Partin with any questions.

The DAISY award was established to recognize nurses who have provided extraordinary care for patients and their families. Nurses can be nominated by anyone who experiences or observes an extraordinary act of compassion or recognizes a patient-nurse relationship that truly made a difference. GHA encourages all hospitals to participate. For more information, visit the Daisy Foundation.

A benefit of GHA membership is the opportunity to participate in an annual compensation survey and a bi-annual workforce survey. Individual hospital data is confidential but included in the aggregate data that is shared with participating organizations. Contact Rhett Partin for more information.