Is Healthcare Resigning?

It’s no secret that there’s been a recent trend of healthcare workers resigning from their positions. The great resignation in healthcare is a growing topic of discussion, but what’s driving this mass exodus from the healthcare industry?

Is it simply that the workforce is being asked to do more for less? Or is there something deeper at play? Let’s take a closer look at the growing trend of healthcare resignation and what it could mean for the future of patient engagement.

The Price of Healthcare Resignation

The health care sector is a significant part of our economy, and the high attrition of employees in this area will have significant repercussions.

This labor shortage storm has been brewing for some time. In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted, and while it intended to make healthcare more accessible and affordable, it also put a great deal of strain on the already overburdened system.

Reports show that there’s no end in sight to the projected physician shortage. The latest projections continue to fall in line with previous estimates by the group, which claims a shortage of between 40,800 and 104,900 doctors will occur by 2030.

These factors are leading to a perfect storm of sorts, and it’s causing many healthcare workers to resign from their positions.

The high price of healthcare resignation isn’t just economic. It also takes a toll on patient care. When experienced and dedicated healthcare workers leave their positions, it can create a void that is difficult to fill.

This loss of experience and expertise can have a ripple effect on patient care, as well as on the morale of those who remain in the field.

What’s Driving Healthcare Resignation?

To understand why healthcare great resignation rates have been rising, we must first understand the root cause of the problem. The root cause of the problem is that the healthcare system is not structured effectively for worker satisfaction.

When workers are not satisfied with their job, they are more likely to resign. Yes, Covid 19 pandemic put a great deal of stress on the healthcare workforce, but this is not the only factor that is causing workers to walk away from their positions.

The truth is, the healthcare system has been under a great deal of strain for many years, and this has taken its toll on workers.

There are three main reasons why the healthcare system is not structured effectively for worker satisfaction: 

Worker burnout

Several factors contribute to healthcare resignation. One of the most common is worker burnout. In a recent survey, 62.8% of physicians said they experienced moderate to severe levels of burnout.

Due to the high demand and low pay in the healthcare industry, many workers are burning out. They are working long hours for little pay and they are not able to take care of themselves because they are so busy taking care of others.

This has led to an increase in mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. That’s not surprising when you consider the number of hours they work, the paperwork they have to deal with, and the life-and-death decisions they have to make daily. It’s little wonder that so many healthcare workers are struggling to keep up.

But it’s not just burnout that’s driving people to quit their jobs in the healthcare industry; it’s also the ever-increasing cost of healthcare.

As deductibles and copays continue to rise, more and more patients are finding themselves unable to afford the care they need. And as insurance companies’ consolidation continues unabated, patients are left with fewer and fewer choices when it comes to their care.

All of these factors combine to create an environment in which many healthcare workers feel they can no longer do their jobs effectively or provide the level of care their patients deserve.

Boomer retirement phase

As baby boomers start to retire, there is a decrease in the number of people who are available to work in healthcare. This leaves those who are still working in healthcare with an increased workload. 

In addition, an aging population is requiring more health services, while at the same time, the Baby Boomer generation has been retiring from their positions in the healthcare industry at estimates of 25%.

In addition, as boomers retire, they are taking their years of experience and expertise with them. This loss of experience and knowledge can make it difficult for those who remain in the field to provide the same level of care.

Technology is displacing jobs

It is extremely exciting to see the advancements in technology in healthcare. The interest in healthcare automation continues to explode, but there are negative consequences for labor.

With the advancement of technology, many jobs that were once needed are no longer needed. For example, medical transcriptionists are no longer needed because now there are speech-to-text software programs that can do the job for cheaper and faster.

This technology displacement has led to many people losing their jobs or having their hours reduced. I love efficiency as much as anyone, but this particular advancement has not been good for the workers in the healthcare industry.

What can be done to improve the situation?

It’s no secret that healthcare reform is long overdue, the persistent healthcare pain points continue to put a strain on the already struggling workers in the field, but several things could be done to improve the situation for healthcare workers, including reducing the cost of healthcare and increasing job satisfaction.

First, we need to address the issue of burnout. To do this, we need to increase pay and benefits, as well as decrease the number of hours worked. These crazy shift blocks worked by nurses are not providing healthy support.

We also need to make it easier for people to take time off when they need it and we need to provide more support for those who are struggling with mental health issues.

Second, we need to address the issue of the ever-increasing cost of healthcare. We need to find ways to make healthcare more affordable for everyone involved.

Third, we need to do something about the loss of experience and expertise as baby boomers retire. We need to find ways to transfer their knowledge to those who are still working in the field.

Lastly, we must turn our attention to the matter of technology displacement and how it will affect healthcare jobs in the future. One solution is to provide healthcare chatbots for customer support; this would take some pressure off of your current employees and allow them to focus on more important tasks.

Technology will lessen the administrative burden on providers so they can focus on direct patient care.

We need to provide more training for those who are affected by technology displacement so they can learn new skills and find new jobs. We also need to encourage healthcare companies to invest in their workers by providing retraining and education opportunities.

The Future of Patient Engagement

So what does all this mean for patient engagement? Simply put, it means that patients are going to have to be more proactive in their own care. With so many healthcare workers resigning, there will be even fewer people available to provide care, which means patients will need to pick up some of the slack.

Patient empowerment can and will transform healthcare most notably through the connection of various digital health therapeutics.

They’ll need to be more involved in their health and wellness, and they’ll need to be more careful about when and how they seek medical help.

In short, patients will need to take more responsibility for their health if they want to receive the best possible care in the future.

Conclusion

It’s no secret that the healthcare industry is in a state of turmoil. With so many healthcare workers resigning, it’s clear that something needs to be done to improve the situation. Patients will need to be more proactive in their care, and they’ll need to be more careful about when and how they seek medical help. Only by taking these measures can we hope to ensure that everyone receives the best possible care in the future.