What We Know and Don’t Know about the Effects of Covid-19 on the Health Workforce and Teams
The pandemic has ravaged the nation’s health along multiple dimensions. Patients have become sick, died, and are suffering the long-term physical and mental health effects of infection. Underserved, marginalized and rural populations have endured a disproportionate share of illness and economic impact. Health care providers are burned out, traumatized, and leaving the workforce in unprecedented numbers. Hospitals and practices are in “survival mode,” straining to provide care while short-staffed and facing high turnover rates. Although the long-term effects of the pandemic are unknown, one of the most pressing challenges facing educators, employers and policy makers is balancing the need to address the pandemic’s immediate effects on health care workers with responding to the longer-term, macro forces shaping the health care workforce. New payment models, a heightened focus on population health, and the nation’s renewed commitment to addressing health inequities have accelerated the adoption of team-based models of training and practice to address the social, physical, and behavioral health needs of patients, populations, and communities. As health care increasingly shifts from acute to ambulatory and home- based care settings, the workforce is also moving from hospitals to community-based settings. These workforce shifts will challenge educators, health systems, and practices to:
- Develop curriculum and clinical placements that better prepare the workforce to provide integrated behavioral health and primary care in ambulatory and community-based settings
- Upskill the existing workforce to take on new roles in population health management, complex care coordination, behavioral health, chronic disease management, geriatrics etc.
- Implement team-based models of care that “share the care” between physicians, RNs, LPNs, certified nursing assistants, social workers, and other team members
After attending this session, attendees will be able to describe at least:
- two pandemic-related forces affecting the workforce and team-based models of care;
- two forces, not related to the pandemic, affecting the workforce and team-based models of care; and
- three interventions to ensure the nation has a well-prepared and diverse workforce prepared to address the social, physical, and behavioral health needs of patients, populations, and communities.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (OICPD). The OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
The National Center OICPD is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with their participation.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Athletic Trainers: This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.