Abandoned Again

When my husband and I moved into our new home five years ago, I needed to find a new medical practitioner at our local clinic.  I found “Theresa,” a Nurse Practitioner (not her real name.)

Immediately I could see she was warm, caring, and genuinely concerned with my health.  Then came the pandemic, and I only saw her behind mask and face shield.  But her voice still radiated genuine concern.

I saw Theresa earlier this year (2022). She wore just a mask, I could see her eyes were tired and she had aged. Still kind and helpful, at the end of the visit I told her how much I appreciated her care, considering how hard the last couple of years must have been. Tears glazed her eyes.  (I thought, “Is no one telling medical professionals how much they are appreciated?”)

Two months later I received a letter stating, “Theresa will be leaving the clinic to pursue other alternatives…”

I sighed. Abandoned by another medical care professional. Another loss for her patients, another hunt for a practitioner. I cannot assume she left because of exhaustion, but I cannot help but wonder why? And what is she doing now?

As a Baby Boomer, I know I will need more care as I age.

Who fits in this group of Baby Boomers (or “Boomers”?)  Apparently, those post World-War II parents loved children and had a lot of us.

There are:

• 69.6 million people ages 58 to 76
• US Boomers remain the second-largest population group in 2022
• My husband and I are Boomers, along with family members on both sides, and many of our friends. If you are not a Boomer, you likely have family members fitting into this category.

In the first blog in this series you met Jenna, a critical care nurse who is at the breaking point. And Jenna is not alone. The Pew Charitable Trust reports, “ Exhaustion and burnout have taken an enormous toll on the health care workforce during the COVID-19 crisis. Nearly 20% of health care workers quit their jobs during the pandemic, and a third of those remaining acknowledged that they’ve thought about quitting, according to a survey by Morning Consult, a marketing research firm.”

As a Boomer I wonder, “Who will take care of us?”

The Pew Charitable Trust goes on to state: “The shortage didn’t start with the pandemic and won’t end with it.  In 2019, the United States had nearly 20,000 fewer doctors than required to meet the country’s health care needs, according to an estimate by the Association of American Medical Colleges…At the current rate, the group said, that gap could grow as high as 124,000 by 2034, including a shortage of as many as 48,000 primary care doctors.

…The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that each year through 2030, there will be nearly 195,000 vacancies for registered nurses. The St. Augustine report says that the profession isn’t producing registered nurses fast enough to meet the demand.”  Pew Charitable Trust

 The problem is self-perpetuating:

• There is a shortage of doctors, nurses, X-ray technicians and more
• The ones who are working are asked to work more shifts with fewer people
• People get worn out or ill (COVID is still active) and don’t go to work, causing more shortages
• Young ones are quitting, and older ones are quitting at a faster rate
• The younger ones with families to care for wonder what to do?  They made need extra childcare for added shifts, or encounter unexpected school closures.  Many find themselves as caregivers for their aging family members.

This is not new news!

• Government statistics readily quote the shortages of healthcare workers
• States have addressed the issue with varied success rates
• Hospitals and clinics certainly know it is a problem
• Insurance companies are concerned:

Liberty Mutual reports “…the industry faces a historic labor shortage at a time when the work of healthcare is exceptionally challenging. Across the nation, overburdened medical professionals are feeling numb, burned out, and underappreciated — and that can lead to increased risks for patients, clinicians, and medical systems…

It is well documented that appropriate healthcare staffing lowers mortality rates, shortens how long patients stay in care facilities, and reduces preventable harm events. Short staffing can cause delays in treatment, misdiagnosis, and unintentional medical errors, as healthcare workers try to manage the same workload with less support.” (bold mine)  Liberty Mutual 

Who should care about this healthcare crisis?

• Most certainly us Boomers, after all, who will take care of us?
• Populations most at risk for healthcare disparities (defined by the National Institutes of Health) are especially vulnerable:
  • American Indians/Alaska Natives
  • Asian Americans
  • Blacks/African Americans
  • Hispanics/Latinos
  • Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders
  • Sexual and gender minorities
  • Socioeconomically disadvantaged populations
  • Underserved rural populations
• Younger people, including those with aging parents and grandparents. After all, they will become the problem solvers of their parents and grandparents healthcare needs. (I hope our sons are reading this…)
• Every tax payer

I am writing these blogs to help raise awareness of the need, so all facets of society can find ways to address the labor shortage problem. There is hope, but it will require all facets of society working together.

In a future blog I will explore what can be done.