The pandemic shone a spotlight on the healthcare sector’s workforce issues, but the issue is far from resolved.
The physician burnout rate may have dropped to below 50% last year — but many healthcare leaders think this statistical improvement is due to the fact that fewer doctors are around to answer the survey, not that they are feeling less stressed.
To address physician shortages, healthcare providers — including health systems, private equity-owned practices and retail health centers — will have to work hard to differentiate themselves as physician employers, according to a new report released by consulting firm EY on Monday.
There are more than 2 million clinician positions open across the country, and two thirds of nurses are unhappy with their jobs, pointed out Kim Dalla Torre, EY’s global and Americas health leader.
When she works with healthcare provider clients to address these problems, technology is always part of the solution, she noted.
Of course, this means adopting AI. Providing clinicians with AI tools that can quickly surface relevant data and enable them to spend more time with their patients is key — and providers that offer these tools will have an easier time retaining physicians, Dalla Torre said.
She also noted that physicians don’t go into the field of medicine to spend hours inputting data into computers and tablets — so they appreciate technology that alleviates administrative tasks like documentation and prior authorization.
The need for providers to make physicians’ lives easier is more serious than ever, added another EY leader, Mike India, principal of healthcare strategy.
“There’s an ever-increasing demand for clinicians — from payers, corporate entities and even medical product distributors who are moving into services beyond what they typically do,” he stated.
No matter which type, all physician employers need to rethink how they engage their clinicians, India said.
Adopting value-based care models could be a way to win over some physicians, he added.
“New models continue to be set up where clinicians are asked to think and engage in new and different ways to help the patients and help members. You’ll find that sweet spot of efficiency and care engagement,” India remarked.
Value-based care requires physicians to stay on top of their patients’ day-to-day health — which is challenging, but achievable with the right technology, he noted. To physicians who care deeply about their patients’ health and longevity, the ability to successfully participate in innovative value-based care models can be an attractive selling point.
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