Workforce

Physician assistants have experienced a number of workforce changes amid the battle against COVID-19, with some being furloughed or laid off from their principal clinical position, and others changing specialties, according to a report published April 26.

IT employees have been experiencing burnout at increasing rates since the pandemic started, leaving CIOs to try out new digital tools and methods to alleviate some frustrations, according to an April 22 Wall Street Journal report.

YOLO. 

More than 500 Oregon State Hospital staff said they have taken leave since April 1 for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the Salem-based psychiatric facility to roll out multiple initiatives to reduce workforce strain.

St. John's Health in Jackson Hole, Wyo., said its board of trustees has approved a bonus program to reward employees who have already received the COVID-19 vaccine and incentivize those who haven't.

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that targets workplace violence in healthcare settings, including violence against nurses, emergency responders, medical assistants and physicians, according to The Hill and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

The healthcare workforce declined by 44,000 jobs in the first three months of this year, compared to the end of 2020, according to an analysis released April 16 by nonprofit researchers Altarum.

Great Falls, Mont.-based Benefis Health System will make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for employees, the organization told Becker's.

Houston Methodist managers had a deadline of April 15 to receive at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the system's mandate. The numbers are in: 99.4 percent of the management team has complied.

New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health has established the virtual Center for Traumatic Stress, Resilience and Recovery to address mental health needs of its 76,000 employees, their families and community members, the health system said April 14.