Succession Planning in State Health Agencies in the United States: A Brief Report. Issue 5 (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harper, Elizabeth; Leider, Jonathon P.; Coronado, Fatima; Beck, Angela J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of public health management and practice. Volume 24:Issue 5(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: public health practice -- retirement -- state health agencies -- succession planning -- turnover; Public health administration -- United States -- Periodicals; 253.6
• DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000700
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1078-4659

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Approximately 25% of the public health workforce plans to retire by 2020. Succession planning is a core capability of the governmental public health enterprise; however, limited data are available regarding these efforts in state health agencies (SHAs). Methods: We analyzed 2016 Workforce Gaps Survey data regarding succession planning in SHAs using the US Office of Personnel Management's (OPM's) succession planning model, including 6 domains and 27 activities. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all 41 responding SHAs. Results: On average, SHAs self-reported adequately addressing 11 of 27 succession planning activities, with 93% of SHAs adequately addressing 1 or more activities and 61% adequately addressing 1 or more activities in each domain. Conclusions: The majority of OPM-recommended succession planning activities are not being addressed, and limited succession planning occurs across SHAs. Greater activity in the OPM-identified succession planning domains may help SHAs contend with significant turnover and better preserve institutional knowledge.