CLEAR

How can we reduce record levels of health care burnout and distress?

        

CLEAR thanks our premier technology partner, Thentia, for contributing to CLEAR Regulatory News. 
The guest post below is provided by Thentia.

Dr. Marie Bismark joined Ascend Magazine Editor Paul Leavoy on an episode of the Ascend Radio podcast to discuss her research findings, the mounting problem of health care burnout and psychological distress, and the enormous challenges faced by health care workers during the pandemic – something she is intimately familiar with as both a researcher focusing on the intersection between patient safety, medical regulation, and clinician well-being, and a practicing physician pursuing advanced training in psychiatry who provided mental health care in the COVID wards and emergency departments of Australian hospitals during the pandemic.

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Ontario: right to disconnect legislation

Right-to-disconnect legislation took effect in Ontario in June, requiring employers with 25 or more employees to develop a written policy about employees disconnecting from work email and phone during non-working hours. Quebec has introduced similar legislation, and Prince Edward Island is reviewing its employments Standards Act.

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Public Health Wales report on nurse and midwife health and wellbeing

Public Health Wales conducted a survey in August 2021 assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and wellbeing of nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers.  Seventy percent of respondents indicated that their mental health had worsened during the pandemic, with 50% of scores indicative of probable clinical depression or possible mild depression, with healthcare support workers more likely to report such than senior managerial nurses. Almost 60% of respondents had considered leaving the profession since the start of the pandemic.

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Vermont charges pharamcies with unsafe working conditions

The Vermont Office of professional Regulation is charging Walgreens pharmacies in the state with creating unsafe conditions for workers. "The allegations include untenable working conditions for pharmacists due to insufficient staff; medication and vaccination errors; stores losing track of controlled substances; and unexpected store closures without notice, leaving patients with no clear way to fill prescriptions for days at a time."  The charges call for the Vermont Board of Pharmacy to revoke, suspend or discipline licenses for Walgreens pharmacies. Seventy complaints were filed by Walgreens employees, Walgreens customers, and employees of other pharmacies. The violations fall under a section of the statute added in 2021 - the unprofessional conduct statute for pharmacies.

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ANF launches well-being initiative for nurses

The American Nurses Foundation, in partnership with the American Nurses Association, the America Association of Critical-Care Nurses, The American Psychiatric Nurses Association, the Emergency Nurses Association, and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, has launched the Well-Being Initiative, a website of tools and resources to support the mental health and resilience of nurses. The tools include a gratitude practice for nurses, self-care and better sleep resources, a stress self-assessment, and a guide to mental health support services.

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Report released for AHPRA's administration of health practitioner registration and notification

The Community Affairs References Committee has completed an inquiry into the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency's administration of health practitioner registration and notifications. The report includes 14 recommendations. One proposal is to refer low-risk notifications to health practices and services, with AHPRA only handling clinical issues relating to patient safety. Concern was raised about the stress and detrimental impacts of the current system. Another proposal would remove the mandatory requirements to report to AHPRA about a health professional's conduct if it poses a risk to the public. Concern was raised that the reporting requirements discourage health professionals from seeking help and treatment. Other recommendations include regulation of the use of the title "surgeon;" a more flexible re-entry to practice model; regulation of social workers, aged care workers, and personal care workers; simplification and enhanced education and support about notifications and other complaint pathways; and analysis and improvements in notification timeframes.

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North Carolina: pharmacists can report working conditions to board

Recent reports have highlighted challenges for pharmacists working at understaffed facilities and facing higher demand for services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy has created a complaint form for pharmacists "to report working conditions in their pharmacy that they believe are creating a threat to public health and safety." The Board will then investigate these complaints. The form asks about the number of staff, pharmacist to technician ratio, extra hours required to catch up on tasks, vaccination and COVID testing volume and responsibilities, prescription backlog and number of prescription fulfillments required per hour, and support from pharmacy management.

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Indiana State Nursing Assistance Program found to violate ADA

The US Department of Justice has found that the Indiana State Board of Nursing violates the Americans with Disabilities Act by prohibiting nurses who are prescribed medication for opioid use disorder from participating in their Nursing Assistance Program. The rehabilitation and monitoring program is often required for nurses with substance use disorders if they wish to maintain or reinstate their license. The Justice Department ruled that "recovery and monitoring programs must allow individuals to use proven medications that support their recovery, including prescribed medications that treat opioid use disorder." The Nursing Board has been directed to eliminate the ban on program participants using medication to treat OUD and to train all staff and vendors about OUD and the nondiscrimination requirements of the ADA.

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Survey confirms COVID-19 impact on pharmacy operations

A survey conducted by the American Pharmacists Association shows that high patient demand and staffing shortages are affecting pharmacists' ability to safely administer COVID vaccines. 27% of respondents reported that they had closed or reduced hours due to staffing shortages. 78% of respondents indicated workload exhaustion during the pandemic (up from 22% prior to the pandemic). 40% indicated that they did not have adequate support staff to safely offer COVID vaccinations.

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Canada: new federal law about intimidation of healthcare workers

A new federal law has come into effect in Canada making it illegal to intimidate a health professional in order to impede them from providing care or to intimidate a patient in order to impede them from obtaining health services. An offense against a person providing health services or against a person impeding them from obtaining health services can now be an aggravating sentencing factor for any offense.

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