COVID-19

In 2022, it’s a prospective employee’s world, and never more so than in healthcare.

There is constant pressure to fill vacant positions in healthcare systems at all levels, from executives and physicians to nurses and support staff members.

Over the past few years, 27 states have participated in the National Background Check Program to develop screening programs for long-term-care facilities. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently completed its fifth in a series of six reports on the program. This report focused on Idaho and Mississippi, the two states continuing the program. Twenty-seven states have completed their participation in the program.

More than two years into a pandemic, healthcare continues to face workforce challenges. High burnout and turnover have contributed to a continued shortage, and healthcare is working to find solutions.

With increased public opinion on marijuana legalization, the increased use of marijuana and other illicit substances; the challenges and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and managing remote workforces, employers are being challenged with creating safe, healthy, and effective work environments amid an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis. Some employers may look to their substance abuse policy to see if they can make any changes to potentially create a competitive advantage. Employers should be cautioned that the U.S.

The COVID-19 pandemic irrevocably shaped the healthcare industry as we know it. As a result, healthcare providers face many challenges as society returns to a semblance of normalcy, especially when it comes to the workforce.

Here are the top three workforce challenges healthcare providers must address in our new normal:

After more than two years spent in a global pandemic, healthcare employers have had to adapt how they attract, hire, screen, and onboard new talent.

Cisive, PreCheck’s parent company, conducted an industry benchmark study that asked human resources, talent acquisition, compliance, recruitment, and operations professionals in the healthcare industry how their policies and procedures changed as a result.

Work models have been in limbo since the COVID-19 pandemic first disrupted long-held workplace norms. This year, employers have to make long-term decisions for managing their workforces moving forward.

Human resource leaders in healthcare have already faced countless challenges over the past two years. But many of these challenges remain unsolved and will follow us throughout 2022.

Since the pandemic began, roles have been moved around within healthcare systems to fill urgent needs. Clinicians have been overworked and fatigued, and all of this disruption has affected patient safety outcomes. Preventable central-line associated bloodstream infections, for example, have risen 51% compared to pre-pandemic rates.

Many health systems have improved their performance by focusing on what is called the “Triple Aim.” These include three dimensions: