Literature Review

Demand for these health care jobs is increasing most in each stateCentre Daily Times, by Paxtyn Merten Stacker; 2/15/24An analysis including more than 70 other health care jobs projected all but three states to add home health and personal care aides in the highest numbers. In just three states—Colorado, Florida, and South Dakota—did registered nurse job growth outpace home health.

Scandal exposes flaws in Iowa elderly care system: Stricter hiring protocols neededBNN, by Mahnoor Jehangir; 2/12/24[Two recent] cases ... reveal the urgent need for stricter hiring protocols in Iowa's elderly care system. ... In 2023, an Iowa nursing home and a hospice program found themselves in the crosshairs of a scandal that exposed the vulnerabilities of the elderly care system. The facilities ... had unwittingly hired individuals with troubling histories. [One] had a criminal record for felony theft of $25,00 or more; [the other] was listed on Nebraska's registry of abusers of the elderly.

PeaceHealth home care nurses strike: Picketers demand equal pay, better staffingThe Register-Guard, by Miranda Cyr; 2/13/24About 30 home care and hospice nurses and supporters were spread out at the entrances to the PeaceHealth offices in Springfield. The strike, which started Saturday, is scheduled to last until 7 a.m. on Feb. 24. "I really care about my community. I care about them being able to receive good care," said Heather Herbert, an ONA member and hospice nurse who was among those picketing on Monday. "We would not be striking if we felt that there was any other way to get what our community deserves."

Michael Stiggers talks on misconceptions of hospice careThe Times-News, by Wayne Clark; 2/10/24"People are always telling me that I must have a difficult job to do and that they wouldn't trade places with me," said Stiggers, who is the chaplain for Chattahoochee Hospice. "They think it must be the worst job in the world, but they are wrong. It's one of the best jobs you can have. I absolutely love my job."

Rising workplace violence against nurses: A pressing issue in the healthcare sector Medriva, by Zara Nwosu; 2/5/24According to a report published by National Nurses United, there has been a disturbing increase in violence against nurses in their workplace, with a staggering 81.6% of nurses reporting experiences of violence. ... It negatively impacts recruitment and retention, with 60% of nurses stating that the experience of violence has influenced their decision to change jobs, leave jobs, or even consider leaving the profession.

Medical records specialists reach higher ground in healthcareAAPC News, by Michelle Dick; 2/1/24AAPC's 2024 Medical Coding and Billing Salary Report reveals that, as unemployement rates slide down, salaries climb to new heights. ... AAPC’s 2024 Medical Coding and Billing Salary Report shows the largest year-to-year salary increases across the board in the history of the Salary Survey. 

What the mental health crisis may be missing: Spirituality as a tool Forbes, by Nicole F. Roberts; 1/31/24 It is estimated that approximately one in four people globally will experience mental illness during their lives, with about one billion individuals facing mental health disorders at any given time ... [such as] anxiety, depression, loneliness or some other diagnosable illness. ... Despite most people believing in both science and a form of spirituality there are fundamental differences in how and why people seek the care they do, and how and why they adhere to recommended treatment plans as they do. And much of those decisions is based on beliefs.

Docs see smaller checks as Congress weighs options on Medicare cutModern Healthcare, by Michael Mcauliff; 1/30/24If anyone were to ask members of Congress if doctors should be contending with Medicare pay cuts after a pandemic and a period of extraordinary inflation, and amid a chronic physician shortage, nearly all would say no.Subscription required for full access

Recommendations for supporting healthcare workers' psychological well-being: Lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemicHealthc Manage Forum, by Melissa B Korman, Lisa Di Prospero, Tracey DasGupta, Mark Sinyor, Samantha J Anthony, Monika Kastner, Janet Ellis, Rosalie Steinberg, Robert Maunder; 1/30/24 Healthcare workers are at risk of adverse mental health outcomes due to occupational stress. Many organizations introduced initiatives to proactively support staff's psychological well-being in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, ... [such as] the STEADY wellness program, ... in a large trauma centre in Toronto, Canada. Program implementors engaged teams in peer support sessions, psychoeducation workshops, critical incident stress debriefing, and community-building initiatives. ... [This] article describes recommendations for future hospital wellness programs.

Policymakers, providers must take steps to prevent staff mass turnover, researchers sayMcKnights Senior Living, by Kathleen Steele Gaivin, 1/29/24Employment levels in the skilled nursing industry are lagging compared with other parts of the healthcare continuum, noted the authors of a study published Friday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. ... Employment levels have been offset to some degree by hiring of agency staff, which the authors claim may affect resident/patient care by disrupting the continuity of care and “by diminishing the years of experience of the workforce.”

How AccentCare is using communication, career development to address caregiver burnoutHome Health Care News, by Patrick Filbin; 1/28/24As the home-based care industry continues to evolve, enhancing the well-being of employees and addressing caregiver burnout remains a top priority for providers. It’s not uncommon for caregivers to experience moments of feeling unsupported or undervalued. That can often lead to a sense of disconnection within the company from the bottom to the top. To help that disconnect, providers like AccentCare have focused on retention initiatives that are based around communication within the organization.

Soul doctors: How Minnesota chaplains' roles are changingMPR News, by Angela Davis and Maja Beckstrom; 1/24/24Chaplains often show up on the worst days of people’s lives. They arrive in a hospital room after a distressing diagnosis. They accompany police to help inform someone of a loved one’s death. One in four Americans have been visited by a chaplain, usually at a hospital or hospice, ... But the role of spiritual caregiver is evolving as society becomes both less religious and more religiously diverse.Editor's Note: Click here for the Board of Chaplaincy Certification, Inc., Palliative Care & Hospice Certification