The American healthcare system may be one of the most efficient in the world, but the pandemic has exposed its inconsistencies, that have hit the most vulnerable the hardest.
The American healthcare system may be one of the most efficient in the world, but the pandemic has exposed its inconsistencies, that have hit the most vulnerable the hardest.
This has happened in every sector, including healthcare. Right now, the United States is experiencing an acute shortage of medical care professionals in hospitals, home healthcare services, clinics, and other primary healthcare institutions. This is especially critical because it takes a lot of time and effort to train medical staff, and we cannot afford to lose them.
Some of the conclusions were obvious, while others surprised everyone. For instance, healthcare workers relied on a lot of partner support. Similarly, digital communication with friends helped manage loneliness. It also brought out an element of frailty along with unimaginable strength and resilience.
It has had some profound consequences for many people. Mental issues related to social isolation, psychological stress, distress, trauma, and stress have come to the fore, especially for frontline workers. COVID-overwhelmed hospitals have strained staff with increased instances of burnout and stress.
This expectation is irrespective of the pressure or any mental health issues. Without the team cooperating with one another, they will continue to be physically and mentally vulnerable and may soon be tempted to quit the professional altogether.
Therefore, ignoring self-health will only compound the problem. We need self-help and preventive measures to address some of the stress and exertion that add to burnout.
These help to create a comfortable and inclusive atmosphere to encourage everyone to do their best. And that is why we need to make it easy for people to ask for help to survive and thrive. We also must reassess our current practices and innovate quickly.
Researchers even corroborated this by finding that when people felt psychologically safe, they are more likely to perform better and develop adaptive and innovative ideas. Some managements have created strategies to create a network of teams that operate within an organization to encourage people to solve problems rather than feel burdened by them. Such teams are flexible, agile, and different from the old bureaucratic setup that relies on hierarchical expectations.
Abandoning the old bureaucratic setup, even temporarily, isn’t easy because it must instill confidence and psychological safety to think outside the box. If the staff feel tradition prevents them from handling stress, it could lead to depression and a feeling of hopelessness.
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