Today, more health care providers are suffering from burnout than ever, due to a combination of factors that include the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 crisis. According to one survey, about 25% of clinicians are thinking about leaving the health care field entirely, and another found that 36% of physicians were considering early retirement.
A 2021 study from the Association of American Medical Colleges estimated that the U.S. could see a shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034. Health systems and health insurance providers are taking steps to address this crisis and support the clinicians who care for patients.
Increasing the Workforce
New policies and incentives to grow the pool of qualified providers are one way the industry is seeking to relieve overburdened clinicians. L.A. Care, for example, has committed $8 million to medical school loan payment grants to make it easier for qualified students to train as providers.
To build a more diverse workforce that can advance health equity, Blue Shield of California is investing $7 million to create a new fellowship program at U.C. Berkeley School of Public Health to support graduate students from underrepresented communities.
Growing Telehealth
In March 2022, UPMC launched a “Tele-ED,” which allows patients to receive care locally in close consultation with qualified emergency medicine physicians in another location. Expansion of telehealth is making it easier for patients to access care, and for clinicians to care for patients more efficiently. Clinicians in rural and underserved communities are stretched to provide care for the patients who need it. When telehealth makes it easier and faster for patients and providers to connect for care, clinicians with overloaded schedules can get some relief, and patients get more timely access to care.
Investing in Value-Based Care
Moving from a fee-for-service model to one centered on improving patient outcomes, such as Accountable Care Organizations, can also relieve the burden on providers. Volume-based care offers incentives for providers to do more to treat patients who are sick. Value-based care increases the focus on promoting preventive services and improving population health — including addressing social drivers such as food, transportation, housing and other key factors that impact health.
And it’s working: a 2022 study from Humana and the Medical Group Management Association notes that 67% of the surveyed primary care practice leaders said that value-based principles improved the quality of care their patients received. AHIP recently found that, on average, nearly half (40%) of U.S. health care payments flowed through these types of advanced payment models, which alleviate the burden on clinicians and provide better care to patients, in 2021.
Recent years have challenged our health care ecosystem, and put tremendous pressure on front-line clinicians. We can ease the burden on health care providers by encouraging the development of future clinicians, supporting those caring for patients today, and strengthening our system overall. A stronger health care system better serves patients and clinicians alike.