Boston, MA, March 26, 2013--Health care workers are experiencing an epidemic of demoralization, fatigue, and risk of injury that threatens not only their safety, but the safety of the patients under their care. That?s the central premise of Through the Eyes of the Workforce: Creating Joy, Meaning, and Safer Health Care, the latest white paper from the Lucian Leape Institute at NPSF. During a well-attended webcast on March 19, members of the Leape Institute Roundtable that produced the paper discussed the issue and proposed pathways to improvement.
Julianne Morath, RN, MS, an internationally recognized authority on patient safety and a founding member of the Leape Institute, began the program with evidence suggesting widespread dissatisfaction with health care as a workplace. For example, 60% of those responding to a survey of physicians said they are considering leaving practice, while 37% of newly licensed nurses are thinking of leaving their jobs.
Ms. Morath noted the dual problems of physical and psychological harm. In the former category, needlestick injuries, back injuries from lifting patients, and the exposure to chemicals all place health care workers at greater risk of injury. Psychological harm is rampant, with lack of respect, lack of support, and production pressures all adding to an environment short on joy and meaning.
?People working under stress, and in the absence of psychological safety, are found to be less vigilant with regard to safety practices, both for patients and for themselves,? she said.
Workplace safety, Ms. Morath said, is a precondition for joy and meaning in work. ?These are not sentimental notions,? she added. ?The costs of inaction are significant.?
David Michaels, PhD, MPH, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, US Department of Labor, was among the presenters. He pointed out that many people are surprised to learn that health care workers experience the highest rates of injury and illness in the country. ?The same lessons that we know from manufacturing, from construction, to reduce injury and illness are the ones that can be applied to health care,? he said.
Improving the situation will require leadership commitment, robust systems of reporting and evaluating risk, and the evolution of the health care culture from one of disrespect to one of healthy teamwork.
Also speaking during yesterday?s program were Paul O?Neill, former chairman and CEO of Alcoa and the 72nd Secretary of the US Treasury, who has been involved in health and safety issues for much of his professional life, and Sandy Shea, policy director, Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Healthcare.
Questions posed to the panel covered a range of concerns, one being that health care organizations? primary focus is ?generating revenue.? How, then, to get leadership to understand the importance of this issue?
?It doesn?t cost more money to be respectful,? said Mr. O?Neill. ?It doesn?t cost more money to investigate things gone wrong in real time.?
In response to a concern about employees? fears of reporting, Ms. Shea suggested that managers and supervisors, ?need to model good, responsible, conscientious behavior. You have to communicate that it?s a safe environment for reporting.?
Through the Eyes of the Workforce recommends seven broad actions that organizations should pursue if they are serious about improvements in this area.
This topic is one of five transforming concepts identified by the Leape Institute as areas requiring system-level attention and action to improve patient safety. The white paper is the result of two interdisciplinary roundtables and focus groups held on the topic.
To read more or download the white paper or the webcast audio and presentation slides, click here.
If you would like to send your thoughts on this work to the Leape Institute members, visit our online comment form.
Workers who want to contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can call a toll-free number: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742); TTY 1-877-889-5627. For additional information on worker rights, people should visit the OSHA website.
Read answers to questions that did not get addressed during the webinar.
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