Newsletter Update 66

(07/08/21) Update: Hospitals, Health Systems Mandating Vaccines for Workers
The number of hospitals and health systems that are now requiring health care employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccination is rapidly growing. This article from Becker’s Hospital Review lists the healthcare organization’s that have announced COVID-19 vaccine mandates as of July 8, 2021.

(07/08/21) COVID-19 Vaccines Could Soon Be Mandatory for VA Employees
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is now weighing in on COVID-19 vaccination mandates for its employees who work in health services. In efforts to ensure the safety of veteran patients and increase vaccination rates among VA staff, the VA Secretary, Denis McDonough, has offered incentives for health care workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and may consider a vaccination mandate if necessary.

(07/08/21) Trinity Health Mandates COVID-19 Vaccine for Employees at 91 Hospitals
This article from Becker’s Hospital Review highlights Trinity Health’s decision to mandate the COVID-19 vaccination among its employees. Trinity Health is one of the largest health systems in the nation with 91 hospitals, 113 continuing care facilities, and 117,000 employees. Employees are required to submit proof of vaccination by September 21, 2021.

(07/07/21) Hospitals Pressure Employees to Get Vaccinated As COVID-19 Variant Spread
Several hospital systems are mandating their workers to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and improve vaccination rates among health care workers. According to the most recent federal data reported by US hospitals, thousands of health care workers remain unvaccinated and yet COVID-19 vaccination mandates are being met with resistance by health care workers, unions, and the public.

(7/7/2020) NY Health Care Workers Report Distress Related to COVID-19 Care
This article introduces a research article from General Hospital Psychiatry regarding COVID-19 related psychological distress of health care workers in New York City (NYC). The study that surveyed health workers in NYC in April 2020 reports the high rates of psychological symptoms among the responses: 37% for acute stress, 48% of depression, and 33% of anxiety. The study also reports that the most common coping behavior was physical activity and exercise (59%).

(7/6/2020) Kansas City-region ICU Nurse Talks COVID-19 Burnout As Missouri Sees Rise in Cases
This news clip summarizes interviews with a nurse caring for new COVID-19 patients at a hospital located in Kansas city, regarding burnout and fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic. The quotes in the clip show how health workers have struggled and coped with the pandemic and the rise of the patients.

(07/06/21) COVID-19, Masks, and Hearing Difficulty: Perspectives of Healthcare Providers
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society assessed the perspectives of healthcare providers on mask wearing and communication challenges among adult patients with hearing difficulties. The researchers conducted a national survey containing 37 questions which focused on hearing loss awareness, patient communication challenges, and tools used by providers to improve communication. The findings suggest that COVID-19 safety measures have significantly increased the awareness of communication challenges related to hearing difficulties and have adversely impacted the quality of care received for hearing impaired patients.

(07/02/21) The Health Care Workforce Is Understaffed for Life After COVID-19
This opinion piece from STAT News discusses the profound impact the COVID-19 pandemic has made on the health care workforce. As the nation slowly approaches a sense of normalcy, an anticipated spike in the demand for health care workers is magnifying the worsening health workforce shortages that negatively affect the health care system. Reaching pre-pandemic levels of the supply in health care workers may need to begin with improving the educational pipeline and investing in a higher paying labor market.

(07/07/21) New OSHA Standard to Disrupt Healthcare Workforce Management
The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is urging the US Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration to delay or rescind its decision on the new COVID-19 emergency temporary standard. This request has come as the organization believes that the emergency temporary standard is duplicative of existing efforts and may significantly disrupt health care workforce management.

(06/30/21) American Hospital Association Seeks Extension for Hospitals to Follow COVID-19 Workplace Safety Rules
The US Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emergency temporary standard for healthcare workers went into effect on June 21, 2021, with a compliance deadline of 14 days for priority provisions and 30 days for remaining provisions. This article from Becker’s Hospital Review highlights a letter written by the American Hospital Association which requests a six-month extension on the compliance dates for facilities to comply with the COVID-19 workplace safety rules.