Study: Health workers burning out
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ALPENA -- Forty-six percent of American health workers reported often feeling burned out in 2022, according to a University of Chicago survey reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In 2018, the feeling of burnout was at 32%, showing a 14-point increase.
The survey also showed health worker harassment more than doubled, which led to more feelings of depression and anxiety.
Dr. Casey Chosewood, director and senior medical officer at the Office for Total Worker Health at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, told reporters in a conference call that health workers face harassment as "sort of a constellation of negative exposures, negative work experiences.
"So it could be, you know, anger between patients and staff, it could be between coworkers themselves," Chosewood said. "Bullying, negative comments, really, you know, unfortunate interactions between people all would represent forms of harassment."
MyMichigan Health, the Midland-based owner of the Alpena hospital, reported 29% of its health providers experienced burnout in 2022 and reported 35% of all employees experienced burnout in the spring of 2023.
Dr. Pankaj Jandwani, system vice president of medical affairs at MyMichigan Health, said mental health of health care providers has been a topic among MyMichigan administrators for a while.
"Through the (coronavirus) pandemic and into the endemic, we know there are stressors unique for health care providers," Jandwani said. "We saw in 2022 a 29% burnout rate in providers, which is lower than the 46% average, but that still leaves about one in four providers burned out. So, what do we do?"
Jandwani said MyMichigan has a Web page titled MyWellbeing on which employees can find resources and other helpful information.
On that website, MyMichigan defines wellbeing as "our ability to feel good, struggle well, and function effectively."
"MyWellbeing shares to employees health resources, discounts that the company provides, and coaching to help with mental health," Jandwani said. "In the health care field, lots of things can happen for our providers that can be significant to their mental health. There's loss, grief, and other emotions in a medical space, and we have resources to help workers with that."
On the topic of harassment in the workplace, Jandwani mentioned assault -- specifically physical assault -- as a concern for employee safety. He said the medical field is filled with lots of stressful feelings and patients in distress may assault providers.
This year's numbers thus far show MyMichigan employee assaults are at the lowest point since the health system started measuring them in 2018. Jandwani said training and crisis prevention for workers has reduced potential harm.
"We actually now have a color-coding communication tool for people who may not have training," Jandwani said. "Say there's a volunteer or someone else who's around patients. The color-coded tool is meant to help them in case they need further assistance."
Jandwani showed a reporter a document from one of MyMichigan's Enhancing Wellbeing sessions, virtual meetings at which employees can share ideas and concerns. The document showed that employees gave health system leaders suggestions on how to improve.
The first improvement discussed leadership visibility, stating "some (non-clinical staff) have commented that they have never met the leaders and wish they could."
The CDC study analysis mentioned that health workers in 2022 experienced less burnout if they trusted management or had supervisor help. MyMichigan has a top priority goal for all leaders a to do frequent purposeful rounding with all of our employees including the non-clinical areas.
"We come to work as our whole self," Jandwani said. "We want to encourage wellbeing in providers and to have them feel good, struggle well, and function effectively."
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that 29% of MyMichigan Health health care providers experienced burnout in 2022 and that 35% of all its employees reported feelings of burnout in the spring of 2023.