“For two years now we’ve had the opportunity to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to provider burnout. Our residents benefit from CareThrough’s unique approach, and spend more time delivering patient care.”
A leading Children’s hospital in Pennsylvania was determined to combat the provider burnout epidemic. Their care teams were challenged by the numerous non-clinical responsibilities required to manage patients during hospitalization. The health system became increasingly aware of the growing number of research studies pointing to the dangers, and negative health outcomes, of unchecked burnout.
When a study listed depersonalization as a result of the strenuous hours providers worked on average, combined with the EMR chart activities, leaders in the administration took action. As an integral part of the hospital’s mission, residents and care teams alike saw children as their patients, but also understood the need to be present for their families involved in their care.
“We aim to improve and refine the quality of pediatric care for patients and their families. Our inpatient medical teams are sensitive to the parent’s wellbeing, and CTAs have improved our resident’s ability to be present for parents too.”
With a busy neonatal unit and nervous parents, depersonalization was a threat to care team optimization and productivity. Knowing that the parents of children with critical conditions and those in their primary care practice were also affected by the challenges of navigating a complex health care system—the leaders in the administration took action.
The Children’s hospital enlisted CareThrough Care Team Assistants and deployed the highly-trained, non-clinical support staff to eight resident teams. Care Team Assistants provided much needed ancillary support. From obtaining test results and records from referring hospitals, updating EMRs, and notifying primary care providers of their patient’s hospitalization, Care Team Assistants filled in the critical gaps in patient care.
“We know how challenging the residency experience can be, and were able to reinforce job satisfaction while better serving patients. With CTAs we’re supporting the future generations of providers to practice medicine, unburdened by paperwork.”
While over-worked providers were most often the focus of the solutions for the undue administrative burden of care delivery, assisting residents with CTAs proved to be an innovative strategy. The hospital conducted a baseline study before the CTA implementation and a survey afterwards to measure the results. The percentages of discharges from the hospital by noon went up from 16% in 2016 to 22.4 percent in 2017.
“The data on resident satisfaction before and after the program implementation was an eye opener. I’ve enjoyed working with a CTA and I’m excited to be a resident at a hospital that encourages me to spend more time gaining experience with patient care. Their commitment to the residents translates to healthier patients.”