Tag: hospital workers

Federal legislation such as the ICAN Act (H.R. 8812 and S. 5212) aims to remove practice barriers for Nurse Practitioners (NPs). If passed, these bills would expand NPs’ authority to perform more comprehensive healthcare services, including roles traditionally reserved for physicians. This includes certifying the need for inpatient services, performing physical exams in skilled nursing facilities, and more​​.

Additionally, other states are enacting healthcare-related laws. For example, Missouri introduced bills (MO SB79 and MO HB271) to grant full practice authority to NPs, allowing them to work independently without physician oversight. ​

In April, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a staffing law to address the healthcare worker shortage. This legislation mandates that hospitals adhere to specific staffing standards and establish staffing committees, including nursing staff and administrators, by January 1. These committees are responsible for approving annual staffing plans, which must be submitted to state officials by 2025. Hospitals falling below 80% compliance with these plans are required to report their noncompliance. Subsequently, the state departments of health and labor and industries will assign corrective action plans to these hospitals. Failure to comply with these corrective plans could result in fines of $50,000 per month​

These changes reflect ongoing efforts to address healthcare access and provider shortages across the country

$25 Minimum Wage – SB 525

Sen. Maria Elena Durazo proposed delaying the $25 minimum wage for California’s lowest-paid health care workers to align with the state fiscal year and allow more time for budget discussions. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who signed the law last fall, suggested a delay due to the state’s budget shortfall. With the wage increase set for June 1, many health workers remain uncertain about their pay raises, though some have already been notified of increases.

Newsom’s recent budget proposal indicates ongoing negotiations to adjust the wage law, with a promised deal before the budget is signed. SEIU-UHW, the union behind the law, launched an ad campaign emphasizing the importance of the wage increase amid worker confusion. The governor proposed tying wage increases to the state’s budget, facing a $27.6 billion deficit, with the wage hike potentially costing around $4 billion annually, although the UC Berkeley Labor Center estimates lower costs.

Despite potential changes, some employers are proceeding with the wage increases. The California Hospitals Association and the California Kidney Care Alliance confirmed compliance with the law, and health workers are set to receive between $18 to $23 an hour starting next month, with the full $25 phased in over the years. Some health systems, like UC Health and Kaweah Health Medical Center, have already raised wages to stay competitive and retain employees.

The $25 minimum wage law for California’s lowest-paid healthcare workers specifically applies to a wide range of workers in the healthcare sector. This includes:

•         Hospital workers
•         Dialysis clinic workers
•         Home health aides
•         Nursing assistants
•         Medical technicians
•         Support staff such as janitors and food service workers within healthcare facilities

The law is aimed at ensuring that these essential but often underpaid workers receive a living wage, which will be phased in over several years until it reaches $25 per hour.

Professional Healthcare Staffing Agency

As new staffing legislation underscores the critical need for adequate healthcare staffing, our role as a healthcare staffing company becomes even more vital. By ensuring hospitals can meet the mandated staffing standards, we help improve patient care and reduce the burden on existing healthcare workers. Momentum’s team of experienced professionals is ready to support hospitals in forming effective staffing committees, devising robust staffing plans, and maintaining compliance to avoid hefty fines. Partner with us to navigate these regulatory changes seamlessly and ensure your facility is well-equipped to provide exceptional patient care. Together, we can address the healthcare worker shortage and build a stronger, more resilient healthcare system.

For more information on how we can assist, contact us today.

Sources:

Calmatters.org
beckershospitalreview.com
nurse.org
openai.com

When we visit a hospital, we are thinking about illnesses, injuries, and emergencies. Whether it be ourselves, or someone we love, a hospital is a place for fixing the physical problems we have. We take comfort in the fact that when we visit, we will be taken care of. This comfort is possible because of the workers that run a hospital. Doctors, nurses, assistants and myriad medical staff keep watch while we are mended. What we don’t think about when we are visiting a hospital is the mental health of those very workers. Not that it was a cake walk before the pandemic, but since COVID, healthcare workers have been under tremendous stress.

Since May is mental health awareness month, let’s turn our thoughts to the mental health of our healthcare providers and how their own workplaces can serve them so they, too, can stay healthy and happy.

Pandemic-induced burnout for medical professionals is a very real thing, says Healthcaredive, especially for female and infectious disease healthcare workers. Temporary nurses, cross-training staff, and “redeploying” office staff are just a few of the measures healthcare facilities have had to face due to burnout. This has led to a bulletin by the Joint Commission to encourage healthcare facilities to provide more mental health services, such as transparent communication within the workplace, says the article. The more open staff can be with each other, the better, says the article.

Combating Mental Burnout Through Design

Another way to combat mental burnout at work is to design healthcare facilities to already foster employee wellbeing, says Harvard Business Review. Record-high rates of anxiety and depression have run rampant among healthcare workers since the pandemic began, says the article, turning it into not only a problem, but a crisis. Making a healthcare facility to foster mental health was once designed only for patients, but now, it’s for the workers as well. At Massachusetts General Hospital, the Lunder Building offers what seems like simple tweaks to the everyday work environment but, in fact, turn out to be game changers. The building features staff-only stairwells with access to ample sunlight; a place where staff can come to be “alone together,” as well as decompress throughout the day. They also used sound-absorbing materials to create quieter sections in the building, which not only reduces stress, but aids in recovery, says the article. Noise minimizing extras like sliding doors and distanced elevators away from patient rooms were also added. Measures like this can help staff feel they are in a workplace that cares about them as well as the patients they serve.

Raising Awareness for Healthcare Workers

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is also working to address mental health for healthcare workers by raising awareness. Their aim is to lessen the stigma of seeking and receiving mental health care, improve screening tools, resources, and policies within facilities, says the CDC. They also aim to eliminate barriers to finding mental health care. No longer are the days of hiding mental burdens. It’s become widely accepted to seek therapy, talk to fellow co-workers, and take breaks.

This month serves as an important reminder to take care of yourself and others when it comes to mental health. Healthcare workers may seem like superheroes (and they are), but they’re also just people who do extraordinary things. Let’s be aware of mental health not only this month, but during every month to help the people that help us.

Finding a Better Work Life Balance as a Healthcare Worker

If you’re a doctor, nurse practitioner, or medical assistant seeking a better work-life balance, we totally understand. Good mental health is essential for your overall well-being. Momentum Healthcare Staffing can match you with the career that fits your requirements for a balanced life. Search our job boards for both permanent and Locums Tenens positions at a variety of healthcare facilities.