Burnout is one of the top challenges facing clinicians and other healthcare workers nationwide. In a report published last week by The Physicians Foundation, 30% of more than 2,300 physicians surveyed cited feelings of hopelessness or having no purpose due to changes in their practices related to the coronavirus pandemic. Research published in September 2018 indicates that nearly half of physicians across the country are experiencing burnout symptoms.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response has issued updates regarding the Ryuk ransomware threat that has threatened the healthcare and public sectors since 2018

“While it is always important to focus on physician mental health, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges and exceptional demands that strain physicians. The AMA has responded by quickly moving new resources into the field that support the well-being of physicians during a time of acute stress,” she said.

Review the latest patient safety road map with your accreditation managers, C-suite, and governing board because they may be asked about it during your next accreditation survey.

Then use the self-assessment to get a boots-on-the-ground look at how you’re really doing on preventing patient harm.

With a nod to the groundbreaking To Err Is Human report from more than 20 years ago, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) Safer Together: A National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety combines an extensive offering of resources with an online, downloadable self-assessment to help organizations get closer than ever to eliminating patient harm.

The report aims to take the goal of zero harm from reactive to proactive, says Patrick Horine, MHA, president of DNV GL Healthcare, who served on the national steering committee convened by the IHI to draft and develop the report. 

As of this September, 2020 has already been declared the worst wildfire season in U.S. history, with more fires possible all the way into December. Over 4.5 million acres have been burned in California, Washington, and Oregon as of this writing.

The fires have caused billions of dollars’ worth of damage and forced more than half a million people to evacuate. Smoke from the fires was thick enough to be seen from space, turned skies red over many cities, and was blown as far east as New England.

And experts warn to expect the same in 2021 and beyond. Scientists say that wildfire seasons are going to worsen and grow longer as the world deals with climate change. Rising temperatures and droughts have made it easier for fires to start and spread. It does not take much more than lightning or a gender reveal party to start a massive blaze.

During a crisis like this, people will be relying on healthcare providers more than ever. Patients will come in suffering from physical ailments such as smoke inhalation, dehydration, or burns. They’ll come in with mental and emotional issues from watching their homes, sometimes their towns, burn down.

Hospitals and clinics need to be prepared ahead of time to deal with patient surges, unsafe conditions, and the possible need to evacuate.