Posts tagged “COVID-19”

Frontline workers and healthcare providers have felt mental health burdens on an extreme level. There’s no doubt COVID-19 has caused increased stress, doubt and fear leading to burn out. However, there is a mental illness stigma that has been identified as a barrier to access treatment and recovery.

Here Are 5 Facts You Need To Know To Improve Your Mental Health

1. Physicians Face Greater Mental Health Risks

A 2017 study found that physicians are at an increased risk for burnout  as compared to other workers in the United States. Physicians die by suicide at twice the rate of any other profession. It’s estimated that one doctor dies per day.

• Symptoms Of Stress and Workplace Burn Out

Many people may be experiencing symptoms of stress and not even be aware of it. It’s important to be conscious of your physical and mental well-being. Especially when you are taking care of patients.

The CDC reports symptoms of stress include:

• Feeling irritation, anger, or denial
• Feeling uncertain, nervous, or anxious
• Feeling helpless or powerless
• Lacking motivation
• Feeling tired, overwhelmed, or burned out
• Feeling sad or depressed
• Having trouble sleeping
• Having trouble concentrating
• Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue is common amongst healthcare providers who are suffering from burn out due to mental health issues. Stress related to being exposed to a traumatized individuals further describes compassion fatigue and what many healthcare providers are experiencing during the COVID-19 crisis. The characteristics of compassion fatigue include: exhaustion, anger and irritability, negative coping behaviors including alcohol and drug abuse, reduced ability to feel sympathy and empathy, a diminished sense of enjoyment or satisfaction with work, increased absenteeism, and an impaired ability to make decisions and care for patients and/or clients. It’s important for all healthcare providers to recognize these symptoms of compassion fatigue and seek mental health services in order to destress and decompress.

• Healthy Ways To Cope With Stress

When feeling stressed out and overwhelmed it’s best to focus and bring yourself into the present moment. Deep breathing techniques, and stretching are a great way to practice being present while working in a busy healthcare environment. Meditation and Yoga can also help alleviate stress and improve mental health. Avoiding excessive alcohol and tobacco and finding healthier alternatives like walking and light exercise can also help you cope with stress and workplace burn out. Making time to unwind and getting better sleep are important techniques to practice on a daily basis.

• Telepsychiatry and Mental Healthcare Apps.

Studies suggest that healthcare providers should have regular screenings geared toward mental health evaluating for stress, depression, and anxiety by using multidisciplinary psychiatry teams. Telepsychiatry allows for greater flexibility and scheduling of mental health appointments. Many healthcare providers work odd hours which may make it difficult to seek mental health services. Mental health apps are a great alternative if you are struggling to handle your mental health on your own and are on a budget.

More Doctors Are Leaving Healthcare. Could Working Locum Tenens Be The Answer To Stay In The Game?

COVID-19 has caused many people to look at their lives more closely and how they have been living them. About 25 percent of physicians are planning to retire earlier than planned as a result of their experience treating COVID-19 patients. Twelve percent are considering leaving medicine according to a Medscape report. The report also indicated that 62 percent of physicians said their income decreased since the beginning of the pandemic, with 33 percent reporting their income decreased by 11 to 25 percent. 

Doctors Having To Close And Or Sell Their Businesses

Thousands of medical practices have closed during the pandemic, according to a survey from the Physicians Foundation of America, which surveyed 3,500 physicians. The survey found that 8 percent of the doctors reported closing their offices in recent month, which the foundation estimated could equal some 16,000 practices. Another 4 percent said they planned to shutter within the next year. The Paycheck Protection Program authorized by Congress to help businesses, including medical practices, with the economic fallout of the pandemic, helped many doctors remain afloat.

Burnout And Strict Practicing Guidelines

Approximately 64 percent of physics report higher burnout since the pandemic started. Forty six percent said they are lonelier due to stay at home social distancing guidelines. Other doctors report that their reasons for leaving stem from strict practice guidelines which left them feeling constrained in their careers. Some have left their conventual physician roles in order to pursue start up ideas in healthcare.

Physician Shortages Are Predicted To Become Worse

There’s an increased number of people looking for primary care doctors after the Affordable Care Act became viable. An aging population that requires more care and more medical students choosing specialties rather than primary care are also reasons why there is a looming primary care physician shortage. A survey completed in 2015 predicts there could be a shortage of 33,000 primary care physicians by 2035.

So, what’s the solution? Several family medicine organizations have launched a long-term initiative called 25 X 2030. Leaders in this effort will work for the next 10 plus years to ensure that by 2030 25 percent of combined U.S. allopathic and osteopathic medical school seniors select family medicine as their specialty.

Could Locum Tenens Be The Answer For Doctors To Stay In The Healthcare Game?

The word “Locum” comes from the Latin term meaning ‘place holder.’ A provider working as locum tenens is a person who temporarily fulfills the obligations of another. Therefore, In healthcare, a locums provider can be employed at a hospital or community healthcare facility that may be short staffed or need temporary coverage when another provider is on leave.

Locum tenens offer a variety of diverse experiences and the opportunity to see how various healthcare systems work. Locums also offers a diverse patient population from working in inner city to working in rural farmlands. If you are a health care provider looking for a change, are open minded, adventurous and flexible, you should definitely give Locum Tenens a try.

Some locum tenens assignments could be part time or offer a short-term assignment. Perfect if you are thinking about retiring from your full-time position, but you’d like to still keep one foot in the game. Locum Tenens can also be considered the ultimate ‘Work-Vacay’ experience. It’s literally paid tourism. You can work in amazing places that offer historical and local attractions that will add to your work life balance.

The media has created a COVID-19 vaccine frenzy. There are several healthcare professionals sporting their vaccinated arms on social media. Some nurses  were caught fainting on live TV. Are PCR tests valid? How long do COVID antibodies last in the human body? Why is “Rhona” so confusing?

Here are 6 facts that you need to know about the ongoing COVID vaccines and testing:

1. COVID-19 Vaccines

Currently, there are 2 vaccines authorized and recommended for COVID-19:

            Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 Vaccine

            Manufacturer: Pfizer

            Type of vaccine: mRNA

            Number of shots: 2, 21 days apart

            Does not contain latex, eggs, preservatives

            Recommended for: people 16 years of age and over

            Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine

            Manufacturer: Moderna

            Type of Vaccine: mRNA

            Number of shots: 2 shots, 28 days apart

            Does not contain: Latex, eggs, preservatives

            Recommended for: people over the age of 18

• COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects

The most common side effects for both Pfizer-BioNtech, and Moderna vaccine are pain, swelling and redness on the vaccinated site. Chills, tiredness and headache are side effects are felt throughout the rest of the body which were more commonly seen after the second dose of the vaccine. Side effects that caused hospitizations and or death were few in clinical trials.

Bell’s palsy which is a specific form of sudden weakness in one side of the face, is due to swelling of the facial nerves, which is responsible for moving many facial nerves. In the Moderna group, four individuals out of 30,000 reported facial paralysis, 3 who had received the vaccine, and one who received the placebo. Four of the 43,000 participants in the Pfizer trial developed nerve paralysis. All of these were in the vaccine arm of the trial.

• Does the COVID-19 Vaccine Cause Birth Defects Or Sterilization?

There have been rumors the vaccines cause birth defects and possible sterilization. Pfizer spokeswoman Jerica Pitts said that “It has been incorrectly suggested that COVID-19 vaccines will cause infertility because of a shared amino acid sequence in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and a placental protein. The sequence, however, is too short to plausibly give rise to autoimmunity.”

• Vaccination Considerations for People Who Are Pregnant And Breast Feeding

While the chances for these severe health effects are low, pregnant people with COVID-19 have an increased risk for disease, including illness that results in ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and death compared with non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Additionally, pregnant people with COVID-19 might be at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, compared with pregnant women without COVID-19.

There are limited data about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for people who are pregnant. No safety concerns were demonstrated in rats that received Moderna COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy; studies of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are ongoing. Studies in people who are pregnant are planned.

• What types of tests exist for COVID-19?

There are 2 different types of tests for COVID-19:

1. A diagnostic test can show if you have an active coronavirus infection and should take steps to quarantine or isolate yourself from others. Currently there are two types of diagnostic tests– molecular tests, such as RT-PCR tests, that detect the virus’s genetic material, and antigentests that detect specific proteins from the virus. 

• An antibody test looks for antibodies that are made by your immune system in response to a threat, such as a specific virus. Antibodies can help fight infections. Antibodies can take several days or weeks to develop after you have an infection and may stay in your blood for several weeks or more after recovery. Because of this, antibody tests should not be used to diagnose COVID-19. At this time researchers do not know if the presence of antibodies means that you are immune to in the future.

• Should You Get The COVID-19 Vaccine

Based on information from previous vaccines, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may also help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19. According to the CDC vaccines will be an integral tool in helping prevent infection and spread of the COVID-19 virus. Stopping a pandemic requires all the tools available.

The hottest debate these days is not in politics, it’s all about what appropriate face covering to wear to keep Healthcare Providers and the general public healthy and free from COVID-19. Some experts prefer face shields to cloth masks. Others say face shields have no effects. Experts are torn. So, what’s a healthcare provider, working with the patients in an in person setting on a daily basis, to do?

The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) is recommending cloth face coverings for the general public as a simple barrier to protect from droplet spread from traveling in the air and onto other people. COVID-19 spreads among people who are in close contact with each other (within 6 feet). A simple surgical mask can also prevent droplet spread.

Many people in the general public are making DYI face shields (Do It Yourself) from recycled plastic bottles. But do these really work? And should our patients be wearing them?

Plastic face shields in health care are nothing new. Healthcare providers have been wearing them for many years. A study in the journal of Occupational health found that healthcare providers can inhale infectious airborne particles when a patient cough. Face shields can substantially reduce the short-term exposure to healthcare workers to large infectious aerosol particles, but smaller particles can remain airborne and flow around the face shield more easily to be inhaled. The study further recommends that face shields be used in adjunct to proper respiratory protection when needed. Face shields are generally not used alone, but in conjunction with other protective equipment like cap, mask, goggle, and are therefore classified as adjunctive personal protective equipment. 

Important Facts To Consider When Using Face Shield’s For Healthcare Providers

–Snug fit: The face shield must be snugly fitting around head without any gaps between forehead and shield. The readymade plastic bands are not tight fitting and may fall off with repeated use. Use of sponge in between forehead and face shield gives good comfort, but such face shields should be used as disposable as sterilization of sponge is incomplete.

Disposable/Reusable: Disposable face masks should be disposed of in the appropriate location. Reusable face shields must be removed carefully and disinfected with the utmost care.

Methods of handling: Never touch the front of the face shield. Remove face shield with gloved hands. Dispose along with gloves.

Methods Of Sterilization:

            1% Sodium Hypochlorite solution for minimum of 10 min.

            Drying in Sun light and cleaning with Sanitizers with gloved hands.

2% Glutaraldehyde for 10 min, wash it with normal saline, again dry it.

Healthcare Providers Who Are Testing Patients for COVID-19

Healthcare providers interacting with ill or suspected to be ill with COVID-19 patients, need professional respirators such as N95 respirators which are designed for medical use. N95 respirators fit snuggly around the face and filter air to further stop transmission of droplets from person to person. Face shields and eye goggles should also be worn.

Guidance on the use of face shields vs. face masks remains unclear. When in doubt, it’s always best to consult the hospital or facilities policies that any healthcare provider may be working at. As a rule of thumb, always err on the side of causation and protect yourself as best as possible.

Who are we? MedCare Staffing is a small, veteran-owned, family-oriented team. We start every day with gratitude because we LOVE what we do! We are a team on a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of our clients and providers.

What we do: We place Physicians, Dentists & Advanced Practitioners in Locum Tenens, Contract Positions and Permanent Jobs

To contact MedCare Staffing, call 888.474.3380 or visit our website by clicking here!

Nurses, Advanced Practice Healthcare Professionals, Physicians and Dentists work in hazardous environments. They are riddled with different types of biological exposures; diseases, chemicals, environmental hazards, physical hazards like radiation, and sometimes violence. Still, healthcare professionals are often viewed as immune to injury or illness. Many times, hospital, healthcare management and administrators tend to turn a blind eye to complaints of unsafe work environments.

With the COVID19 pandemic many nurses and healthcare providers in general were denied Personal Protective Equipment. Providers were told that they would lose their jobs or be placed on suspension for bring their own from home. Others were told to clean and recycle masks.

There are more than 18 million healthcare workers in the United States. PPE’s are used to protect healthcare providers from disease as well as protect immunocompromised patients. Improper use or lack of there of place employees and patients at greater of transmitting disease. Dysfunctional safety standards in healthcare settings have recently imploded like a weeping abscess. Fearing for their safety and the safety of their families, healthcare providers have walked off their jobs.

In recent years the number of violent assaults against Nurses and healthcare providers has increased. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports of nearly 25,000 workplace assaults reported annually. 75% occur in health care and social service settings. Workers in healthcare settings are 4 times more likely to be victimized than workers in private industry. A 2014 survey on hospital crime attributed 75% of aggravated assaults and 93 % of all assaults against health care workers to patients or customers.

What Can You Do To Ensure A Healthy And Safe Workplace Environment While On A Locums Assignment?

Nurses and Advanced Healthcare Providers need to empower themselves to take full accountability of their own personal safety and of their work environment. Employees perceptions and attitudes can differ regarding current safety standards. For example, what an administrator who has had no patient care may see as safe, a Nurse or advance healthcare professional with many years of patient care experience may beg to differ.  

Locums work can take you to a variety of healthcare environments which may not be so safe. Some tips Nurses and Healthcare Professionals can employ when working in a healthcare new healthcare care setting are:

-Be aware of your surroundings: Always be aware of your surroundings when you are on assignment. If you are working in a city or neighborhood you are not familiar with, do your research. Do a computer research on crime statistics, ask fellow coworkers regarding safety of the area. Make sure you have proper supplies and protective equipment before starting your workday.

-Propper PPE’s: Before taking an assignment, it’s best to ask your recruiter and or healthcare facility where you will be working, what their PPE availability along with quantity and reuse.  If they are lacking in supply, you may need to ask if you can supply your own.

-Trust your intuition: Your intuition is your best guide to safety. Per Gavin De Becker the author of “The Gift Of Fear, he states “Nature’s greatest accomplishment, the human brain is never more invested than when it’s host is at risk. A strong intuition comes from experience. If you are feeling uneasy about your surroundings or a certain situation, it’s best to stop and evaluate how you feel and why?

-Ensure your own safety: You are in charge of your own personal health and safety. If you do not feel safe in, then it is your responsibility to report it to your supervisor, office manager and your recruiter. If you and your management team cannot agree on proper safety measures then you may have to re consider your assignment and your options.

The safety of Nurses, Advanced Healthcare Providers, Doctors and Dentists is not an option, it’s a requirement. When healthcare employees are made to feel safe on the job, their patients and patient care will also be safe. All healthcare providers need to take full accountability of their own PPE’s and the safety of their environment.

Ersilia Pompilio RN, MSN, PNP