Introduction
The prevention of diseases and the achievement of an improved quality of life require extensive health care around the globe. For this purpose, healthcare providers are central to improving the health and well-being of the public. Winter (2020) argued that in modern times, it is an open secret that the healthcare industry, especially the healthcare workforce, is facing massive problems in the overall fabric of the health sector. Addressing healthcare workforce issues and the impacts of these problems on the social, political, and economic fabric of any society is highly significant. The formula in this regard is very simple: improved quality of patient care is directly dependent upon a highly focused and professional healthcare workforce. Without solving such healthcare workforce issues, no rational mind can aspire to attain and retain a quality, healthful life in any society. It is a fact that the healthcare workforce currently faces a unique set of numerous challenges. In accordance with modern development, the overall efficiency of these professionals is at risk due to these issues. So, in present times, it is important to look deeply into the matter, and respective authorities should take serious action to make things moderate and fruitful.
Moreover, the issues and challenges faced by the healthcare workforce breed long-lasting impacts and consequences in the end. The current problems in the healthcare industry and anticipated stress among the healthcare workforce are of great concern. Unlike other industries, healthcare professionals, i.e., nurses, doctors, paramedics, administrators, technicians, helpers, and all unitary members, face multidimensional crises, including emotional and psychological challenges at their peak. In addition, trauma and suicide risks also affect the healthcare workforce, along with other problems. Their overall engagement in their respective professional lives seems to be hit the hardest in the usual manner. So, it is very important and the need of the hour to discuss and address the problems of the healthcare workforce and put forward some viable solutions in the long run.
However, looking back at historical perspectives regarding the problems faced by the healthcare workforce in various periods, the outcomes are heart-rending. Regarding the life and education of health professionals in the ninth and tenth centuries, three main issues emerged in the past, i.e., textual, sociological, and conceptual. The health education manuscripts were outdated and hard to read. With inadequate facilities, health professionals were often under social pressure from the masses (Nelson, 2014). In addition, medieval times were marked by the fear of infection and death for the healthcare workforce. Epidemics and infectious diseases easily targeted healthcare professionals due to inadequate facilities and reduced precautionary measures.
Similarly, in the previous few centuries, healthcare professionals had to face many problems and issues. Even in wars around the globe, healthcare professionals had to fulfil their duties in very risky areas. In peaceful times, healthcare professionals also had to face socioeconomic problems on a large scale. It can be vividly estimated that hospitals were established in the USA in the 1700s. After that, specific roles were distinctly assigned to different healthcare professionals. Before this period, they did not even have specific recognition among societal units. Even in present times, the COVID pandemic has bred numerous challenges for healthcare professionals, including inadequate safety kits, insufficient mental and physical relief and support, and a lack of specific protocols (Bozdağ & Ergün, 2020). One can imagine what had to be borne by the healthcare workforce in past pandemics in the context of present-day advancement and development. However, with the passage of time, the development of medical sciences emerged as a revolution around the globe that has enlightened the minds of humanity. So far, much advancement has occurred to ease and facilitate healthcare professionals, and indeed, much is still needed to handle the severe challenges.
However, recent modern researchers have worked extensively to address various dimensions of this issue. Kinman & Teoh (2018) reported that the wide range of stress upon healthcare professionals is alarming. The study conducted on the mental health workforce in the UK showed that the workforce was badly demoralized, mentally depleted, and physically exhausted. These healthcare professionals were at high risk because of increased demand for work and reduced staffing levels at the specific unit. Kinman et al. (2020) suggested that the current challenges to the well-being of the healthcare workforce have accumulated and transformed into a blunt, pressurized situation. The level of pressure and risk to their health and normalcy is high.
Similarly, Iserson (2020) pointed out that the healthcare workforce has to confront a two-dimensional challenge in the present healthcare system. The first is state licensing, and the second is institution-specific credentials to perform specific procedures. In this regard, the best possible solution on the part of hospitals would be to demand only credentials if a volunteer wants to serve within a state for which he has a license to practice. Meanwhile, the overall process can become simple, tranquil, and flexible, even when handling disaster situations in a specific state.
Moreover, the healthcare workforce also faces challenges on an ethnic and racial basis. Sometimes, people complain about not accessing equitable healthcare services at hospitals, which is actually due to short staffing at specific units. Such disparities in the healthcare system gravely demoralize the workforce and cause a social and moral dilemma in society based on health services. So, a diverse healthcare workforce should be inducted to serve large and diverse patient populations and avoid misunderstandings. Meanwhile, the burden and workload on health professionals can be countered by better services and the establishment of social justice in society (Wilbur et al., 2020).
Furthermore, Ginter et al. (2018) concluded that healthcare systems are evolving day by day worldwide, and managers and leaders take a pivotal position in this regard. Integrated management to respond to technological, social, political, and economic changes is mandatory in present times. Prioritized health service management can address and cope with modern challenges globally and enhance the efficiency of the healthcare workforce.
Analysis
Meanwhile, huge barriers exist to solving problems on social, psychological, political, and economic fronts. The major barrier in this regard is the lack of advancement opportunities in the present or previous work position. Proper training, future career counselling, and further promotional criteria need to be addressed as a priority. Insufficient development programs and a lack of advanced training result in a dejected and demoralized situation for the healthcare workforce. In addition, a heavy workload on the shoulders of healthcare professionals breeds unnecessary stress for them and also affects healthcare organizations. When such healthcare organizations are understaffed, additional staffing efforts are required, and overall efficiency can be strongly affected.
On social fronts, such barriers cause a poor organizational culture among the staff for the mentioned reasons. Such social circumstances impede innovative characteristics, and various perceptions regarding low development take place. With the passage of time, such reluctance results in a skill gap among staff in various units. Ultimately, poor personal fit among staff and between bosses and employees may reach a high level that breeds combined challenges for healthcare professionals and organizations.
On the economic front, low wages for healthcare professionals are highly consequential challenges for both healthcare staff and organizations. The unavailability of funds and the desire for profit maximization on the part of investors in the healthcare industry are core reasons in this regard. The overall burden on the shoulders of a patient is not the only issue in the modern century. Healthcare professionals also have to face such economic issues along with social problems in their field. As a result, the standard of services, satisfaction of patients, and overall morale of healthcare professionals are at stake due to economic discrepancies. The healthcare industry in modern times lacks a comprehensive economic system to address economic challenges at full capacity worldwide.
However, the barriers on the political front regarding healthcare workforce problems are a grave danger. Hence, for better or worse, the political affairs of any country and society play a critical role in shaping and facilitating the healthcare industry. New medical developments on research fronts, the overall availability of medical services to large populations, the preservation of healthcare professionals’ rights, and the emergence of a responsible healthcare industry are core aspects in any country. They mainly depend upon overall drug regulations, policies, and legislation of political bodies. The approval of policy agendas to address the problems of healthcare staff also depends on societal pressures. In this regard, unfortunately, getting good health services has remained a public demand, but speaking for the rights of the healthcare workforce has never been a public stance among the masses. In addition, the severity of problems, the reactions of affected populations, and the magnitude of impact on polls are ingredients that call for governmental responses.
In the modern century, political leadership opts for incremental policies instead of comprehensive reforms due to personal interests, divided political institutions, fiscal starvation, and prioritization of the elite over the general public. One dimension in this aspect lies with policy development regarding the interests and benefits of healthcare entrepreneurs, which has caused development to cease. The overall impacts of such political behaviour result in a disaster for the healthcare industry, especially the healthcare workforce. Healthcare professionals are actual victims of such policies, and the overall morale and esteem of these lifesavers are depleted. In the modern century, stagnation, slow development in research, and selected growth patterns have left the healthcare workforce as a slave of healthcare investors and businesspeople (Oliver, 2006).
Moreover, the common barriers to solving the problems of healthcare staff lie in the psychological domain. Inadequate and limited availability of mental health facilities for the healthcare workforce is becoming an increasing concern. The respective authorities have paid less attention to mental health care and to formulating relevant policies to address problems among staff. Such carelessness and irresponsibility create constant mental stress, pressure, nervous breakdown, little social life, disturbed family life, mental diseases, and stigma for the healthcare workforce. These impacts have disturbed healthcare professionals’ overall life patterns and behaviour, making them feel alienated among the general population.
Recommendations & Conclusion
The rule of thumb lies in the fact that challenges, burning issues, and problems within any stratum of society can be solved with proper planning, strategic implementation of fruitful policies, and the adoption of recommended guidelines. In this context, various recommendations can be fruitful in overcoming the challenges faced by the healthcare workforce. First of all, the healthcare industry should adopt a value-addition and value-proposition system for employees. Such a system can ease the recruitment process within a healthcare unit to induct the right health professional for the right job according to set legislation and recruitment policies. Meanwhile, all healthcare professionals should be given recognition for their work and duties to improve their morale. To achieve better results in healthcare services, proper training and healthcare mentorship in the respective units, availability of modern equipment, and provision of increased opportunities are key factors in reducing challenges.
Furthermore, managerial staff and investors should listen to the healthcare workforce attentively regarding their problems. Encouraging the staff, appreciating their work, and discussing personal and family issues confidentially can enhance the morale of healthcare professionals manifold. Additionally, proper psychosocial assistance to cope with personal and career issues is highly recommended. Media can play an active role in providing them with high social appreciation from civil society and the general public. Appreciation for healthcare professionals from multiple strata of society can reduce their social as well as psychological problems considerably.
Moreover, sufficient fund allocation to raise the wages and salaries of healthcare professionals is highly recommended. Adequate facilities and pay according to work hours, nature of duty, and capabilities of respective staff are mandatory. For this reason, the respective governmental and non-governmental authorities should prioritize the allocation of funds. Similarly, political influence in the healthcare industry should be restricted to policymaking and legislation for comprehensive reforms. In this aspect, it is highly recommended that political leadership devise policies to reduce healthcare problems in the long run instead of focusing only on polls. Similarly, integrated use of modern technology can resolve the problems of the healthcare workforce. Management of the workforce, real-time investment, technology-based recruitment, and proper feedback mechanisms can enhance staffing efficiency and ultimately reduce healthcare professionals’ problems.
Last but not least, healthcare professionals face an accumulated set of challenges in their personal and professional lives in the modern century. Immense mental pressure, psychosocial stress, low salaries, inadequate facilities, non-recognition in society, and political interference are core issues in this regard. In addition, lack of professional training, ambiguity regarding future careers, and inefficient skill development lead to an alarming situation for healthcare professionals. It is an open secret that the exploitation of the healthcare workforce is a historical fact during various regimes and periods. In this regard, sufficient legislation and policymaking are mandatory on the part of political leadership to curtail the issues. The respective authorities should take serious steps to eliminate the healthcare workforce’s economic, political, social, mental, and psychological problems. In this context, the need of the hour is for governmental authorities and civil society to utilize all available resources to reduce the problems and issues of the healthcare workforce so that they can lead a prosperous and tension-free life.
References
Bozdağ, F., & Ergün, N. (2020). Psychological resilience of healthcare professionals during COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological reports, 0033294120965477.
Ginter, P. M., Duncan, W. J., & Swayne, L. E. (2018). The strategic management of health care organizations. John Wiley & Sons.
Iserson, K. V. (2020). Augmenting the disaster healthcare workforce. Western journal of emergency medicine, 21(3), 490.
Kinman, G., & Teoh, K. (2018). What could make a difference to the mental health of UK doctors? A review of the research evidence.
Kinman, G., Teoh, K., & Harriss, A. (2020). Supporting the well-being of healthcare workers during and after COVID-19.
Nelson, J. L. (2014). Charles the Bald. Routledge.
Oliver, T. R. (2006). The politics of public health policy. Annu. Rev. Public Health, 27, 195-233.
Wilbur, K., Snyder, C., Essary, A. C., Reddy, S., Will, K. K., & Saxon, M. (2020). Developing workforce diversity in the health professions: a social justice perspective. Health Professions Education, 6(2), 222-229.
Winter, G. (2020). Burnout across the healthcare workforce. British Journal of Healthcare Management, 26(1), 16-18.
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