Across the U.S., 84% of health care providers report issues keeping up with the growing workforce shortage.1 Rising medically complex patient volumes, coupled with increasing rates of burnout among health care staff, have led health systems to seek new strategies to aid in employee well-being.
An Advisory Board report notes that hospital team members, especially among millennial and Gen Z groups, find great value in a hospital’s ability to support their well-being.2 This ability has become even more important as the pandemic put a strain on work-life balance for many healthcare workers.
The problem
Forty-eight percent of senior leaders chose not to take paid time off during the pandemic due to not being able to disconnect from work.2 This inability hinders team members staff from being able to recharge and reset.
In order to overcome mental and physical feelings of burnout, the Advisory Board shares insights on how hospitals can effectively support team members while maintaining quality care and outcomes for patients.
Two strategies that can help staff disconnect from work once they close out of their shift and effectively recharge for the next day include:
- Implementing an “after-hours escalation” plan
Having a plan in place that allows on-shift team members to delegate or take control of specific situations when a fellow team member is out is beneficial for staff well-being and hospital outcomes. An effective escalation plan not only helps the fellow team member elevate their skillset, but it takes the burden off of the select individuals who are usually making the calls during their shift.
- Sleep Prioritization
In addition to disconnecting from work, providers need to help make sure that disconnect leads to adequate sleep. The report highlights that the pandemic further exacerbated stress among health care workers, leading to increased rates of chronic, widespread sleep deprivation, insomnia and poor sleep hygiene.
Promoting resources, such as sleep apps that deliver music therapy and mindfulness resources can play a substantial role in whether an employee receives the high-quality sleep needed to best perform their daily hospital tasks.
Improving staff well-being is a process. However, the reward for both team members and the hospital overall is great. Click here to read the full report.
References:
- Berlin, G., Lapointe, M., & Murphy, M. (2022, February 28). Increased workforce turnover and pressures straining provider operations. McKinsey & Company. Retrieved April 5, 2022, from https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/increased-workforce-turnover-and-pressures-straining-provider-operations
- Polyak, A. (2022, March 9). To retain staff, organizations need to invest in well-being beyond the Workplace. Advisory Board. Retrieved April 5, 2022, from https://www.advisory.com/Blog/2021/08/workforce-recovery
