Are we in the midst of medicine’s “Great Resignation?” In 2020, the AMA found that 1 in 5 physicians planned to retire in the following two years. Now, four years later, reports show hospitals are still struggling to retain staff. In fact, some turnover rates have reached up to 30%. Between the growth of the aging population and a rise in burnout, hospitals are left to supplement staff with expensive, unsustainable options. Luckily, telemedicine offers an affordable alternative.
Achieve Workforce Stabilization
Workforce instability remains a top challenge for hospitals everywhere. Providing consistent, high-quality patient care requires a dedicated, stable hospital workforce. By augmenting on-site staff with reliable telemedicine support, workforce stabilization is possible.
One success story is found at AdventHealth Murray, located in Chatsworth, Georgia. This hospital was severely struggling with staffing shortages and retention rates before telemedicine came along. With Eagle, the hospital now has access to a dedicated ‘pod’ of Tele-Intensivists. A highly regarded Dr. Joyave commented, “It is an enormous help having a consistent panel of physicians who understand we want a high level of care and can participate in this level of performance. The pod concept also makes it more efficient for credentialing the physicians and for our billing team.”
Mitigating Staffing Shortages
Telemedicine is commonly mentioned in the discourse around physician staffing shortages, and rightly so. Telemedicine has offered significant relief to understaffed communities buckling under the strained budget of locum tenens. Compared to the cost of employing a full-time physician, locum tenens rates can be significantly higher. This is often compounded by the additional travel and housing expenses that locum tenens staffing entails. One survey found that 85% of respondents cited the cost of locum tenens providers to be a significant drawback. Other reported disadvantages are reduced continuity of care and lack of operational familiarity.
A viable alternative to locum tenens is telemedicine. Telemedicine not only supports on-site staff but also dramatically lowers the overhead costs of providing care. Eagle Telemedicine offers solutions like the Rural Care Alliance for hospitals with lower patient volumes. The assigned team of telemedicine providers integrates into the on-staff team, building lasting relationships and collaboration that drive overall enhanced care.
Attention to Mental Health and Burnout
Mental health is much more than a buzzword. In fact, one in five adults suffer from mental illness. On top of that, Zippia found that 89% of workers in the United States have experienced burnout within the past year. Sadly, these issues are a problem nationwide, and healthcare professionals are at a higher risk. Vox found that six out of 10 doctors are attempting to manage feelings of burnout, and one in 10 doctors reported they had thought about or attempted suicide. The high-pressure culture around physicians is a major contributor to the epidemic, but since 2020, the increased aging population, staffing shortages, and the “Great Resignation” have compounded the already severe problem. Hospitals must prioritize the mental well-being of their staff to mitigate these concerns.
Thankfully, there are options to reduce physician strain and burnout. Telemedicine offers relief to overworked physicians through:
- Night shift coverage, allowing for more consistent scheduling
- Filling staffing gaps to encourage time off to recharge
- Seamless surge protection to support staff during sudden patient volume increases
- A consistent team of telemedicine physicians that become part of your hospital’s care team
With telemedicine, hospitals can offer true time off and support for overworked personnel to rest and recover knowing their patients are in good hands and will receive true continuity of care when they complete handoff. If you would like to read more on telemedicine and burnout, check out our blog: Alleviating Physician Burnout. There are achievable solutions for your retention, stabilization, and physician relief needs.
At Eagle Telemedicine, we prioritize your hospital’s needs. We can customize a program tailored for your hospital to retain and support your doctors while increasing your hospital’s care capabilities. If you would like to take a step towards a sustainable solution, contact us today to learn more.
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