Tag: healthcare shortage

There’s a staffing shortage. That short sentence has been discussed at length and posted at numerous businesses across the country. Businesses are having a difficult time finding employees, but it’s not just the neighborhood restaurant or bookstore.

One of the hardest hit areas of this recent staffing shortage is the healthcare industry. This isn’t an altogether surprising fact. The COVID-19 pandemic put an enormous strain on the healthcare industry – and specifically the workers.

But as the world moves out of the immediate danger of the pandemic, hospitals and clinics around the country are still hurting for qualified workers. And the concern seems to be growing. The American Hospital Association (AHA) believes there will be a shortage of 124,000 physicians by the year 2033. And that’s just doctors.

The numbers get more daunting when the AHA looks at nurses and health aides. Adding in those professions, the shortage projection rises to nearly 6.5 million. And there will only be a fraction of workers to fill that void.

When facing those kinds of numbers, many people wonder what’s causing the shortage, and how can it be remedied? But first things first – the cause.

Reasons for the Healthcare Workers Shortage

The biggest reason for healthcare workers leaving the industry is just burnout. The demands of the healthcare profession are numerous. Not only are these individuals caring for injured and ill patients, but there is also the pressure of paperwork and administrative requirements.

Burnout was always an issue, but the rates grew exponentially during the pandemic. A survey was recently conducted on 1,000 healthcare professionals. Of those 1,000, 28% left the healthcare industry because of burnout.

If it isn’t burnout, it’s an aging issue. With the advancements in medical technology, the entire population is living longer. This means the population at large needs more medical care. But healthcare workers are aging as well and looking to retire. With an aging population and earlier retirement for healthcare workers, there is a big gap to be filled.

On top of the burnout and aging issues, many people feel that the pay is too low and the training is insufficient. The demands of healthcare are never ending. People who work in this field are often stretched to the breaking point. And, with such a demanding workload, many feel the pay leaves a lot to be desired.

Because of these reasons, healthcare workers desperately want to establish a work-life balance. They want to find the flexibility to continue their work in healthcare without losing themselves in the process. It’s a hard balance to strike for many people, even outside the healthcare field, but it’s that much tougher for those faithfully serving in healthcare.

How Can we Fix the Healthcare Shortage?

With the issues identified, it’s time for the healthcare industry to find ways to mitigate and improve the culture and environment in healthcare. How do you alleviate the burnout, improve training, and increase overall pay and benefits?

The truth is more creative than some might think. The first step is investing in technology that can alleviate the slog of paperwork. There are plenty of automated platforms or applications that can significantly minimize the amount of time a healthcare professional spends completing paperwork.

And in the same way, the popularity of telehealth options can increase flexibility and help establish a better work-life balance. Many hospitals and physicians are offering telehealth appointments, which allows those professionals to work remotely and step away from the work-place demands of the hospital or clinic.

The problems are many, that is true. But the creative solutions abound. It’s time to ditch the “old ways” of providing healthcare and invest in ways that continue to provide top notch care while maintaining the sanity and mental acuity of the healthcare workers.

Healthcare Staffing Company on Your Side

Momentum Healthcare Staffing is not your typical medical staffing firm because we focus on being progressive. We understand the challenges the industry has been facing regarding the increase in demands of qualified physicians and nurse practitioners. Please call our healthcare recruiting specialist to get connected to the perfect person for your open healthcare position whether permanent or temporary.

It’s safe to say modern America has never been more appreciative of healthcare workers than since the pandemic began. Our healthcare, our lives, really, were (and are) in the hands of these medical professionals and they have been the backbone of this crisis. Now, hospitals, urgent care centers, doctor’s offices, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities across the country are experiencing extreme staffing shortages since the 2020 outbreak of Covid, says US News. Long waiting times for patients, weekend closures, and burnout for current staff has been skyrocketing. The need for healthcare workers has never been greater.

The staffing shortage affects every aspect of healthcare, from pediatric hospitals to nursing homes, and making sure patients get the best care is the most important priority, says the CDC. In their “Strategies to Mitigate Staffing Shortages,” the CDC focuses on adjusting staff schedules, hiring additional HCP (health care professionals), and rotating positions. This includes canceling all non-essential visits and procedures and moving healthcare workers to the areas most needed. They also give guidance on postponing elective time off for healthcare workers but to respond to mental health issues and consider the different responsibilities of each worker.

Burnout

Burnout within the healthcare community runs high these days, and has been the past few years, because of the influx in patients from Covid and the shortage in staffing. Nurses, especially, are leaving because of the stress alone, says Healthcaredive. In a recent survey, more than a third of nurses polled said they were leaving their jobs by the end of the year, said the article. Healthcare systems have tried to entice new hires and current employees by raising compensative rates and have partnered with nursing schools to ensure future staff.

Technology

In a creative effort to off-put the staffing shortage, some healthcare systems have leaned on technology, says US News. They are planning ahead with analytics and data before procedures and having the patients monitor themselves at home. Using this sort of technological tactic helps nurses manage patient care and also manage more patients at the same time, says the article. Other facilities have used cloud-based technologies to better track workflows, stock levels, and product tracking. Streamlining these systems will help create a more efficient and precise healthcare network that serves both professionals and patients.

Healthcare facilities are better equipped now than at the beginning of the pandemic, however, the influx of patients is still daunting, says Politico. Staff members are being pulled from their regular stations to assist with Covid antibody infusions, a labor-intensive process that requires treating immunocompromised patients at separate locations with careful infection control. The patients get the help they need, but where were the staff pulled from, questions the article. It isn’t really a long term solution, but serves as a band-aid for the current crisis.

Healthcare Staffing Agency: Momentum Healthcare Staffing

Momentum is not your average medical staffing firm—we’re a progressive company with new ideas specializing in healthcare staffing. We understand the difficulties regarding the growing cost of healthcare and the increasing demands of clinicians. It’s our goal to be focused and detailed while understanding that every healthcare facility has its own unique needs. Please call our healthcare recruiting specialist to get connected to the perfect person for your open position!

Our country is going through quite a bit of change, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. Healthcare facilities, and healthcare workers are doing their best to keep our citizens healthy and out of harm’s way. There is a worry within the healthcare community that this will continue for years to come, however, our country has seen it before and we will see it again: Where there is a will, there is a way.