Healthcare professionals were at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic and faced a multi-year public crisis. Burnout has significantly increased during the course of the pandemic, and About one fifth of healthcare workers have quit their jobs.
The healthcare industry is facing many challenges due to a shrinking workforce. It is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit and retain staff. This is due to the expansion in telehealth.
Let's now take a look at the potential challenges that healthcare workers might face and discuss some ways we can address them in 2022.
First Challenge: Recovery of Staff from the Pandemic
All healthcare professionals are mentally and physically exhausted by the pandemic. Experts have described their condition as a form of posttraumatic stress disorder that is caused by an overflow of patients, high death rates and personal danger along with ever-changing safety guidelines.
Helping Staff Recover requires wellness programs. This includes better safety and security, mental health resources, and flexible scheduling. You can make your wellness easier by using Wellness Software, or any other software that can assist with everything from job-sharing to sleep issues.
Problem #2: Retention of Employees
One in five healthcare workers quit during the pandemic. These figures don't just apply to doctors. 67% of non-physician employees reported that they had experienced burnout and that six to ten of their coworkers quit because of the pandemic.
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It is important to remember that not all of these workers left their jobs, but instead moved to another facility. This is particularly true for nursing home workers, who were greatly affected by the crisis. Despite this, healthcare workers have declined 2.7% in the past two years. This is not a small number. Over half of doctors and therapists are considering quitting their jobs or switching careers because of pandemic burnout. This physician-burnout survey found that the most common symptoms of burnout in doctors are changes in sleep patterns, difficulty falling asleep, and emotional exhaustion.
Healthcare professionals in small and mid-sized practices will have to deal with burnout and be more competitive when it comes to hiring and retaining nurses and doctors. You will pay more for salaries and benefits and other perks as requested by in-demand primary healthcare physicians and other clinicians.
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This challenge requires to focus more on employees' needs and offer support in all areas . Although competitive salaries are important, they are not the only factor that will attract and keep top employees. It is important to foster a workplace culture that values worker community and patient care. You might consider implementing an employee reward system that can help you recognize employee achievements and keep your staff feeling valued.
Challenge #3: Telehealth Expansion
Telehealth has been one of the most prominent stars in the current pandemic. These services allow patients to get the routine care they require from the comfort of their own homes. The percentage of telehealth users has risen from 11% to 46% over the past few years.
Patients who were unaware of the potential benefits of telehealth have enthusiastically adopted the service. Telehealth is a lifesaver for elderly people and those who live in remote areas. Telehealth allows their doctors to remotely manage their conditions.
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Telehealth is expected to continue growing in healthcare. This means properly training staff to provide these services in a professional, regulatory-compliant manner. This will require you to provide the appropriate equipment and an environment for providing this care. Telehealth systems will greatly simplify the process.
How can We Meet the 2022 Challenges?
Although 2022 presents new challenges, you can handle them using the lessons learned in recent years, especially when it comes to Telehealth. To retain and rejuvenate your employees, you will need to be open to change.
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The pandemic and normal stresses of the healthcare industry require that healthcare professionals have the resources and time to recover. They should also be given fair wages and benefits for their efforts. You will not be able to hire the right people if you don't offer a competitive package. Remember that caregivers must be taken care of. These are the key to a successful 2022.
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