What You Should Know:
– A new survey by Carta Healthcare®, a company focused on harnessing the power of clinical data, sheds light on the pressing challenges faced by healthcare professionals in the United States.
– In honor of Certified Nurses Day, the survey conducted Propeller Insights in January/February 2024 among 500 healthcare workers, reveals that staff shortages and burnout are taking a significant toll on the industry.
Staffing Shortages: The Root Cause of Burnout
While consumers ranked paperwork as a leading cause of burnout in the October 2022 survey, healthcare workers overwhelmingly pointed to staffing shortages (58%) followed by low pay and long hours (46.6%). Other contributing factors included:
- Quality of care decline (27.9%)
- Personnel issues (27.5%)
- Lack of necessary supplies and equipment (26.3%)
- Leadership concerns (23.9%)
- Administrative tasks (22.3%)
Impact on Patient Care
The survey revealed a significant correlation between staffing shortages and longer wait times. Thirty-five percent of healthcare workers indicated they are “doing the best they can with limited staff,” while 27.9% expressed concern that wait times will worsen without increased staffing.
Job Satisfaction and the Path Forward
Knowing their current challenges, 37.1% of healthcare workers considered alternative career paths. Reasons for potentially leaving their jobs included:
- Low pay and long hours (53.8%)
- Short-staffed facilities (45.4%)
- Lack of leadership (31.5%)
- Personnel issues (31.3%)
Fortunately, the survey also identified factors that could improve job satisfaction:
- Higher pay (65.3%)
- Increased staffing (48.2%)
- More time for direct patient care (32.1%)
- Technological advancements (29.1%)
The Post-Pandemic Landscape: A Continued Strain
Over half of respondents felt the strain on healthcare systems is equal to or worse than during the pandemic. This highlights the ongoing need for solutions.
AI as a Potential Remedy
Both healthcare workers and consumers expressed hope for AI-powered solutions to address staffing shortages. However, a gap in awareness exists:
- 86.1% of healthcare workers felt they understood AI in healthcare compared to only 57% of consumers surveyed in August 2023.
- While 73.1% of healthcare workers reported using AI in their practice, only 29% of consumers were aware of this according to the August 2023 Carta Healthcare survey.
Building Trust in AI
Despite some skepticism, a significant majority (85.3%) of healthcare workers believe AI can improve patient experiences, and 76.9% see its potential to combat labor shortages. The survey also identified preferred AI applications:
- Data analytics, entry, and management for clinical documentation (73.9%)
- Tools to reduce duplicate paperwork (65.7%)
Looking Ahead: New Technologies for a Brighter Future
The survey highlights the most exciting new healthcare technologies for workers:
- Medical imaging for early disease detection (55.6%)
- Tools to reduce administrative burdens (52.2%)
- Faster diagnostics for improved patient outcomes (49%
“On Certified Nurses Day, we thank the nurses and practitioners who are on the front lines day in and day out, fighting for our health and wellness. These survey results show that the labor shortages have been increasingly challenging for the well-being of staff, causing burnout for over half of healthcare professionals today. The results also reveal confidence that technology such as AI can help. Carta Healthcare is dedicated to improving patient outcomes and helping nurses do their administrative work more efficiently, freeing their time to instead spend with patients, which we know is most important to them,” said Carta Healthcare CEO Brent Dover.
Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted by Propeller Insights between January 30th and February 7th, 2024, with a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points.