Physician Burnout Costs U.S. Billions Each Year

Physician burnout is not only a widespread problem for physicians themselves, but it is also bad for business, or so found a new study published this week.

Physician burnout is not only a widespread problem for physicians themselves, but it is also, apparently, bad for business, or so found a new study published this week in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Quantifying the toll of physician burnout has been tackled before, at least in terms of negative clinical and organizational outcomes, but the economic costs of this syndrome have not been as clear.

With this in mind, a team of researchers set out to tally the financial burden of burnout on physicians in the United States. They studied several vital measures related to physician burnout, including turnover rates and reduced clinical hours, as well as their associated costs, and used recent research and industry reports to come to a conservative, and yet, still staggering, estimated cost of burnout—$4.6 billion per year.

“Together with previous evidence that burnout can effectively be reduced with moderate levels of investment, these findings suggest substantial economic value for policy and organizational expenditures for burnout reduction programs for physicians,” the study concluded.

While it is impossible to put a price on the lives of those who so often save lives in this country, having such an overwhelming estimated price tag attached to the problem may be what is needed for health care leaders to begin to adopt initiatives to remedy this ongoing issue.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Top Survival Tips for New Nurses

Here are four essential tips for the new nurse, to not only quell your nerves, but to begin to shape you into the best nurse you can be.

You’ve just accepted your very first job as a Registered Nurse. Now what? Here are four essential tips to not only quell your nerves, but to begin to shape you into the best nurse you can be.

  1. Seek Out a Mentor: Though some hospitals and health care facilities have mentorship programs built in, some don’t. If your new employer is one that does not, speak up and seek out a mentor of your own—be it a seasoned nurse that you can just quietly observe or one that you have a more established mentoring relationship with, in which you can ask questions and receive feedback.
  2. Ask Questions: Though you’ve just finished school, there is still a lot to learn. Don’t be afraid to use your voice, if you come across something you’re curious or unsure about. No one knows everything—not even the most experienced nurse—but there will be plenty of people who can help you to learn more as you settle into your new role.
  3. Pay Attention: It’s easy to become overwhelmed, especially when you’re new to the field, and things could easily slip through the cracks, if you’re being pulled in multiple different directions all at once—which you likely will be. Be mindful and focused as best you can at all times. And don’t be afraid to step back, breathe, and ask for help, if you need it.
  4. Practice Self Care: Your shifts will likely be long, your bathroom breaks will likely be short, or non-existent, and you’ll likely be on your feet all day. It’s easy to feel drained, when that is your day-to-day. Take care of your brain and body every single day by hydrating, eating right, sleeping well, and leaving the stresses of work at work.

What other tips would you add to this list? What is the best advice you received when entering the field of nursing?

Barton Associates’ Locum Hero: Dr. Neilly Buckalew

Earlier this year, Barton Associates announced the Locum Heroes campaign, with a focus on giving back to locum tenens providers who make a difference in their communities, near and far. In response, we received more than 100 nominations, each describing incredible stories of the ways that locum providers have spent their time on and between assignments. 

Neilly Buckalew, MD uses locum tenens work to have the flexibility to dedicate her free time as a volunteer for Honduras Hope Medical Mission. As a Barton Associates Locum Hero, Dr. Buckalew will receive a personal award of $2,500 and a donation of $2,500 will be given in her name to Pennsylvania-based, Honduras Hope Medical Mission for their 2019 mission trip.

Read Her Story

 

Barton Associates’ Locum Hero: Whitney Holmes, CNP

Earlier this year, Barton Associates announced the Locum Heroes campaign, with a focus on giving back to locum tenens providers who make a difference in their communities, near and far. In response, we received more than 100 nominations, each describing incredible stories of the ways that locum providers have spent their time on and between assignments. 

Whitney Holmes has been doing full-time locum work in underserved, low income, and refugee clinics since 2015, and dedicates her free time to medical mission efforts locally and internationally. As a Barton Associates Locum Hero, Ms. Holmes will receive a personal award of $2,500 and a donation of $2,500 will be given in her name to Ohio-based, Living Word Church’s food truck ministry.

Read Her Story

The Hardest Parts of Nursing

The nursing profession comes with many obvious rewards, be they personal or professional. However, it is also well-documented to be one of the most stressful careers, due to staffing shortages, hospital politics, long hours, and many other factors. Business Insider recently took a deep dive into the minds of nurses and released a list of what they have found to be the top pain points of working nurses. The list, released last week, includes eleven of the hardest challenges faced by nurses today, including:

  1. Experiencing the death of patients
  2. Judgment passed by others about their occupation
  3. Long, stressful hours
  4. A lack of respect from others in the industry
  5. Hospital politics
  6. Non-existent or few bathroom breaks
  7. Outdated and time-consuming technology
  8. Know-it-all patients and their families
  9. Missing out on holidays and weekends
  10. The pressure to know everything
  11. Caring for drug-addicted patients

What do you think is missing from this list? Are you facing struggles that aren’t mentioned above? Feel free to vent about them in the comments.

Burnout, as Defined by the World Health Organization

Whatever the definition may or may not be, burnout continues to be a widespread problem in the medical field, but the WHO is now calling it a “syndrome.”

Burnout is no longer simply a “state of vital exhaustion,” as it was previously described in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases—the ICD-10.

While the World Health Organization falls short of labeling burnout an outright medical condition, in the updated handbook, the ICD-11, which goes into effect in January of 2022, burnout is now being classified as a “syndrome” and an “occupational phenomenon.”

A statement released on Tuesday by the World Health Organization said, “Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy.”

Whatever the definition may or may not be, burnout continues to be a widespread problem in the medical field. The latest numbers estimate that more than 40% of physicians and 40-49% of nurses have reported experiencing burnout.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Fight to Expand Advanced Practitioner Roles Fails in Florida

House Bill 821 sought to grant autonomy to Advanced Practitioners in the state of Florida in an effort to expand access to care and affordability.

A bill that would have allowed non-physician practitioners to work independent of physician supervision met defeat in the Florida Senate this month.

House Bill 821 sought to grant autonomy to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who meet certain criteria to practice advanced or specialized nursing without physician supervision, and to authorize PAs to practice primary care without physician supervision. Florida, which currently ranks 41st in access to health care and affordability, allowed the cost-effective measure to die in Health Policy, and it is now considered indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration.

However, the fight is long from over.

Brandon Miller, legislative assistant to bill sponsor, State Rep. Cary Pigman (R-55), is quoted as saying, “We’ll try again for the 2020 legislative session.”

Currently, there are 22 states that have granted full practice authority to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, and 18 states have adopted barrier reduction measures.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

Escalating Workplace Violence Rocks Hospitals

Marlene Harris-Taylor, Ideastream

Across the country, many doctors, nurses and other health care workers have remained silent about what is being called an epidemic of violence against them.

The violent outbursts come from patients and patients’ families. And for years, it has been considered part of the job.

When you visit the Cleveland Clinic emergency department — whether as a patient, family member or friend — a large sign directs you toward a metal detector.

An officer inspects all bags and then instructs you to walk through the metal detector. In some cases, a metal wand is used — even on patients who come in on stretchers. Cleveland Clinic officials say they confiscate thousands of weapons like knives, pepper spray and guns each year. The metal detectors were installed in response to what CEO Tom Mihaljevic calls an epidemic.

“There is a very fundamental problem in U.S. health care that very few people speak about,” he said, “and that’s the violence against health care workers. Daily — literally, daily — we are exposed to violent outbursts, in particular in emergency rooms.”

Many health care workers say the physical and verbal abuse come primarily from patients, some of whom are disoriented because of illness or from medication. Sometimes nurses and doctors are abused by family members who are on edge because their loved one is so ill.

Cleveland Clinic has introduced other safety measures — such as wireless panic buttons incorporated into ID badges and more safety cameras and plainclothes officers in ERs.

But these incidents aren’t limited to emergency rooms.

Allysha Shin works as a registered nurse in neuroscience intensive care at the University of Southern California’s Keck Hospital in Los Angeles. One of the most violent incidents she has experienced happened when she was caring for a patient who was bleeding inside her brain.

The woman had already lashed out at other staff, so she had been tied to the bed, Shin said. She broke free of the restraints and then kicked and punched Shin in the chest — before throwing a punch at her face.

“There was this one point where she swung, and she had just glanced off the side of my chin. If I hadn’t dodged that punch, she could have knocked me out,” Shin said. “And she very well could have killed me.”

The encounter left Shin shaken and anxious when she returned to work days later. She still has flashbacks.

She used to be afraid to speak about these types of attacks, she said, because of what she calls a culture of accepting violence in most hospitals. “It is expected that you are going to get beat up from time to time,” Shin said.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, incidents of serious workplace violence are four times more common in health care than in private industry. And a poll conducted by the American College of Emergency Physicians in August found nearly half of emergency physician respondents reported having been physically assaulted. More than 60% of them said the assault occurred within the previous year.

Groups representing doctors and nurses say that, while the voluntary safety improvements that some hospitals have enacted are a good first step, more needs to be done.

There is still a code of silence in health care, said Michelle Mahon, a representative of the labor group National Nurses United. “What happens if they do report it?” she said. “In some cases, unfortunately, they are treated as if they are the ones who don’t know how to do their job. Or that it’s their fault that this happened.”

“There’s a lot of focus on de-escalation techniques,” Mahon added. “Those are helpful tools, but oftentimes they are used to blame workers.”

In California, the nurses’ labor union pushed for a law giving OSHA more authority to monitor hospital safety. The group is now backing a national effort to do the same thing. “The standard that we are recommending federally holds the employer responsible,” Mahon said. “It mandates reporting of incidents and transparency.”

The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, introduced last fall in Congress, would require hospitals to implement plans to prevent violence. And any hospital could face fines for not reporting incidents to OSHA, Mahon said.

The goal of the legislation — and of the union — is to hold administrators more accountable for acts of violence in their hospitals.

How Healthcare Professionals Can Make a Change When You’re on the Road to Career Burnout

by Julie Morris

Everyone has their own reasons for entering healthcare, but one common purpose we all share is the desire to help others. The problem is that in doing so, we sometimes put our own needs last, which can lead to career burnout. However, even when you’re busy, there are simple ways you can turn the tables and feel more satisfied in your career and life in general.

Are You Ready for a Change?

 Maybe you started your career filled with excitement, but you no longer have that job satisfaction. Maybe you’re bored at work or mentally exhausted. If the stress of work is taking a toll on you, you may want to look into a career that will be more fulfilling. There are lots of options for people who enjoy caring for others, like becoming a social worker, counselor, teacher, or a speech pathologist. Switching careers may be easier than you think. For example, many speech pathologists get their degrees from a fully accredited online program.

Are You Overcommitted?

 Sometimes, burnout happens because we don’t have a healthy work-life balance. If you work long hours and then commit to doing too much outside of work, you probably wonder where all your time goes. Being able to say “no” on occasion is necessary to stop overcommitment. This may mean saying no to extra hours at work or saying “no” to requests from friends and family. Saying no can help you prioritize what’s most important at work, and it leaves you with the time you need for yourself at home.

Are You Managing Stress?

Some stress in life is unavoidable, which is why we all need tools for managing it. If stress and anxiety are a problem, you may want to explore the benefits of CBD oil. According to Collective Evolution, research has shown that CBD oil can give you relief from stress, anxiety, and mood disorders like depression. It also helps you sleep better and can help your body better regulate itself overall. Of course, you should always check with your doctor before taking any new supplements. If you’re new to CBD, you may want to try CBD-infused gummies. Gummies make the delivery process simple, so they’re ideal for anyone who is trying it for the first time.

While supplements like CBD can help reduce stress on an ongoing basis, you also need tools that you can use right when stress starts to feel overwhelming. Many healthcare workers benefit from learning controlled breathing techniques to relieve acute anxiety. American Nurse Today recommends using a meditation app on your phone to make this even easier.

Are You Caring for Yourself?

When you stay busy with work, it’s easy to slip into a routine where your own health isn’t your top priority. As simple as it may sound, basic self-care like eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising plays a major role in your stress and overall happiness. You may just need some creative ways to make self-care easier. If you’re always on the go, plan some healthy meals you can bring to work. Or, maybe you can grab a few co-workers and take lunchtime walks. The key is to decide that your own health has to come first and commit to squeezing healthy habits into your busy schedule.

Caring for yourself also means making time for fun. We all need a getaway from time to time, but don’t wait until vacation to do things you enjoy. Schedule coffee with a friend, or have a date night with your partner. Even just goofing off with co-workers will relieve tension.

Everyone seems to talk about work-life balance these days, but in the healthcare profession, this isn’t just a nice idea — it’s essential to avoiding burnout. Some people don’t even realize they’re on the road to burnout until they stop to think about it. Asking yourself these questions, and answering them honestly, is the first step toward making a change for the better.

Image by Pixabay

Julie Morris is a freelance writer based out of Boston, MA. She writes most often on health is a life and career coach. She thrives on helping others live their best lives. It’s easy for her to relate to clients who feel run over by life because she’s been there. After years in a successful (but unfulfilling) career in finance, Julie busted out of the corner office that had become her prison.

Today, she is fulfilled by helping busy professionals like her past self get the clarity they need in order to live inspired lives that fill more than just their bank accounts. When Julie isn’t working with clients, she enjoys writing and is currently working on her first book. She also loves spending time outdoors and getting lost in a good book.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.

10 Things You Should Know Before You Apply to Work at a Rehab Center

by Patrick Bailey

The healthcare sector can be one of the most challenging, yet most rewarding fields to work in. When we niche down in healthcare even more, we see a sub-field in healthcare that yields a present relevance–rehabilitation centers. What is it like to work in a rehab center? Below are some of the things you should know before applying to work in this healthcare field.

What comes to mind when we think of rehab centers? Do we think of people in white coats and scrub suits, leading away patients who seem to have issues too deep to bear? This may be a common stereotype, but rehab centers are more than that. In fact, there is fulfillment in the calling of helping those who are suffering from substance use.

Current job growth in rehab centers

In the US alone, there are 25 million people suffering from substance abuse. The rates of people being admitted to rehabilitation centers continue to rise as the substance use problem persists. This includes patients who are admitted because they are undergoing abuse of illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and prescription medications. Some rehabilitation centers are also dedicated in curing different types of psychological disorders stemming from abuse or life circumstances.

Here are some interesting facts about job growth in rehabilitation centers:

  • All healthcare sector jobs, including those involving rehabilitation medicine, have an average job growth rate of 7%.
  • Those who are interested to work in addiction counseling can expect to have better employment opportunities as job growth will be 22% in the next 10 years.
  • Rehabilitation nurses can expect a job growth rate of 19%.

These statistics may be encouraging to any potential employee, but it is important to know the realities of working in a rehab center foremost. Below are 10 things you need to know before applying for a job in the rehabilitation healthcare field.

1. Understand your credentials first.

Even if you are interested in helping people with substance use problems, it should be clear to you what role you want to fulfill in this multi-disciplinary field. Just like fields in science or education, rehabilitative healthcare also has different positions to fill in.

Do you want to be a doctor in rehabilitation medicine? It is important to understand the career path of being this type of doctor first. Perhaps a specialized nurse may also be an option, but you also need to ensure that you have the right type of license in the state you are residing. Addiction counselors also have their own set of credentials that are important for employment. If you want to work for the best rehab centers in US, you need to perform your research about the specific occupation you wish to take.

2. Get to know the reputation of the rehab center you want to work in.

Before applying for a specific rehab center, it is important to also do your research regarding the company. Are they a registered, reputable institution? Do they have verified reviews from previous workers and clients?

This is essential because many reports have been made about rehab centers’ fraudulent activities. Some people and insurance companies are scammed, giving poor quality or non-existent services to clients while they take advantage of the payments being made. If you end up working in a center like this, you may not have the proper compensation for your job.

3. Understand the treatment philosophy of the rehab center.

As you study and gain experience to become a worker in a rehabilitative healthcare field, you may have developed a school of thought that echoes your beliefs about how patients should be treated.

It is difficult to work in a place that doesn’t align with your own principles of patient care. Rehab centers have different ways of how they operate and treat their patients, so it is important to find the ones that you agree with the most.

4. The work can be challenging.

Some people with substance use problems often display symptoms of aggression or any other type of heightened emotions. If you do plan to push through with working in a rehab center, be prepared to receive unexpected remarks from patients or even moments of aggression. You will be oriented on how to handle these situations and how to keep you and your clients safe.

Understand that this is all part of the job–you are intervening a problem that runs deep physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is important to depersonalize these statements and place yourself in your patient’s shoes.

5. You will meet people from all walks of life.

The problem of addiction does not discriminate–it can affect people from all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Be prepared to meet people from all walks of life. On some occasions, they can be as familiar as a neighbor, or even an individual who speaks a different language. In rare instances, they can even be high-profile personalities, and at any point you have to understand the importance of confidentiality.

If you are someone who wants to experience the challenge of dealing with a diverse group of people, then you may truly consider working in a rehab center.

6. The work requires patience and endurance.

Just as substance use disorders took time to develop, it also takes time for patients to recover. You may be happy that a patient you have worked with recently got discharged, only to find out that he is back the following week after a relapse. This may make you question if you have done your best to help or if made any difference at all.

This is why this job requires patience and endurance. You need to have the power to motivate, encourage, and show empathy to your clients. These are people who may have gone through difficult life situations, and many of them are still going through some. It takes a strong worker to see through these needs and respond to them lovingly.

7. Sticking by the rules is not optional.

One of the ways to find success in working in the rehabilitation healthcare field is abiding by the rules. This applies within your job description, the rules within your rehab center, and how you administer patient care.

In other fields such as art or even research sciences, it helps to be creative and find out-of-the-box ideas to accomplish a task. However, working in healthcare, especially those in rehabilitation requires evidence-based practice and working by these principles to ensure that you give the best quality of service.

8. The job requires continuous training.

Speaking of evidence-based practice, it is imperative that all professionals working in rehab centers should always be updated with the current methods that are effective for treating patients.

Whether you are a doctor, a nurse, a counsellor, or someone who performs administrative tasks in the facility, the protocols often evolve and further training is required. Make sure that your company also offers these growth opportunities for you, because it is also for the sake of your clients.

9. It can be a rewarding vocation.

Working in rehabilitative healthcare means you are directly impacting lives–you are playing a role in the 180-degree turn of someone’s life. As patients decide to go on rehab, they are placing their trust upon you to help make that change. This is a high calling that can lead a person towards a better path.

No wonder there is a strong demand for professionals in this field–it’s because people desire change, but they need agents of change to help them. Understand that although it can be challenging, the rewarding feeling of helping re-shape someone’s path is also a joy in itself.

10. Your patients appreciate you more than you’ll ever know.

When patients pass throughout your years of working in rehabilitative healthcare, it may be easy to assume that it can be a “thankless job” sometimes. However, just like how we appreciate teachers, doctors, public servants, and any other job–know that in the back of a patient’s mind–they appreciate you more than you’ll ever hear or know.

Take a changed life as a form of gratitude towards your profession. Although you may not always expect to hear words or encouragement, promotions, or even material gifts from thankful clients, this may be small compared to the contributions you have made to help shift someone’s course in life.

Considering work in a rehab center?

If you are planning to work in a rehab center, take note of these things. Set a realistic mind towards what you are facing ahead, and you are better off making a wise decision about your career path.

Patrick Bailey is a professional writer, mainly in the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.