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In the Face of a Tripledemic and an Understaffed Health Care System, Health Care Staffing Agencies May Help Meet Short — and Long-Term Staffing Needs, Improve Patient Care and Reduce Malpractice Risk

For people who aren’t on the front lines of health care, the holidays might mean a few hectic weeks, with crowded stores, kitchens and guest rooms. But for health care practices, the crowds are in the waiting rooms and the hustle and bustle is working to treat more patients with winter illnesses, often with fewer staff.

And this winter, a tripledemic has arrived, infecting patients and staff with COVID-19, flu and RSV, and further stressing the capacity of an already stretched health care system.

Health care is facing unprecedented staffing shortages. Some estimates predict a nationwide shortage of 95,000 nursing assistants and more than 29,000 nurse practitioners nationwide by 2025. A Massachusetts Hospital Association report earlier this year estimated 19,000 current open staff positions in Massachusetts acute care hospitals alone, and expressed concern about what that means for patient care.

Smaller practices may have less flexibility to move staff to cover vacations, sick time, and increased demand for care. The increased pressure and workloads resulting from inadequate staffing increase the opportunity for error. Longer wait times for appointments and cancelled appointments due to illness may delay diagnoses, or leave patients feeling anxious about their care. All of these are factors that can lead to malpractice risk.

Policy changes and investments at the corporate, state, and federal levels, such as expanding capacity and opportunities to train health care workers, maintaining telemedicine access, and promoting wellness for existing staff, may help address health care staff issues over the long term.

Meanwhile, health care practices with an immediate need for qualified staff may benefit from using a health care staffing agency. These agencies can help ensure you have the staff to cover temporary and permanent needs, and take most of the burden of recruiting, assessing, and credentialing off your existing staff, allowing them to focus on patient care.

Physicians Insurance has partnered with Favorite Healthcare Staffing  a member of Acacium Group. With two offices here in Massachusetts, one in Boston and one in Worcester, Favorite is uniquely positioned to help you fill permanent, per diem, temporary staff positions, including nursing and allied health, physicians, advanced practice staff, practice managers, and non-clinical front and back office staff. Favorite offers Massachusetts Medical Society members exclusive preferred pricing and benefits, including credentialing services such as background checks, OIG/GSA, drug screens and references, a dedicated account manager, 24-hour customer service line, and risk mitigation. Favorite Healthcare Staffing is a Joint Commission-certified health care staffing agency.

Visit Favorite Healthcare Staffing at www.favoritestaffing.com or call 781.810.4016 and ask for the MMS Member discount.

Find out more about Favorite Healthcare Staffing

Written in collaboration with our affiliate vendor, Favorite Healthcare Staffing. Favorite Healthcare Staffing has been a preferred partner of Physicians Insurance Agency of Massachusetts for many years. They have been providing healthcare staffing and direct hire services to the healthcare industry for over 40 years from 28 offices nationwide.
Published December 2022