Articles related to STAFFING AND ADMINISTRATION

In an alarming case at the Omaha VA Medical Center, a year-long gap in monitoring the lung imaging registry led to serious patient care oversights, including a veteran’s undiagnosed lung cancer progression. This incident highlights the critical need for continuous and vigilant monitoring in healthcare systems.

The recent suspension of the oncology program at Trios Health, due to a shortage of medical oncologists, highlights a growing national challenge in healthcare staffing, particularly in non-urban areas.

At the 2023 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Annual Conference, a panel of experts discussed solutions to address staff shortages and retain workers in cancer care. The suggestions ranged from offering work-from-home opportunities to gifting small gestures like cookies and wine, with the aim of improving employee retention. The value of flexible working options and compensation were recurring themes, along with the importance of employee recognition programs and discussing career advancement opportunities. Exacerbated by the pandemic, burnout, and early retirements, the shortage of nurses and doctors in cancer centers has become more pressing as Americans grow older and require more oncology services. The panelists emphasized that having visible management, offering flexible working options, and providing employee recognition programs are important steps to retain staff in cancer care. They also discussed the significance of discussing career advancement opportunities and avoiding the use of temporary travel staff to retain employees.

Dental practices can increase patient retention, boost productivity, and ultimately expand their practice by investing in team training. Patients are more likely to refer your practice to others and return for further consultations when they have a great experience at your office. For your office to be successful, a strong team effort involving the administrative staff, clinical team, and the dentist is necessary to ensure that your patients have an overall favorable experience.

The author explains that a nursing strike can have a significant impact on oncology practices, which rely heavily on nursing staff for patient care. The article suggests that practices should have a contingency plan in place in the event of a strike, including identifying alternative sources of nursing staff, communicating with patients about the potential impact on their care, and ensuring that all staff members are trained on how to handle the situation. The article also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a respectful and open dialogue with nursing staff throughout the negotiation process to minimize the likelihood of a strike.

The effectiveness of one’s dry eye disease (DED) clinic depends on staff involvement in both diagnostic testing and patient education for three reasons: (1) It enables ODs to see more DED patients and quickly prescribe the treatment(s) needed to provide symptomatic relief; (2) It emphasizes the significance of diagnosing and adhering to the prescribed DED treatment; (3) And it fosters staff loyalty to a practice because they are actively involved in patient care rather than merely checking off the boxes.