Madison Reporter

Stoughton Health is proactively addressing workforce challenges in the healthcare sector, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association's (WHA) 2025 Workforce Report. While the report notes stabilized but still-high vacancy rates in Wisconsin hospitals, Stoughton Health has successfully mitigated these issues using strategic initiatives.

The report highlights the impact of an aging workforce and population, which affects healthcare service demand and staffing. Despite growth in hospital employment, vacancies persist, especially in nursing, technical, and entry-level roles, with one-third of healthcare professions reporting double-digit vacancy rates.

To combat these challenges, Stoughton Health offers new employees one week of paid time off upon hiring, complemented by a comprehensive onboarding process. This approach aims to integrate new staff members into the company culture efficiently.

For nearly two decades, the "Excellence Together" initiative at Stoughton Health has involved employees in improving communication and service delivery. "Starting a new job is incredibly stressful and full of unknowns," noted Christopher Schmitz, Vice President of Human Resources. "We do all we can with our new employees to make them feel they are part of the team and reduce stressors."

Stoughton Health also provides Workforce Development Grants for employees pursuing further education in healthcare, with full funding contingent on a two-year commitment post-completion. The Emerging Leaders Program develops leadership skills among employees through mentor-guided projects.

Schmitz emphasized, "Our employees are our greatest asset and investing in them strengthens our workforce." He shared that Stoughton Health was recognized as the Top Large Employer by Madison.com, a testament to their thriving employee engagement initiatives.

Stoughton Health, alongside WHA, urges stakeholders to focus on educational and occupational pathways, reduce workforce entry barriers, and leverage technology to enhance patient care and workforce efficiency.

"Wisconsin’s healthcare workforce challenges extend beyond hospitals—they impact the entire state," stated WHA President and CEO, Eric Borgerding. "Addressing these issues requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders."

The full WHA’s 2025 Health Care Workforce Report is available for review.