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The caregiving profession is at the heart of the healthcare system, providing essential support to millions of individuals and families. Home Health Aides (HHAs), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), and other allied health workers represent the highest-need and fastest-growing segment of the workforce. Between 2022 and 2032, the direct care workforce, which includes HHAs and CNAs, is projected to add over 860,000 new jobs. In total, 8.9 million direct care job openings are anticipated during this period, accounting for new positions and vacancies from workers leaving the field.
Yet, one of the persistent challenges caregivers face is the lack of portability for their credentials and training records. Similarly, post-acute care organizations need to ensure training and compliance mandates for each caregiver while they are employed but before they can be scheduled for work. This issue not only creates barriers for caregivers as they seek new opportunities but also imposes unnecessary costs on employers.
Caregiver record portability will transform the industry by creating a more agile and efficient workforce—benefiting caregivers, employers, and the client they serve.
The Current State of Caregiver Credentialing
Today, caregivers often encounter significant challenges when transitioning between employers or seeking new job opportunities. Their credentials and training records are frequently tied to a specific agency or employer, requiring redundant training and certification processes when they move to a job. This inefficiency can lead to frustration for caregivers and delays in onboarding for employers.
Moreover, many agencies are burdened with the costs of retraining caregivers, even when those caregivers have already completed equivalent training elsewhere. This duplicative effort drains resources that could otherwise be allocated to improving care delivery and supporting caregivers.
Portability and skills recognition offers a win-win: portability of caregiver records will be a game changer for post-acute care organizations and will combat the caregiver shortage by giving meaning to the high-value skills of direct care workers. Direct care workers can be proud of their skills and earn new opportunities, and patients and their families can understand the skills and quality of the direct care workers responsible for their care.
The Case for Record Portability
Record portability offers a solution to these challenges by enabling caregivers to seamlessly share their verified credentials and training completions with new employers. This approach has several key benefits for both the caregiver and the employer:
- Empowering Caregivers: Portability puts control of career progress in the hands of caregivers by enabling them to easily share their qualifications with employers and clients alike. This seamless access not only reduces delays in securing new roles but also fosters trust, professionalism, and a sense of career ownership within the direct care workforce.
- Streamlining Recruitment: For agencies and employers, access to verified caregiver records eliminates the need for redundant training and reduces the labor of tracking down certifications from various institutions. With records that are accessible and transferrable, this streamlined process allows new hires to start faster, addressing the critical challenge of caregiver shortages.
- Cost Savings for Employers: By reducing or eliminating the need for duplicate training, agencies can save significantly on onboarding costs. These savings can be reinvested in areas such as caregiver support programs or technology enhancements.
- Employer Efficiency and Caregiver Growth: Access to comprehensive caregiver records enables employers to better identify employees poised for promotion or capable of filling other critical personnel gaps, optimizing workforce management and growth opportunities. For caregivers, this means a clearer path for career advancement and professional recognition.
- Improving Care Quality: Faster onboarding means caregivers can begin delivering care sooner, reducing gaps in service for clients. Additionally, caregivers who feel supported and valued are more likely to provide high-quality care.
A Seamless, Portable Training Ecosystem
Caregiver record portability is more than a convenience; it’s a critical step toward a more dynamic and sustainable caregiving industry. By empowering caregivers to take control of their careers and enabling employers to efficiently recruit qualified candidates, we can address workforce shortages and improve the quality of care for those who need it most.
Imagine a future where every caregiver is fully trained, compliant, and ready to deliver exceptional care from day one. A world where caregivers can easily move between agencies without the burden of redundant training. Agencies can onboard new staff quickly and efficiently, knowing that every caregiver is already certified and up-to-date with the latest practices and regulatory mandates.
Portability and skills recognition not only combat the caregiver shortage but also elevate the perception of direct care workers as skilled professionals. This shift is essential for building the caregiver workforce to meet demands today and in the future.
Taking the First Step
Technology and innovation will enable caregivers to thrive, employers to operate efficiently, and care recipients to receive the best possible support. With more than 800,000 caregivers trained, 5.5M courses completed, and 2,500 post-acute care organizations working with CareAcademy, we are ensuring that caregivers are effectively trained and organizations are efficient and compliant in their training administration. Get started today with a 14 day Free Trial (no commitments) and start building a best in class training program and be ready to reap the benefits of record portability through the CareAcademy ecosystem.