HHS is dedicating $103 million from ARP to address workforce burnout

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration, is earmarking roughly $103 million from the American Rescue Plan over three years to reduce burnout and promote mental health among the healthcare workforce.

The funding is meant to help healthcare organizations establish a culture of wellness among their various workforces, and to support training efforts that build resilience in those just starting their careers. HHS said the investments will take into account the needs of rural and medically underserved communities.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

The impetus for the move was the wealth of challenges and stresses placed on providers due to high patient volumes, long work hours and other workplace demands, HHS said. These challenges were amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have had a disproportionate impact on communities of color and in rural communities.

In an effort to combat this trend, the funding and the programs that go with that funding will be geared to support the implementation of evidence-informed strategies to help provider organizations respond to stressful situations. The hope is that this will allow them to avoid burnout and foster healthy workplace environments that promote mental health and resilience.

There are three funding opportunities that are open for applications.

The first is Promoting Resilience and Mental Health Among Health Professional Workforce. In this program, about 10 awards will be given, totaling approximately $29 million over three years to healthcare organizations to support members of their workforce. This includes establishing, enhancing or expanding evidence-informed programs or protocols to adopt, and implement, an organizational culture of wellness.

The second is the Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Training Program. About 30 awards will be given, totaling approximately $68 million over three years for educational institutions and other appropriate state, local, tribal, public or private nonprofit entities training people early in their health careers. This includes providing evidence-informed planning, development and training in health-profession activities in order to reduce burnout.

Finally, under the Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Technical Assistance Center, one award will be made for approximately $6 million over three years to provide tailored training and technical assistance to HRSA's workforce resiliency programs.

Applications are due August 30.

THE LARGER TREND

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated feelings of stress and burnout that were already prevalent among the provider community. Female physicians and those in critical care and infectious disease report the highest rates of burnout during the public health emergency, according to findings from a January physician burnout report from Medscape.

A CEO Coalition was formed earlier this year by 10 CEOs from across the country to address burnout and other issues affecting the workforce.

Burnout and the stress of the pandemic – including factors such as personal risk, social distancing and financial uncertainty – appeared to diminish physicians' overall work life happiness, with only 49% reporting they were happy in 2020 versus 69% pre-pandemic. More than one-third (34%) reported feeling unhappy last year, compared with 19% in 2019.

Nearly 80% of physicians said they felt burned out prior to the pandemic, but one in five said their burnout emerged only last year. Critical care (51%), rheumatology (50%) and infectious disease specialists (49%) ranked among the highest in reporting burnout for the first time since Medscape began surveying on the issue in 2013.

Even prior to the pandemic, burnout among healthcare professionals was a pervasive public health concern, with some studies reporting burnout for more than 50% of clinicians.

One recent study found reducing provider burden by optimizing flowsheets may have an appreciable effect on this trend.

Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com