A 312-page report released by the National Academy of Medicine states that this is due in part to how the American medical system functions. The report found around half of the country’s doctors and nurses experience substantial symptoms of burn-out, which can result in increased risks to patients, worker absenteeism and turnover, and potential malpractice claims. These issues can cost the medical industry billions of dollars each year.

“It’s a moral issue, a patient-care issue, and a financial issue,” says Christine K. Cassel, a professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, who also co-chaired the committee of experts that wrote the report.

It can be alarming and tragic that the system is hurting the people who have been put in charge of healing. In the past few years, as the medical community has grown increasingly alarmed over physician burn-out, the proposed solutions have focused primarily on the resilience of the individual physician. “What this report is saying is that this is a systemic problem that requires systemic solutions,” said Cassel. “You can’t just teach doctors meditation, yoga, and self-care. We need big, fundamental changes.”

The committee who researched for the report–which included a team of doctors, nurses, health executives and leaders in neurology, pharmacy, and bioethics– worked over 18 months to wade through the heaps of research on clinician burnout. They discovered that between 35 and 54% of doctors and nurses experience burn-out. The percentage among medical students and residents is as high as 60%.

What are some symptoms of burn-out?

The symptoms of these clinicians who are experiencing burn-out include exhaustion, cynicism, increasing detachment from their patients, and loss of enthusiasm and joy in their work. Burn-out has been linked to higher rates of depression, substance abuse, and suicide. The suicide rate among physicians is one of the highest among all professions and is twice that of the general population. Health-care workers are more prone to burn-out because of the workload, pressure, and chaos that they experience each day. As the country’s health-care system has become increasingly more dysfunctional, the majority of the kick-back falls on these physicians’ shoulders. As a result, they face long hours, bureaucratic hurdles, mounting paperwork, fear of malpractice lawsuits, and insufficient resources. 

The cost of burn-out in the medical field

Burn-out also tends to be very expensive. One study cited by the report found it costs the medical system $4.6 billion a year. Some of this cost comes from doctors reducing the number of hours that they work, quitting their jobs, or leaving the medical field all-together. The effect of doctor burn-out has an estimated $7,600 cost to the medical industry. These numbers don’t include the costs related to malpractice lawsuits, increased medical errors and the doctors that end up covering for those who are burnt-out. The financial incentive behind helping to ease burn-out is imperative because helping to alleviate burn-out will require significant buy-in from insurance companies, federal regulators, medical schools, and the country’s health-care systems.

What can be done to fix the issue?

The report outlined a long list of changes that need to be made to help eliminate burn-out. These changes include:

• Health-care facilities and medical organizations should develop executive-level chief wellness officers. They can then monitor and protect clinicians’ well-being and develop IT programs to reduce repetitive and redundant paperwork.
• Nursing and medical schools should train students to deal with burn-out. Federal and state regulators should identify and eliminate overlapping regulations.
• State medical licensure agencies should find ways for doctors to seek help without having it used against them, such as in malpractice litigation.
• Federal officials should develop a coordinated research agenda to understand the problem and how to alleviate it.

These changes would help to decrease the risks involved with physician burn-out. Giving your doctors and nurses a chance to rest is the most crucial change that needs to happen.

How MedCare Staffing can help

Locum tenens is an excellent solution to this issue as temporary staff can help to alleviate some stress and exhaustion your full-time doctors’ experience. MedCare Staffing can help with that by giving you multiple options for staffing. Contact MedCare Staffing today to discuss any staffing needs with a recruitment specialist. You can also submit a request directly on our website!

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 & Advanced Practitioners in Locum Tenens, Contract Positions and Permanent Jobs

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

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“The National Institutes of Health estimates colds and flu absences from work and school cost the economy more than $30 billion annually,” says Donna Marbury for Medical Economics. She then goes on to say “The pressure on medical practices to provide quick, efficient, and effective treatment is stronger than ever.”

Cold and flu season not only brings care facilities a massive influx of patients to deal with, but it also frequently causes staff shortages when the workers in your facility get sick.

Locums Workers Can Help Staffing Shortages During Cold & Flu Season

Locum tenens, a phrase when translated from Latin, means “to hold a place.” Locum tenens is used for staffing temporary or fill-in workers and was created initially for just this sort of situation. Locum tenens workers help ensure that care remains continuous during periods when regular staff are temporarily unavailable (or find themselves overwhelmed). With the influx of patients coming into care facilities during cold and flu season, the need for relief for staff is at an all-time high, and this is where locum tenens workers come into play.

Locum staffing has evolved dramatically over the past few decades, to the point where locum tenens workers aren’t strictly physicians but have grown. Now it includes dentists, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse anesthetists, and other advanced practitioners (i.e., nurse practitioners and physician assistants) all of these workers offer a tremendous amount of help when it comes to alleviating care shortages during busy times. Even though most locums workers can be available with little notice, the best approach to locums staffing is to have a plan in place ahead of time. Creating a partnership with a staffing company such as MedCare Staffing can help to ensure that the types of locum workers your facility will need are available when and where you need them the most.

“Consider tapping a temp agency early in the cold & flu season to identify candidates who can fill in early mornings, evenings, and weekends,” Marbury writes.

Including a few locum workers in your long-term staffing strategy has many other advantages. Although some experts have advised that locum doctors and practitioners are to be used as a last-ditch solution to a staffing shortage, there are many benefits to bringing these workers to your team before they are needed to help prevent burnout.

We can help with staffing issues! Contact MedCare Staffing today to discuss your locum needs with a recruitment specialist. You can also submit a request directly on our website!

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 & Advanced Practitioners in Locum Tenens, Contract Positions and Permanent Jobs

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

The post Avoid Staffing Shortages During Cold & Flu Season appeared first on Medcare Staffing.

MedCare Staffing provides clinicians that can help with any short-term, long-term needs as well as or permanent needs. We will provide the right physician or advanced practitioner for any employer. Any time. Any location.

Why MedCare Staffing?

We take a personal approach to the details! We make sure we have the quality candidate for your specific needs. Our company takes each job as a unique opportunity to come through for you. We want you to continue to count on us when you have the need!

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

What Makes Us Different?

Our culture is all about winning! We don’t make excuses, we deliver results!

What A Few Of Our Clients Have To Say About Partnering With Our Us!

“I have worked with MedCare Staffing for years and do not want to work with anyone else. Tom and his staff display such honesty and integrity and truly care about the needs of our office. No one talks to you in a condescending, salesperson-like manner but as a partner, trying to solve a staffing need. They represent their providers but can also see issues from the office’s perspective. If there is a problem (which has been rare), we talk about it and reach a resolution. They have even found us a covering locum tenens physician with only 12 hours notice! Tom Harbin and MedCare Staffing are by far the best!!!” A.S. – Locums client

“Excellent service, great candidates provided, excellent communication between MedCare staff and myself as Clinical Director.” Dr. E.G. – Government Client

Ready To Learn More?

Just click here and fill out this short form and a member of our team will be in touch ASAP. We looking forward to assisting you with any of your staffing needs. 888-474-3380

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