Nursing shortages are only one aspect of the vaccine mandates impact on staffing experienced in healthcare nationwide. The scarcity of available labor can be seen in hospital operations as well. Pressure has increased due to increased patient volumes and office staff declining the jab.
A 2021 Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that nearly 30% of health care workers are considering leaving their profession altogether, and nearly 60% reported impacts to their mental health stemming from their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Daunting Challenge. According to the American Hospital Association, the daunting challenge of sustaining the health care workforce predates the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent studies show that America will face a shortage of up to 122,000 physicians by 2032 and will need to hire at least 200,000 nurses per year to meet increased demand and to replace retiring nurses. There also are critical shortages of allied health and behavioral health professionals, especially in vulnerable rural and urban communities. These potential workforce shortfalls – combined with an aging population, a rise in chronic diseases and behavioral health conditions, and advancements in the “state-of-the-art” of care delivery – all contribute to the need for supportive policies that ensure America’s health care workforce can meet the demands of today and be adequately prepared for the delivery system of tomorrow.*
Beyond Nursing. One unspoken hurdle also includes the labor shortage and recent employee walkouts of the ever important business operations of the healthcare sector. Mandates are not only for nursing, clinicians, physicians, and other frontline personnel. These mandates go beyond nursing affecting office employees. The lifeblood of any organization is the business office. Reception, registration, billing, patient interface, coding and collections areas will all continue to witness an impact of staffing. While employing foreign workers may look inviting, the ramp up, education process, language barriers, all lead to a less than optimal outcomes.
Filling the Void. The experienced back end office personnel at On-Point can help fill the gaps for you. Our qualified staff will act as a seamless part of your office team. We offer flexible and scalable solutions to help you navigate these turbulent times. As your workforce tightens, call us for Access Management, Health Information Management, Claims Processing, Self-Pay Collections, Revenue Cycle Assessment, Provider Enrollments & Revalidations, Management Reporting Services, and overall Administration Support.
Economies of Scale. Hospitals and health systems alone employed more than 6 million individuals in full- or part-time positions in 2019; purchased more than $1 trillion in goods and services from other businesses; supported almost 18 million, or one out of nine, jobs; and supported roughly $2.30 of additional business activity in the economy for every dollar they spent. Yet the pandemic is taking its toll on health care jobs. According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the field is still down by over 500,000 jobs since February 2020, with hospitals reporting a drop of employment of 5,800 jobs just between March 2021 and April 2021.*
Let’s Configure a Solution. Preparation is 90% of winning the battle. The team at On-Point is ready to help you prepare your healthcare operations with the best possible solutions.
rob.andersen@on-pointservices.com
* ©2021 American Hospital Association | May 2021