Workforce planning in healthcare is critically important and uniquely challenging.

It involves forecasting the need for doctors, nurses, technicians, and support staff amidst aging populations, evolving diseases, and rapid technological change. 

Challenges include strict licensing requirements, high burnout rates, and complex shift scheduling. 

Effective planning uses patient acuity data, projected admission rates, and regulatory changes to model staffing needs. 

Strategies often focus on pipeline programs with educational institutions, aggressive retention programs to combat burnout, cross-training, and leveraging telehealth and AI to extend the reach of clinical staff, ensuring high-quality patient care.