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Is the staffing shortage in healthcare a systemic failure on the part of healthcare providers? Some would say that it is because we have known for a very long time that hospitals and nursing homes have never wanted to address their poor work cultures and now want to blame the regulation as impossible to comply with because employees have revealed this weakness or opportunity. Allowing States to operate or avoid mandated staffing ratios has also contributed to the overall workforce crisis we are dealing with today. The Federal government should have required a federally mandated staffing ratio twenty years ago. Unfortunately, we allowed the hospital and nursing home lobbyists to defeat proposed legislation repeatedly to prevent what was best for the employees and the industry. #workforceshortages #healthcaretransformation #hospitals #skillednursingfacilities #healthsystems #carecoordination #essentialhealthcareworkers

The great debate...should healthcare workers pay for their own parking? My feeling is that there is a little disconnect in this situation. If you asked a random group of 100 people if healthcare workers should get free parking, nearly all would say yes, given their role as essential front line staff in our society. However, if you took another 100, and ask would you rather pay more taxes to pay for parking, many would say no. Is it fair to pay for staff parking when others, who may take other (and more green friendly options) transit options, do not get reimbursed? Why not just pay these essential staff more, so they can then afford the parking (if they do drive), are more loyal to their hospitals, and those that do not drive aren't paid less for the same amount of work? https://lnkd.in/gTVh33z9

Insights from research on staff retention in NHS hospitals. https://lnkd.in/djQ-5SBm . . . . #NHS #StaffRetention #Healthcare #Workforce #EmployeeEngagement #OrganizationalCulture #HealthPolicy #EmployeeWellness #HealthcareDelivery #RetentionStrategies #WorkLifeBalance #HealthcareWorkforce #ClinicalStaff #EmployeeSatisfaction #PatientCare

Healthcare Workforce Carisis - Mandatory Staffing Ratios Won't help - IF there are NO workers to fill the slots! In this Axios article by Caitlin Owens, she reviews some of the issues causing doctors and nurses to continue to EXIT healthcare (or UNIONIZE), and how resultant exit-related understaffing is increasingly undercutting patient care delivery and safety. She goes on to discuss the concept of mandatory staffing rations.   My Take: ·    Over 20% of all U.S. healthcare worker left healthcare in the last 2-3 years.   ·    10% of practicing U.S. physicians quit in one year alone (2021)   ·    Almost 25% of surveyed current medical students say that they plan to quit and 61% of medical and nursing students say that they will complete their degree programs - but will NOT see patients.   ·    A vast majority of all health workers report that the various unaddressed aspects of their disrupted, toxic workplaces - violence and assaults, impossible-to-complete workloads, oppositional goals between workers and management (suits vs scrubs), and multiple other factors, have created these conditions that have caused and are continuing to cause workers to increasingly abandon healthcare.   THUS - this article-discussed “staffing ratios” mandates will be of no value – IF there are NO workers to fill these “mandated” positions.   Until the underlying DISRUPTIVE condtions in our nation’s healthcare workplaces are addressed - condtions will just continue to WORSEN - as more and more workers leave healthcare.     I thumbnail 18 of these critical disruptors:   Link – part 1 - https://lnkd.in/ex_wBN6j   Link -part 2 - https://lnkd.in/eNaCR8gz American Medical Association Tennessee Medical Association American College of Emergency Physicians U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions Donna Brazile Lynn Cook Bowen Garrett Jeffrey Lyles Kelley Kramer Katie Johnston Peter Stavros Larry Beresford Erika Thomas Mitch Kayle RN, PHN Margaret Maddox Nalani Tarrant PMP, MPH Gillian Schmitz Michael Arroyo Lara Vanyo Rita Manfredi Herman McKenzie Aria Bendix Linda Restrepo Linda Lawrence Jesse Ehrenfeld MD MPH Larry Bucshon, M.D. Sarah Owermohle Lee Katherine Moore, MD FACEP Aja Whitaker-Moorev Alison Snyder Mike Allen Peter Sullivan Victoria Knight Erin Brodwin Bill Siwicki

It’s been a while since my last post. In the last 24 hours I experienced an emergency department in a metropolitan hospital the reason for me being there is not of relevance here. I saw tired staff, compassionate health professionals working beyond capacity and at the end of the day doing what they could with the subject of our current fiscal situation in the Victoria health system a topic of conversation between patient and health professional. Most of the patients were there longer due to issues beyond their medical issues keeping them there - issues allied health could have easily remedied. I saw two elderly patients being transported from the short stay unit at 1100pm and 1230am respectively because there was only 1 ambulance doing the pick ups. While waiting one of the patients told me they were in for a fifth time for the same clinical issue not properly dealt with in the community or at the hospital previously. These were seriously ill people being taken out into the freezing temperatures. The ambulance staff 5 hours behind schedule as they started this way at the beginning of their shift. No staff available - many leaving that line of work they told me. They worked overtime to get the patients to their destinations. I saw an elderly man discharged at 1200am from the short stay unit as there was no capacity to keep him there. He was only in the short stay unit for 1.5 hours - what was the point? Again freezing temperatures outside, his wife also unwell at home, no family, a lengthy drive. Taxis limited and at a premium on a Saturday night. My point is this: There are a lot of people in power making decisions about our health system who have no experience or more importantly have spoken to health care workers or the community. It’s a fact that we sometimes talk to the community but not nearly enough. We need to talk to the community and build a health system that more efficiently caters for the millions, thinking about the types of service structures that have always existed and actually have the courage to change them. A health system is one which is integrated and leverages all its resources - for example the value of allied health is underestimated. Doctors and nurses are not the only health professionals that can help traverse the abyss that is the health system. Allied health can prevent the community on mass from even attending hospital in the first place. Let’s make a health system based on building models of care around community need, what the community is actually saying tempered with worlds best healthcare. Not what we think they are saying. Let’s keep people from needing to attend hospital. Let’s refocus more resources into the primary care sector. Bigger hospitals do not reduce the burden of disease in the community. It’s a reactionary philosophy that will not hold up, never has. That’s my opinion. What’s yours?

“Demoralized doctors and nurses are leaving the field, hospitals are sounding the alarm about workforce shortages and employees are increasingly unionizing and even going on strike in high-profile disputes with their employers.”   Read on for more from Axios on how understaffing, administrative burdens and inadequate wages are eating away at the healthcare workforce. https://lnkd.in/eCxr536j   #Healthcare #HealthcareWorkers #HealthcareIndustry

Connecticut is facing a severe healthcare workforce shortage, and we need to take intensive action to both retain the talent we have, and grow it for the future. Paul Kidwell, CHA Senior Vice President, Policy explains why the need for action remains urgent. #cthealthcare #caringforct #healthcareworkforce #supportcthealthcareworkers #healthcareworkers #recruitment #retention #caredelivery #cthospitals #healthcare #healthcarejobs Connecticut Mirror

Healthcare workers at Arnot Ogden Medical Center protested against severe staffing shortages as their union negotiates a new contract set to expire on July 23. Around 50 workers, including Clinical Assistants, Unit Clerks, and Dietary Workers, demonstrated, highlighting how understaffing forces them into excessive overtime and negatively impacts patient care. Union member Tasha Lamb emphasized the unbearable strain of increased patient loads and criticized management for undermining efforts to resolve the crisis. Workers reported retaliation for advocating better staffing and conditions. Arnot Health defended its commitment to safe staffing, citing compliance with state guidelines and ongoing recruitment efforts amidst a nationwide shortage. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1111, representing the workers, filed numerous complaints leading to a state investigation into alleged retaliatory practices by the hospital. Despite these issues, the union and Arnot Health continue negotiations, with workers demanding meaningful changes for improved working conditions and patient care. The protest highlights critical understaffing issues impacting healthcare workers' well-being and patient care. Addressing these concerns is vital for safe, effective medical services. To move forward there must be, support for fair staffing policies, advocacy for workers' rights, and engaged dialogue with hospital management to find sustainable staffing solutions. Need an implementation partner? We are the One! #revenuecycle #revenuecyclemanagement #priorauthorization #medicalbilling #medicalcoding #healthcare #healthcaretechnology #accountsreceivables #denialmanagement #consulting #management #implementationpartner WETM-TV (NBC)

Recent Press Ganey report reveals that there is a significant difference in perceptions of safety culture among healthcare staff. While senior management reported the highest perceptions of safety culture at 4.53, registered nurses, advanced practice providers, and security team members had significantly lower perceptions of safety, ranging from 3.91 to 3.95. This disconnect indicates that healthcare facilities need to conduct an independent assessment to identify the root causes and true feelings of staff. Secured & Prepared Consulting can help bridge this gap. Our unique approach can improve perceptions of safety and mitigate the risk of violence. Reach out to us at [email protected] to learn more. #healthcare #safetyculture #patientcare