In This Story
Each day, millions of Americans engage with a doctor or nurse, yet many are unaware that our frontline health professionals are experiencing increased workplace violence, stress, and burnout, with long-term implications for our healthcare system.
Even with the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in our rearview mirrors, healthcare workers experience chronic staffing shortages, unfavorable or unsafe work environments, and unrelenting workloads. As a result, an estimated 46% of health workers report mental health challenges such as burnout or depressive symptoms, which directly impacts the quality of patient care.
Demand for healthcare is skyrocketing while the workforce is shrinking; in fact, 23% of physicians and at least 30% of nurses reported they would leave their jobs if they could and 50% of workers said they plan to leave their healthcare jobs in the next few years.
Our nation stands at the brink of a failing healthcare system, and we must support Congressional efforts to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our healthcare workers.
The need for strong policies to protect frontline health workers is more critical now than ever. That's why I am amplifying two bipartisan efforts currently proposed by Congress: the Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness resolution and the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act reauthorization.
Together, we can drive action to address the mental health crisis in our healthcare system. Investing in solutions symbolizes the hope of future generations of health workers—who deserve our unwavering support and respect.
Here at the College of Public Health, we are celebrating our first Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness this Monday, March 18 in recognition of healthcare workers across the nation, and to support for the resolution to make this a nationally recognized day. In February, a bipartisan group led by Senators Tim Kaine and Todd Young introduced the resolution to declare this awareness day, in honor of all healthcare professionals who serve their communities.
This year, Mason’s College of Public Health is proud to join the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), which is leading the charge to celebrate Health Workforce Well-Being Day 2024.
March 18 is the two-year anniversary of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. Named for Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency room physician who took her life during the height of the pandemic, the bipartisan, bicameral reauthorization efforts represent the support and respect of the American people for the millions of professionals dedicated to promoting health, healing, and prevention.
The Breen Act underscores the continued urgency to reduce and prevent burnout, suicide, and mental health conditions experienced by doctors, nurses, first responders, and other frontline professionals. Continued investment in the well-being of our health workforce shows that the American people have their backs.
As Americans, we aspire to deliver the best healthcare in the world, and a healthy, thriving workforce is required to provide that care. In support of our healthcare workers, researchers at George Mason University have developed and implemented evidence-based workplace practices to support the health, safety, and well-being of healthcare workers. This includes developing training programs and interventions for employers to recognize and address stress, burnout, and other mental health challenges. Research-backed strategies include building a supportive working environment, redesigning job functions and working arrangements, and leveraging digital technology to deliver resilience self-care and burnout prevention training.
These two bipartisan efforts by Congress are only the first steps. Congress needs to also consider additional policy options to support the health, safety, and wellbeing of healthcare workers. This could include improving nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, preventing workplace violence, and increasing reimbursement for certain health services such as primary care, coordination of care, and mental health. Individual organizations have already started to implement policies in these areas, and national policy changes can help many more healthcare workers and lead to better patient care.
The time to raise America’s awareness and protect our healthcare professionals is now. As a result, we are also investing in the future of our health system and ourselves because workforce safety and well-being and patient safety go hand-in-hand.
Improving mental health and preventing suicide are issues very close to my heart as an epidemiologist, educator, and survivor of a suicide attempt as an adolescent. Giving our health workforce policies and resources that reduce stress, enhance resilience, and mitigate burnout will save lives and strengthen the American healthcare system. I congratulate Congress for advancing these important bills and urge them to make these efforts the first step in our nation coming together to protect our vital healthcare workforce.