Report: Change staff roles in new primary care model
Re-educating clinical staff to work in a team-based model of care is one of the biggest challenges facing hospitals and the rest of the health care system as they strive to design a more effective model of primary care. That's one of the findings in a new report from the American Hospital Association. The report was developed by the AHA Primary Care Workforce Roundtable, and includes recommendations and guiding principles to help stakeholders address primary care workforce issues and develop a more effective model of primary care that encompasses the birth to end-of-life continuum. Go to www.aha.org/content/13/13-0110-wf-primary-care.pdf.
3 ways to ease the shortage of primary care physicians
The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that by 2020, the United States will have 45,000 fewer primary care physicians than it needs. However, a report published in Health Affairs in January says certain trends encouraged by federal reforms and already gaining momentum could alleviate or even eliminate the shortage. They include team-based care and patient-centered medical homes that include nonphysicians, such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners. They could take some of the work pressure off physicians and might encourage more medical students to opt for primary care. Also, greater use of electronic health records will improve efficiency and allow practices to see more patients. Visit http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/32/1/11.
5 reasons nurses become dissatisfied with their work
Lack of support from management and an overloaded schedule are the top reasons nurses become unhappy in their jobs, according to the 2012 Nurse Practice Trends survey by Jackson Healthcare. The report also considers what nurses most like about their work, retirement projections, overtime and pay trends, and what nurses believe are looming risks to the profession. When it comes to dissatisfaction, the other three top reasons are "low compensation, pay cuts or no raises; inadequate staffing; and lack of respect and appreciation from management." Visit www.jacksonhealthcare.com.
