As the nation's population ages and the Baby Boom generation nears retirement, the need for skilled healthcare workers in Iowa and across the nation grows. Healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors of the U.S. economy, and one of the top industries for job growth and job creation in Iowa. The increase in the number of healthcare positions required--combined with the rapid and complex changes in healthcare delivery and healthcare technology--places an increased burden on Iowa's healthcare education system in its charge to provide an adequate supply of skilled healthcare workers.

Iowa's comprehensive community colleges play a crucial role in meeting the needs of Iowa's healthcare workforce. Their mission to meet the education needs of learners in their communities, combined with their flexibility and agility in content development and delivery enables them to meet the education needs of Iowans seeking career education, training, or re-training. These factors also place Iowa's community colleges in a strategically relevant position of making significant contributions to help address the impending healthcare worker shortage.

This study provided an in-depth analysis of how Iowa's community colleges are involved in meeting the need for healthcare workers in the state. The study included an analysis of trends, and demographic and geographic characteristics of healthcare professionals who are educated in Iowa's 15 community colleges to determine how community college graduates are meeting the need for a skilled healthcare workforce across the state, particularly in parts of Iowa that suffer from a lack of adequate healthcare services and healthcare infrastructure.