Literature Review

Forget Doctors’ Day. Here’s how to really value doctors Forbes, by Sachin H. Jain; 4/21/24 ... Here are five steps that the hospitals, health systems and other entities that employ physicians and other healthcare professionals can revalue their work and give it the prominent place of honor it deserves. 

5 ways the AMA is fighting for physicians in 2024 AMA - American Medical Association; by Kevin B. O'Reilly; 4/18/2024 ... Physicians face far too many challenges that interfere with patient care. That’s why the AMA is advocating to keep doctors at the head of the health care team, reform the Medicare physician payment system, relieve the burden of overused prior authorizations and so much more. These advocacy initiatives are part of the AMA Recovery Plan for America’s Physicians, which includes:

Clinician burnout and effectiveness of guideline-recommended psychotherapies JAMA Network - Psychiatry; by Nina A. Sayer, PhD; Adam Kaplan, PhD; David B. Nelson, PhD; et al; 4/17/24 Importance: Clinician burnout has been associated with clinician outcomes, but the association with patient outcomes remains unclear. Conclusions: This prospective cohort study suggests that clinician burnout was negatively associated with patient outcomes from evidence-based psychotherapies. Findings support research to test the hypothesis that interventions to reduce burnout may improve outcomes from guideline-recommended psychotherapies for PTSD. Future work should determine when and how burnout is associated with intervention delivery and patient outcomes.Editor's Note: Most research on hospice and palliative clinician burnout focuses on physicians and nurses. Examine this in light of your psychosocial/spiritual professionals, i.e. social workers, chaplains/spiritual care, and bereavement counselors. 

Health Talk: Getting into a health care career The Barre Montpelier Times Argus Online, by Peg Bolgioni; 4/13/24According to the American Hospital Association, there will be a shortage of up to 3.2 million health care workers by 2026. America will face a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2033 and will need to hire at least 200,000 nurses per year to meet increased demand, and to replace retiring nurses. ... The mission of Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center is to enhance community efforts to grow and sustain the health workforce in southern Vermont. One of the ways we do this is by delivering pathway programs that connect students to health careers. [Click the title's link to read about this event.]Editor's Note: How might your organization create similar career engagement and education in your community? 

Potential CMS measure shows divide over quality training standards Modern Healthcare, by Mari Devereaux; 4/12/24 Hospitals may soon be required to provide set quality training to staff as part of a Medicare reporting program, but health systems and advocacy organizations are split on whether the standardization of quality-related skill sets is necessary to improve patient care.

2 federal bills look to boost pipeline of healthcare workers McKnights Senior Living, by Kathleen Steele Gaivin; 4/12/24 Bills introduced in both houses of Congress may bolster the healthcare workforce if they become law. Both pieces of legislation are supported by LeadingAge. The bicameral Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act is meant to address the shortage of healthcare workers across the country. Specifically, the legislation would help internationally educated healthcare workers overcome barriers to working in the United States ...

Overcoming key diversity gaps within the healthcare continuum MedCity News, by Alexandra Moens; 4/9/24Leaders need a framework to identify, understand, effectively address diversity gaps, and measure improvement across the continuum of care. A data-driven approach can provide valuable insights into demographic trends, disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, and the underlying factors contributing to these discrepancies. Disparities in diversity and inclusion continue to permeate every aspect of healthcare. ... In the U.S., stark statistics reveal the extent of these imbalances. Only about 36% of active physicians are female, with even fewer identifying as non-White. While Black and Hispanic Americans comprise a considerable portion of the population, their representation among healthcare practitioners is disproportionately low. 

PeaceHealth nurses announce plan to picket outside hospital April 18 The Columbian, by Chrissy Booker; 4/10/24 Nurses at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver will picket outside the hospital April 18. ... The bargaining unit, which includes 1,465 nurses, is negotiating with the hospital for a new three-year contract. According to a news release from the union, “management has not agreed to the association’s proposed workplace protections, staffing commitments or market-rate wages.” PeaceHealth countered that its proposals have been “highly competitive.”

Negotiations end between Local 17 Nurses and Providence St. Patrick Hospital The Fairfield Sun Times - Missoula, MT, by Ian Alvano; 4/9/24 After a standstill of contract negotiations, a new contract has been ratified between the Local 17 Nurse Union and Providence St. Patrick Hospital. The nurses were looking for safe staffing ratios and competitive pay, in a new contract.  Some of the demands were met and some weren't, said Local 17 co-president, Kate Marmorato, regarding the new ratified contract between the nurses and the hospital. 

Fraudsters sentenced in scheme that distributed 7,600 phony nursing diplomas McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 4/8/24Three individuals were sentenced for their role in distributing fraudulent diplomas and transcripts to thousands of nursing students in Florida, New York and New Jersey, the US Attorney’s Office disclosed last week. The registrar of Palm Beach School of Nursing in Lake Worth, FL, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to forfeit $861,672. The owner and operator of Success Nursing Review in Brooklyn, NY, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, fined $20,000 and ordered to forfeit $4,698,828.

Why difficult conversations matter: How delivering bad news with clarity and empathy impacts both provider and patient Cedars Sinai, by Cassie Tomlin; 4/8/24Good physicians rely on a battery of hard-won skills to treat serious illness—they observe, predict, test, prescribe and diagnose. But many physicians haven’t been taught how to have productive, mutually beneficial conversations—such as sharing a life-changing diagnosis or informing patients about disease trajectory and symptoms, prognosis and end-of-life care. High-impact communication tools can be learned at any point in a physician’s career, says Jessica Besbris, MD, director of Neuropalliative Care and the Neurology Supportive Care Medicine Program at Cedars-Sinai. Here, Besbris shares why such careful conversations matter for everyone involved, and ways physicians can improve how they discuss serious illness.

Mixed reactions as St. Patrick Hospital nurses approve new contract KPAX-8 Missoula & Western Montana, by Claire Peterson; 4/8/24 The nurse's union at St. Patrick Hospital approved a three-year contract by a narrow vote. ... On Friday, April 5, the nurse’s union at Providence St. Patrick Hospital approved a three-year contract by a narrow vote, bringing months of negotiation to an end. ... The new contract was approved by 56% of the nurses who voted, according to Marmorato. St. Patrick Hospital nurses were fighting for higher wages, plans to prevent workplace violence and more effort to retain staff. 

Medicine—Both a Science (Care) and an Art (CARE) JAMA Network - Viewpoint; by Theodore J. Strange, MD and Mario R. Castellanos, MD; 4/3/24In the current era, health care is increasingly characterized by the integration of big data, predictive analytics, medical devices, and artificial intelligence. These technological advancements have undoubtedly transformed the landscape of medical care, offering unprecedented precision and efficiency in diagnosis and treatment. Yet, amidst this surge of scientific innovation, the timeless art of medicine (compassion and caring) remains a foundational aspect of patient-centered health care ... The acronym CARE (compassion, assistance, respect, and empathy) encapsulates these enduring values. ... In a world increasingly driven by data and algorithms, these qualities foster a trusting and supportive relationship between health care professionals and patients, thereby enhancing the healing process and enriching the overall health care experience.