What Health Care Institutions Need to Know About the NIOSH "Impact Wellbeing Guide": Implementation and Best Practices to Promote Employee Engagement and Retention
This Feature Article is brought to you by AHLA's Labor and Employment Practice Group.
- September 01, 2024
- Sarah R. Skubas , Jackson Lewis PC
- Michael Bertoncini , Jackson Lewis PC
- Taryn McLaughlin , Jackson Lewis PC
To promote professional wellbeing for health care employees, the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH)1 published the Impact Wellbeing Guide (Guide).2 NIOSH describes the Guide as a research-informed, multi-step action plan designed for hospital executives to create or supplement initiatives to improve and ensure the professional wellbeing of health care workers.3 Between 35% and 45% of nurses and physicians and between 40% and 60% of medical students and residents report symptoms of burnout.4 Health care workers’ burnout can impact the quality of care for and safety of patients, including higher risk of medical errors and hospital-acquired infections.5 The Guide does not carry the force of law and does not impose any legal obligations on hospitals. However, NIOSH argues that following the Guide will reduce health care worker burnout, which will in turn optimize patient outcomes and reduce hospital costs.6 Thus, hospitals should consider implementing the action plan as detailed in the Guide.
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