Burnout among mental health staff is a real problem that affects all areas of the medical field. Such policies and procedures have been implemented to help reduce the effects of this phenomena. One AHRQ-funded project (HS18160), listed by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2017), reported that the MEMO-Minimizing Error, Maximizing Outcome-Study, found that more than half of all the physicians reported experiencing time pressures when conducting exams. Work conditions such as time pressure, low control over work pace, chaotic environments and unfavorable organizational culture were among the top reasons of burnout. Providers dealing with these work conditions did not directly correlate to lower quality of care for the patients.
The AHRQ grant (HS18160) study then put in place a series of policies and procedures the help identify and treat providers burnout. Implemented was a “intervention” method. Monthly provider meetings focusing on work life issues, depression and diabetes screening, quality improvement projects to enhance and engage in team work, even something as simple as having medical assistants enter patient’s data into the electronic health records. Just introducing these simple steps, they decreased the rate of burnout report from 32.7 percent to 25.8 percent (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2017).
Additional interventions that may be able to lower the rate of burnout are as followed:
-Creating standing order sets
-Providing responsive information technology support
-Reducing required activities
-Providing time for the physician to enter patient data into the EHR (Electronic Health Records)
-Hiring floating clinicians to cover unexpected leave
-Ensuring values between leaders and clinicians are parallel
(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2017).
As a future health care provider, part of my initiative is to promote healthily work life balance, as well as reduce burnout and to take a stand and be a voice. I will be conducting an interview with U.S. Rep John Katko (NY-24) in hopes of learning more about his new bipartisan bill (H.R. 2431) With only one third of those with mental illness receiving care, H.R. 2431 provides incentives to those providers who treat those in underserved areas. Providing an educational loan forgiveness for said providers, will also allow a chance for new grads to focus on why they became providers in the first place. Introducing this bill is critical for the 115.4 million Americans living in areas without adequate access to mental health care. The bill also focuses on providing additional federal support for behavioral health workforce training programs is in high demands in order to meet the growing needs for mental health care staff in the United States, which is expected to increase significantly by 2030 (U.S. Congressman, 2019).
(U.S. Congressman, 2019).
References:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2017). Physician Burnout. Retrieved from https://www.ahrq.gov/prevention/clinician/ahrq-works/burnout/index.html
U.S. Congressman. (2019). Kotko House. Retrieved from https://katko.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-katko-napolitano-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-reduce-shortage
Awareness for burnout in Mental Health Care workers 