ASQ: IT can ameliorate health worker shortage
Health IT, especially EMRs, can help organizations and patients deal with the expected shortage of U.S. healthcare workers, according to a survey from the American Society for Quality (ASQ).
The healthcare worker shortage will result in more fragmented, uncoordinated care, longer waits and an increased possibility of medical errors, according to a poll of 475 ASQ-member U.S. healthcare quality professionals. Quality will be most affected by shortages of primary care physicians (cited by 44 percent of respondents), and shortages of nurses and nursing assistants (cited by 27 percent of respondents), stated ASQ, based in Milwaukee.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicts that healthcare staffing shortages will increase significantly after 2014, when approximately 32 million more people will be insured under the healthcare reform law, and as more baby boomers reach Medicare age.
Use of health IT systems; checklists in the ER and other departments; more care teams of doctors, nurses, physician assistants; and disease educators also can help, according to ASQ.
Respondents identified EMRs as the IT system that will provide the most value in reducing the impact of staff shortages. In addition, increased use of quality and process engineers should be the top priority for hospitals to reduce costs in light of shortages, respondents said.
Other methods identified by the ASQ poll include:
The healthcare worker shortage will result in more fragmented, uncoordinated care, longer waits and an increased possibility of medical errors, according to a poll of 475 ASQ-member U.S. healthcare quality professionals. Quality will be most affected by shortages of primary care physicians (cited by 44 percent of respondents), and shortages of nurses and nursing assistants (cited by 27 percent of respondents), stated ASQ, based in Milwaukee.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicts that healthcare staffing shortages will increase significantly after 2014, when approximately 32 million more people will be insured under the healthcare reform law, and as more baby boomers reach Medicare age.
Use of health IT systems; checklists in the ER and other departments; more care teams of doctors, nurses, physician assistants; and disease educators also can help, according to ASQ.
Respondents identified EMRs as the IT system that will provide the most value in reducing the impact of staff shortages. In addition, increased use of quality and process engineers should be the top priority for hospitals to reduce costs in light of shortages, respondents said.
Other methods identified by the ASQ poll include:
- Implement mandatory process improvement training for healthcare;
- Create financial incentives to deliver more efficient care;
- Redesign hospital care spaces to be more efficient; and
- Change malpractice laws.