Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA
Q1 2010 - Market Summary

The near-term demand for health care workers in the Los Angeles metropolitan area held steady during the 1st quarter of 2010. The demand for health care workers in the Los Angeles metropolitan area remains positive and the number of workers required to meet announced expansion plans will likely exceed the number of announced positions eliminated or deferred. Of note during the quarter, St. Vincent closed its heart transplant program, broadening the fallout from a scandal that forced the hospital to stop performing liver transplants last year.

Q1 Workforce Announcements

St. Vincent Closes its Doors to Heart Transplants. February 14, 2010
The hospital has closed its heart transplant program, broadening the fallout from a scandal that forced the hospital to stop performing liver transplants last year. However, St. Vincent’s heart transplant program had not been identified as having ethical breaches. It had performed between 10 and 14 heart transplants annually, but did only two this year.
http://www.knx1070.com/pages/127200.php?contentType=4&contentId=243108

Previous market news

Hospitals and Health Systems

Source: US News & World Report

Education Program Expansion and Closures

No notable education program expansions and closures announced during Q1 2010.

Education Programs

Source: The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System

Health of the Local Economy

Declining home prices may cause healthcare employees to seek additional hours from current employers, delay retirement plans and be more willing to relocate for a better job opportunities. Below is the Case-Shiller Home Price Index for the overall Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA market.

Source: http://www2.standardandpoors.com accessed 3/31/2010

Lower home ownership rates reduce the impact of home price fluctuations and increase the willingness of healthcare employees to relocate for better job opportunities. Below are home ownership rates for the overall Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA market.

Source: www.census.gov accessed 3/18/2010

The recent rising unemployment rates create new demands for health services. Higher unemployment shifts the mix away from higher margin procedures to more primary care in the emergency room and critical care for conditions that should have been treated early at a primary care physician. In general, rising unemployment also reduces turnover and engagement of employed workers, while low unemployment tends to increase intra market churn. Below are unemployment rates for the overall Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA market.

Source: www.bls.gov accessed 3/18/2010

Additional Factors Influencing HWS Labor Market Pulse^TM Index

• U.S. Census Bureau Population 12,872,808, #2 largest market
• U.S. Census Bureau Population #298 oldest market
• U.S. Census Bureau Population Growth 4.1%, #242 fastest growing market