Literature Review

Anxiety and resilience in palliative medicine physicians BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care; by Cristhian Alexis Velásquez Marín, Carlos Javier Avendaño-Vásquez; 7/2/24, online ahead of printTo identify the relationship between the degree of anxiety and the capacity for resilience in palliative care physicians ..., [we] included 42 Colombian Palliative Care Physicians and administered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Zung Anxiety Scale and the Resilience Scale. Results: 42 palliative care physicians with an average age of 41 participated in the study. Anxious symptoms were present in 100% of the physicians evaluated. Mild or moderate anxiety was identified in 93.7% of the population and 6.3% of people with severe anxiety symptoms. ... Our results reflect that the population of palliative care physicians has a higher risk and exposure to developing anxiety and its adverse outcomes. We found higher anxiety levels compared with other studies so this population requires greater vigilance and intervention in treating and preventing mental health difficulties.Editor's Note: Executive leaders for palliative care services, use this research to be aware of possible stress-related tolls on your palliative physicians and team members. Ask. Generate dialogue. Do not assume that this applies, but rather use it to tune into and improve the support your physicians need. While this research was in Columbia, it resonates a U.S.recurring trend of the unionization of physicians, often related to burnout and stress overload.

Report: Healthcare needs to diversify workforce to get rid of racial inequalities MedPage Today - Public Health & Policy - Equity in Medicine; by Associated Press; 6/26/24 "Inequities are baked into our healthcare system," says one expert. Racial and ethnic inequities in healthcare are found in every state in the U.S. despite the passage of legislation intended to improve health outcomes for minorities and increased awareness of healthcare disparities over the past two decades, according to a new national report released Wednesday. The 300-plus-page document from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine detailed how structural racism and people's surroundings have contributed to worse health outcomes for minorities. It also offers recommendations and solutions to healthcare organizations and the federal government, like a more diverse workforce and adjusting payment systems to make healthcare more affordable.

Proven tips for recruiting top talentTCN Talks; by Tina Houser; 6/26/24 We train for many events in life, like spelling bees and marathons. We also need to train the person interviewing candidates. Our interviewers are critical in selecting the right candidates who contribute to the company’s success and overall culture. Interviewers need training and essential resources to conduct effective and fair interviews in order to choose the best overall talent. ... There are five key elements to training interviewers. They range from simple to more complex but they are all equally important.

AMA Advocacy 2024 efforts American Medical Association; by AMA; Updated June 2024, 6/27/24 There are far too many everyday practice challenges interfering with patient care. That’s why the American Medical Association is advocating to keep physicians at the head of the health care team, reform the Medicare physician payment system, relieve the burdens of overused prior authorizations and so much more. [Key advocacy efforts include:]

Penn Health CEO on piecing together the healthcare hiring puzzle Becker's Hospital Review - Leadership & Management; by Madeline Ashley; 6/17/24 ... Penn Medicine has introduced programs to students and young people that will not only inspire them to join the healthcare industry, but prepare and train them for the opportunities that lie ahead. "I think the world needs mission oriented people," Kevin Mahoney [CEO of Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania Health System] told Becker's. "You've got to believe in where you're working, otherwise you're just punching the clock." In late May, the health system partnered with Heights Philadelphia, an organization that connects middle schoolers and up with career and college opportunities, and Philadelphia City Council majority leader Katherine Richardson to hold a career event. ... "By introducing students to the field, we’re creating a pathway to careers that enrich lives and make a difference in others. Encouraging careers in health care also helps to strengthen the field overall, ensuring a pipeline poised to answer the needs of the future." [Click on the title's link to read more of this innovative solution, and other student-oriented programs.] 

Health system C-suites expanding Becker's Hospital Review - Leadership & Management; by Laura Dyrda; 6/18/24 Health system C-suites are evolving to meet the changing needs and priorities of the organization. Roles focused on the patient experience, sustainability and health equity are on the rise. Large and small health systems are revamping their C-suites to tackle new projects and oversee emerging areas of growth. Others are elevating clinical and IT leaders as their core accountabilities become an essential aspect of hospital strategy moving forward. Here are five emerging roles at health systems across the country.

'We may not ever be fully staffed': Health system C-suites plan for the future Becker's Hospital Review - Leadership & Management; by Laura Dyrda; 6/24/24 After the pandemic, most healthcare leaders experienced a "great resignation" as workers left for other service industries and ever since health systems have been dealing with a lack of skilled labor to backfill the vacancies. "As we have realized we may not ever be fully staffed to the degree we were pre-COVID, we now must augment our existing workforce with technology that extends their capabilities," said Mark Moseley, MD, president of USF Tampa General Physicians and executive vice president of Tampa General Hospital. "This is a two-part challenge. First, we need to deploy technology thoughtfully with sound blocking and tackling, which is expensive in both time and capital. Second, we must train our workforce to use these new technologies to aid them in their daily responsibilities in a manner that does not diminish the ethos of why many of us went into healthcare: the interactions with patients and members of the healthcare team." Physicians and nurses can fall on a wide spectrum of excitement or distaste for incorporating technology into their practice. Some may find it impersonal and challenging to understand while others see it as a tool boosting their capacity. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

36 hospitals, health systems cutting jobs Becker's Hospital CFO Report; by Kelly Gooch; updated 6/21/24 A number of hospitals and health systems are reducing their workforces or jobs due to financial and operational challenges. Below are workforce reduction efforts or job eliminations announced this year.  June:

AFT launches new union physicians’ organizing effort: Doctors across the country are joining together for rights and respect American Federation of Teachers; by Alexis Lopez; 6/18/24  AFT President Randi Weingarten announced the launch of a brand-new doctors’ organizing initiative and division: Union Physicians of AFT. Doctors across the country are faced with crippling burnout from administrative overload, frustration over financial barriers affecting their patients’ capacity to pay, and lack of respect from corporate owners who put profits over patients—and now they’re organizing with the AFT to fight back. ... These challenges are apparent across the healthcare sector, but less than 10 percent of all U.S. doctors have formed unions. The tide is rapidly turning. ... The ranks of AFT’s physicians have already grown at an unprecedented rate—with over 3,200 new members, from New York to Oregon, joining the union over the last year. The AFT is the fastest growing healthcare union and the second-largest nurses union in the U.S.

NIH: Hot weather safety for older adults OSHA: Heat - Working in outdoor and indoor heat environmentsOSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration; retrieved from their website 6/18/24 

Interim HealthCare Inc. recognized on Forbes list: America’s Best Employers for New Grads 2024 Morningstar; by Business Wire; 6/13/24 Interim HealthCare Inc. ... is recognized as one of the best places to work for recent college graduates on the Forbes America’s Best Employers For New Grads 2024 list. ... For the America’s Best Employers For New Grads list, more than 100,000 professionals with 10 or fewer years of work experience were surveyed at companies with 1,000 or more employees in the United States. The young professionals responded to questions about compensation, benefits, advancement opportunities, working conditions, flexibility, company image, and inclusion, along with whether they would recommend the employer to others. This award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc.

The value of a DNP degree: Translating your knowledge into nursing practice Delaware State Nurses Association; by Karen L. Pickard, DNP, RN, CNE, NEA-BC; 6/13/24The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree has gained traction in the United States over the last twenty-two years. Nurses who specialized in clinical practice and held an advanced practice license supported the development of the DNP degree as an alternative to a terminal degree specialized in research science and academia, the Ph.D. ... Having a broader perspective related to the business of healthcare while understanding the clinical challenges nurses face at the bedside gives a DNP-prepared nurse opportunities to present information and solutions through a different lens. Opportunities on boards, advisory committees, and professional organizations have become vast, ...Editorial Note: Does your organization have DNP professionals whose skills you are under-utilizing? Do you have talented, motivated nurses who would benefit from a DNP career ladder plan? Share this article. What career ladder options and support do your Human Resources systems provide?