12 Holiday Travel Nurse Adventures Posts That Will Make The Grumpiest Grinch Smile
Look, we get it. Working during the “most wonderful time of the year” can really suck. You’re stuck at a hospital while everyone else is getting to cozy up by the fire. Not to mention you’re tired, cranky, hangry, and all of this holiday cheer is bringing you to the brink of strangling the next patient who hits their call light. via GIPHY Unfortunately, we’re not here to change that. What we can do is momentarily distract you from the existential dread of working a holiday shift by reminding you of why you got into travel healthcare in the first place—for the awesome #TravelNurseAdventures that you could have never had as a permanent staffer. So without further ado, check out these 12 wonderful social media posts that will hopefully inspire you to make your own travel nurse adventures during the holiday season. Or at the very least will keep you from going insane. via GIPHY 1. BRB, going to buy a camper and renovate it to look exactly like this because it’s gorgeous. View this post on Instagram Have yourself a merry little camper… I mean Christmas 😊 I’ll be home for 5 whole days including Christmas Eve and Christmas. Anyone who works in healthcare knows how big of a deal that is! I am so excited to spend time with family and friends. The past four years I’ve had to work at the hospital and this year, my husband and I are both off! Excited is an understatement. I’m ready to celebrate! A post shared by EMILY (@ems_traveldiary) on Dec 16, 2018 at 4:27pm PST 2. In Hawaii? During Christmas? Now that’s living the dream. View this post on Instagram Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains, can you paint with all the colors of the wind 🍃🎨 I hope you sang that and it’s stuck in your head now 🎵 A post shared by Anna Nguyen (@annannna__) on Dec 16, 2018 at 12:13pm PST 3. Remember to equip your doggo with the latest winter fashions when bringing them along for fun in the snow. View this post on Instagram Glad my baby had fun today 💛💚 #mustard X #lettuce A post shared by Wendy Diane Mendoza Lozano 👑 (@weymendoza) on Dec 17, 2018 at 5:34pm PST 4. Taking a good look at The Monkey Face in Smith Rock State Park in Oregon. View this post on Instagram None of that monkey business Prince. 🙈 A post shared by Andrea Hahn (@drehahn) on Dec 17, 2018 at 2:22pm PST 5. Snow plus barn equals perfect Christmas cards for the family. View this post on Instagram It looks like a winter wonderland at my papaw’s old barn. . ❄️🎄❄️ . #asheville #winterwonderland #snowday #redbarn #winter #somanymemories A post shared by Courtney (@courtney.dowell) on Dec 10, 2018 at 1:48pm PST 6. Remember to drag your SO along to Christmas light displays because they have the perfect lighting for great selfies. View this post on Instagram The holidays are in full swing 🎄🎁 ⭐ I personally love this time of year and am lucky enough to travel with this guy ⬆️⬆️ who will gladly come along to all the light displays and Christmas events. ⭐ I know that a LOT of travelers aren’t as fortunate so this week I’m sharing some tips to keep your spirits up as a traveler over on the blog today ▫️ Link in profile ❤ A post shared by Alex McCoy- Peds Travel Nurse (@fit.travel.life) on Dec 17, 2018 at 5:22am PST 7. Wait a second, is that Boba Fett decorated with HOLIDAY LIGHTS? Move over Santa, everyone’s favorite intergalactic bounty hunter is here. View this post on Instagram Who needs a visit from Santa when you can get a visit from a Storm Trooper, Darth Vader, a Rebel Fighter Pilot and Boba Fett?!? JK, Santa arrives next week 🎬 . . #starwars #darthvader #jedi #pedsnurseshavemorefun #picunurse #movietime🎬 #sundayfunday #travelnurselife #travelnurseadventures A post shared by the wandeRiNg RN (@the_wandering_rn) on Dec 16, 2018 at 9:21pm PST 8. Time for a winter wonderland weekend road trip? View this post on Instagram Man oh man… what an adventure the last couple days have been. We made it though! Me, most of my belongings, and two (very annoying) cats, all packed tightly in a little Hyundai Elantra. Can’t beat that view though 😍 I would make that drive again in a heartbeat. Excited for the next 3 months ☀️ #welcometomontana #cowboycountry #travelnurseadventures A post shared by Samantha (@raygammas_) on Dec 16, 2018 at 7:15pm PST 9. A family is great, but friends are also fantastic to spend time with during the holidays. Also, we are digging that hairy dude sweater. View this post on Instagram I may be 3,000 miles from home but having great friends close by makes these holiday times easier 🌲🎁 A post shared by j1marie (@j1marie) on Dec 16, 2018 at 10:21am PST 10. Christmas pub crawl? Christmas pub crawl. View this post on Instagram #12pubsofchristmas #shenanigans #imgonnamissthisplace #sixmonthswentsofast #travelnurseadventures #cctctravel @crosscountrytravcorps A post shared by Andrea Rea (@andie1026) on Dec 16, 2018 at 6:25am PST 11. This time of year is the perfect excuse to hang out with your fellow travelers! View this post on Instagram Getting close to finishing our #travelnurse contract at SJMC #stockton so our travel nurse group got together for #dinner tonight at #seoulsoondubu #korean #koreanbarbecue #travelnurselife #travelnurseadventures #thewrights #jeffandheatherwright #notwv @klanerh @jswright75 A post shared by Jeff Wright (@jswright75) on Dec 15, 2018 at 10:21pm PST 12. Do pajamas count as scrubs? View this post on Instagram Good morning world! #california #nevada #laketahoe #tahoe #northlaketahoe #travel #travelgram #vacation #winter #travelnurses #travelnurselife #travelnurseadventures #gypsynurse #nursesofinstagram #snow #pjs #instagood #me #happy #victoriassecret A post shared by Samantha Garcia (@samanthagarciasg) on Dec 14, 2018 at 8:39am PST
Traveler Tips: Setting Realistic Expectations For Your Healthcare Career
By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life Working in travel healthcare is a great way to branch out in more ways than one. Traveling allows you to visit new areas, expand your skills as a practitioner and build relationships across the United States. When you first leave your staff job, there is a certain thrill of anticipation that becomes embedded in your soul, and your world is suddenly open to a host of possibilities. As a brand new traveler, it can be hard to balance these great expectations with a small dose of reality. Not every assignment will fulfill every point on your list of assignment goals, but by setting some realistic travel nurse expectations, your career can strike a balance between fun, adventure and regular employment. Know what you want from each assignment A great way to have success in any situation is to set goals. Travel nursing is no different. Before starting your career as a traveler, it is important to sit down and think about what you hope to accomplish by working as a travel nurse. Decide if you have a set amount of time you plan to travel or if you are going to reassess how you feel at the end of each contract. Then, set some financial goals for yourself. One of the most popular reasons to work as a travel nurse is financial security. For a majority of people travel healthcare is more lucrative than working in a permanent position. This could allow you to spend more money on travel between assignments, or give you enough extra cash to save for a large purchase such as a house. During other assignments, you may have the chance to work in a dream location. While you may not earn as much during this time, there should be other positives to focus on during these types of contracts. Every job may not come with a killer location and awesome pay rate, so setting a specific goal for each assignment is a great way to stay focused and keep a positive attitude even if you had to make some compromises on location or unit setting. Decide if there are other “must-haves” for each contract Some travel nurses are very particular about shift while others are happy to work nights or rotate if needed. While it is not impossible to travel as a days-only nurse, it can limit your job options. By limiting your shift preference, you may also limit your location or even pay. Most hospitals do not offer a traditional differential for travelers, but they may set a higher bill rate for a night shift position. The same rule applies to other non-nursing specialties. If you are a therapist, limiting your setting may result in fewer job options. Radiology travelers may have to be willing to work an odd shift or take a little more call than they would like. Each field has different considerations, but being open to new settings or learning new skills is helpful when trying to land a contract. Other things to consider for each contract are time off, holiday schedule, and floating stipulations. Adding a laundry list of requirements to your contract may cause managers to pass you over for more flexible candidates, but do not agree to something you are unable to sustain for your entire contract. Expect a few bumps in the road Anyone who has worked as a travel nurse will have a story or two about a time where almost nothing went according to plan. However, most of these people will also tell you they have stayed in the field and rolled with the punches. Whether your assignment gets canceled, your licensing takes longer than expected, or you have to change housing plans last minute, know that it is all part of the journey and take each hiccup as a learning experience. Keeping an open mind and being flexible is key to working as a traveler. If your experience is wearing you down more than you can handle, do not be afraid to reach out for help or advice. There are some great online communities for travelers to connect, and chances are someone has experienced a similar situation. Don’t be afraid to reassess at the end of each assignment One of the best parts of being a traveler is you do not have to do it for very long. Some people take one assignment and realize the lifestyle is not the right choice for them, while others spend years working travel jobs. There is no one-size-fits-all requirement, and by going in with realistic expectations you can be better prepared to make your experience as a traveler right for you.
Modern Healthcare Recognizes Staffing Agencies In ‘Best Places To Work’ 2019 List
Modern Healthcare, an organization that focuses on healthcare business news, analytics, research and data, released their annual ‘Best Places To Work in Healthcare’ awards list last Saturday, and several travel nursing and allied healthcare staffing agencies were named among the winners. The ‘Best Places To Work’ awards seek to identify and recognize outstanding healthcare employers on a national level, according to their website. Companies that choose to participate for the award are selected for the list through confidential employee surveys. The surveys measure key factors to success, like work-life balance, benefits and employee satisfaction. “Organizations making this year’s list of ‘Best Places to Work in Healthcare’ stand out in their efforts to create an empowered and satisfied workforce,” Modern Healthcare said in a recent post. “They did so by nurturing a sense of loyalty and building engagement.” The alphabetical list released recognizes 150 healthcare companies, and the official rankings will be released on September 26 at the Best Places To Work in Healthcare Gala. They will also be featured in a supplement published with Modern Healthcare’s Sept. 30 issue, according to the post. Among the winners, travel staffing agencies LiquidAgents Healthcare and Aya Healthcare are both repeat honorees. This marks the 11th year in a row that LiquidAgents Healthcare, based out of Plano, Texas, has been recognized as a ‘Best Place to Work’, according to their company press release. “It’s an honor to be recognized among the nation’s top healthcare companies to work for in the country,” LiquidAgents Healthcare CEO Sheldon Arora said in a press release. “We’ve established a unique, collaborative culture with a key focus in mind: to help employees be as successful as possible in their roles and careers. Our team’s positivity and dedication shine through in everything we do.” Aya Healthcare made the list for the third consecutive year, according to a company press release. President and CEO Alan Braynin said the recognition highlight’s Aya’s focus in providing an engaging and exciting workplace. “This recognition is a testament to our belief that giving employees freedom, flexibility and a voice is beneficial for the entire company, including the clinicians and clients we serve,” Braynin said in the release. Other staffing agencies that made the 2019 list include CHG Healthcare, MPLT Healthcare, and several other non-travel specific staffing companies. The full list can be viewed below or on the Modern Healthcare website. COMPANY LOCATION Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital Kaplan, La. American College of Cardiology Washington, D.C. Atlantic Health System Morristown, N.J. Bailey Medical Center Owasso, Okla. Beach Cities Health District Redondo Beach, Calif. Black River Memorial Hospital Black River Falls, Wis. Bridge Connector Nashville CAQH Washington, D.C. CareSource Dayton, Ohio Carolina Caring Newton, N.C. Catholic Health Services of Long Island Centre, N.Y. CHG Healthcare Midvale, Utah Choice Recovery Columbus, Ohio Cleveland Clinic Cleveland CollaborateMD Orlando, Fla. Conway Regional Health System Conway, Ark. Corazon Pittsburgh Cox Monett Hospital Monett, Mo. Crothall Healthcare Wayne, Pa. Deaconess-The Women’s Hospital Newburgh, Ind. Divurgent Virginia Beach, Va. Elevate Healthcare Consultants Plano, Texas Encompass Health – Home Health & Hospice Dallas Epion Health Hoboken, N.J. Equiscript North Charleston, S.C. Excel Health Philadelphia Forcura Jacksonville, Fla. Galen Healthcare Solutions Chicago Guadalupe Regional Medical Center Seguin, Texas Harmony Healthcare IT South Bend, Ind. Health By Design Medical Group San Antonio Health Catalyst Salt Lake City Health Recovery Solutions Hoboken, N.J. HealthFirst TPA Tyler, Texas HealthRise Southfield, Mich. Heart Care Imaging Tequesta, Fla. Heart ‘n Home Hospice Fruitland, Idaho Hendrick Health System Abilene, Texas Henry County Hospital Napoleon, Ohio Hillcrest Hospital Cushing Cushing, Okla. Hillcrest Hospital Henryetta Henryetta, Okla. Hillcrest Hospital Pryor Pryor, Okla. Hosparus Health Louisville, Ky. IEP (Independent Emergency Physicians) Farmington Hills, Mich. Impact Advisors Naperville, Ill. Imprivata Lexington, Mass. Infusion Express Brentwood, Tenn. Innovative Health Scottsdale, Ariz. Intelligent InSites West Fargo, N.D. J2 Interactive Charlestown, Mass. Jackson Physician Search Alpharetta, Ga. Jamestown Regional Medical Center Jamestown, N.D. Jellyfish Health Panama City, Fla. KeyBridge Medical Revenue Care Lima, Ohio King’s Daughters Medical Center Brookhaven, Miss. Landmark Health Huntington Beach, Calif. Lee’s Summit Medical Center Lee’s Summit, Mo. Lexington Regional Health Center Lexington, Neb. Licking Memorial Health Systems Newark, Ohio LiquidAgents Healthcare Plano, Texas LiveData Cambridge, Mass. Loma Linda University Medical Center-Surgical Hospital San Bernardino, Calif. Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency Covington Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital Albuquerque Lovelace Women’s Hospital Albuquerque Marathon Health Winooski, Vt. Medasource Royal Oak, Mich. Medical Advantage Group Ann Arbor, Mich. Medpricer Walnut Creek, Calif. Melissa Memorial Hospital Holyoke, Colo. Memorial Healthcare System Hollywood, Fla. Mercy Health-Tiffin Hospital Tiffin, Ohio Mercy Health-Willard Hospital Willard, Ohio Methodist Ambulatory Surgery Hospital San Antonio Metrolina Nephrology Associates Charlotte, N.C. Morrison Healthcare Sandy Springs, Ga. MPLT Healthcare Coral Springs, Fla. MTS Physical Therapy & Wellness Lafayette, La. Nathan Adelson Hospice Las Vegas National Medical Billing Services St. Louis Navin, Haffty & Associates Westborough, Mass. NCCPA (National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants) Johns Creek, Ga. Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center Chanute, Kan. Nova Healthcare Administrators Buffalo, N.Y. Pacific Companies Aliso Viejo, Calif. Parkview Huntington Hospital Huntington, Ind. Parkview LaGrange Hospital LaGrange, Ind. Parkview Noble Hospital Kendallville, Ind. Parkview Wabash Hospital Wabash, Ind. Parkview Whitley/Warsaw Hospital Columbia City, Ind. Pelham Medical Center Greer, S.C. Physicians Surgical Hospitals Amarillo, Texas Propeller Health Madison, Wis. Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills, Calif. Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance, Calif. Rendina Healthcare Real Estate Jupiter, Fla. Rio Grande Regional Hospital McAllen, Texas RiverView Health Crookston, Minn. Santa Rosa Consulting Franklin, Tenn. Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, Texas Shriners Hospitals for Children-Erie Erie, Pa. Signature Performance Omaha, Neb. Southern Tennessee Regional Health System-Pulaski Pulaski St. Bernards Medical Center Jonesboro, Ark. Stillwater Medical Center Stillwater, Okla. Sutter Amador Hospital Jackson, Calif. Sutter Roseville Medical Center Roseville, Calif. Tandigm Health West Conshohocken, Pa. TigerConnect Santa Monica, Calif. Tri-Cities Cancer Center Kennewick, Wash. TSI Healthcare Chapel Hill, N.C. Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital Tulsa, Okla. University Hospital & Clinics Lafayette, La. Uvalde Memorial Hospital Uvalde, Texas Wallowa County Health Care District Enterprise, Ore. Weber Human Services Ogden, Utah
SIA Announces 2019 ‘Best Staffing Firms To Work For’ List
Staffing Industry Analysts announced the winners of their 2019 ‘Best Staffing Firms To Work For’ Wednesday at their 28th annual Executive Forum North America in Austin, Texas, according to a company press release. Among the categories–which were split into eight sections based on company size, types of staffing and geographic location–four U.S. travel healthcare staffing firms took home Grand Prize honors, which are awarded to firms that score the highest in each category. Those four Grand Prize winners from the 2019 Best Staffing Firms To Work For list are: Fusion Medical Staffing (Firms with 201-500 employees) LiquidAgents Healthcare (Firms with 51-200 employees) Health Providers Choice (Firms with 21- 50 employees) Austin Major Group (Firms with 10-20 employees) Each category also had several notable travel healthcare staffing companies that didn’t win a Grand Prize but still placed in the top percentiles of their category, including Atlas Medstaff, Aya Healthcare and Medical Solutions. About 400 staffing agencies participated in the 2019 awards program, which was conducted by SIA in conjunction with Quantum Workplace, according to the press release. Internal employees at each firm were asked to complete a 40-question survey that measured specific quality-of-life and engagement categories, including trust in senior leaders, teamwork, manager effectiveness and more. Staffing firms are not charged for their participation in the awards program and must have a minimum number of employees participate based on their size to ensure statistically sound results, according to the press release. “Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Best Staffing Firm to Work For Awards,” Barry Asin, president of SIA said in a press release. “These high-performing companies stand out for their quality of leadership and as organizations that prioritize culture and employee engagement. There is a strong correlation between employee engagement and growth. These firms have made that connection and use it to excel in their business and drive outstanding results.” Readers can view the full list of winners and top-placing staffing firms here.
6 Unique Nurse Jobs & Specialties With Travel Potential
One of the many perks of being a travel nurse is the frequent exposure to new environments and experiences. Sometimes that can also mean trying out unique nurse jobs or specialties that aren’t always on the hospital floor. If you’re looking to take your nursing career to new places, check out these six unique nurse jobs and specialties with travel potential that you may never have heard of before. Cruise Ship Nurse On an ocean cruise in the Bahamas, work is probably the last thing on your mind. But even on the open water, cruise ships need healthcare professionals to treat vacationers and crew members in the case of any emergencies, accidents or illnesses. In 2018 so far, the CDC reported nine vessels had illness outbreaks including norovirus and E. coli. Accidents are also very common onboard. Cruise ship nurses serve as first-responders on the ship for all medical issues, treat a wide-scope of patients and manage transportation of people to larger facilities if necessary. To provide proper care, ships such as Princess Cruises, have well-equipped medical centers that include critical care areas, X-ray units, lab facilities and a pharmacy. Cruise ship nurses get to see the world all while providing excellent care and enhancing their nursing skills. Similar to travel nursing, most cruise ship companies require nurses to have at least two years of experience, preferably in an acute-care or emergency setting. Potential cruise ship nurses are also required to earn a certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Average Annual Pay: $82,883 Theme Park Nurse Just like cruise ships, vacation theme parks like Six Flags and Disneyland need healthcare professionals onsite in case of emergencies. While typically there are not doctors in place, it’s the theme park nurses who assist guests and staff with various immediate medical needs and manage a large flow of patients. Having diverse experience in emergency room care or fast-paced urgent care clinics is highly recommended. This year, Disney World & Resorts launched a large primary care center on the grounds specifically to care for more than 40,000 employees and their families. Disney has current nurse openings at its parks in Florida, California and France. If you’re looking for a fun yet challenging workplace, theme park nursing could be one of the most unique and happiest places to be. Average Annual Pay: Varies By Location Certified Nurse-Midwife Are you passionate about caring for mothers and babies? Experienced in labor and delivery? A certified nurse midwife handles patient care and safety through the entire process – pregnancy, labor and postpartum. At-home midwife births are becoming more and more common, and the American College of Nurse-Midwives has seen an increased demand for midwives. Midwifery offers a variety of settings including private practices, universities, military hospitals, birth centers, large facilities or through an in-home agency. There are also great travel programs for midwives with nonprofit organizations and the World Health Organization. WHO specifically launched a strategic initiative to help strengthen midwife nursing around the world, focusing on poverty and disease-stricken communities. Becoming a travel nurse-midwife brings care to people who need it most. Average Annual Pay: $107,460 Forensic Nurse If you’re a fan of the long-time TV show “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, you may be familiar with this healthcare specialty. Forensic nurses treat patients who were victims of trauma, violence or abuse. Playing a role in both nursing and the judicial system, forensic nurses need to be knowledgeable of the legal system while providing the best care to those in vulnerable or dire positions. The International Association of Forensic Nurses offers a variety of travel opportunities—for example, a pediatric forensic nurse from Colorado participated on an 8-week assignment in Swaziland, Africa to provide care for children and rape victims. The caseload of forensic nurses can be emotionally draining and even disturbing at times, but they provide an important service for those who are suffering from the impact of violent incidents. Average Annual Pay: $50,000-60,000 Nurse Educator Looking for an exciting opportunity to give back to the next generation of nurses? Consider becoming a Travel Nurse Educator. Also known as clinical educators, these positions are crucial for teaching hospitals and universities to help future nurses or recent grads develop the skills they need. While working in either a classroom or a clinical setting, Nurse Educators design, evaluate, update and implement top nursing curriculums, and act as mentors. To become a Certified Nurse Educator, you must have a BSN, RN, Master’s/Doctorate Degree and pass the National League of Nursing exam. These effective nursing leaders must be driven, highly knowledgeable and attentive for their students to succeed. Average Annual Pay: $73,265 Public Health Nurse Public health nurses work outside of the hospital and focus on the health of people in their community. They evaluate health trends, issues and laws, and propose strategies to help keep the population healthy. Public health nursing can vary state to state and is expected to grow by 19 percent, according to the Nurse Journal. Working with a health agency or a government health department, public health nurses educate people about important preventative healthcare, treat patients in public health clinics, work with youth programs and community centers, and help with training. Tasks can include providing screening tests and immunizations, collecting data from disease outbreaks, responding to natural disasters and community-wide emergencies, assisting patients and families in psychosocial health, and so much more. Every day can be different as a public health nurse. Average Annual Pay: $56,700
High-Deductible Health Plans Fall From Grace In Employer-Based Coverage
Jay Hancock, Kaiser Health News With workers harder to find and Obamacare’s tax on generous coverage postponed, employers are hitting pause on a feature of job-based medical insurance much hated by employees: the high-deductible health plan. Companies have slowed enrollment in such coverage and, in some cases, reinstated more traditional plans as a strong job market gives workers bargaining power over pay and benefits, according to research from three organizations. This year, 39 percent of large, corporate employers surveyed by the National Business Group on Health (NBGH) offer high-deductible plans, also called “consumer-directed” coverage, as workers’ only choice. For next year, that figure is set to drop to 30 percent. “That was a surprise, that we saw that big of a retraction,” said Brian Marcotte, the group’s CEO. “We had a lot of companies add choice back in.” Few if any employers will return to the much more generous coverage of a decade or more ago, benefits experts said. But they’re reassessing how much pain workers can take and whether high-deductible plans control costs as advertised. “It got to the point where employers were worried about the affordability of health care for their employees, especially their lower-paid people,” said Beth Umland, director of research for health and benefits at Mercer, a benefits consultancy that also conducted a survey. The portion of workers in high-deductible, job-based plans peaked at 29 percent two years ago and was unchanged this year, according to new data from the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) Deductibles — what consumers pay for health care before insurance kicks in — have increased far faster than wages, even as paycheck deductions for premiums have also soared. One in 4 covered employees now have a single-person deductible of $2,000 or more, KFF found. Employers and consultants once claimed patients would become smarter medical consumers if they bore greater expense at the point of care. Those arguments aren’t heard much anymore. Because lots of medical treatment is unplanned, hospitals and doctors proved to be much less “shoppable” than experts predicted. Workers found price-comparison tools hard to use. High-deductible plans “didn’t really do what employers hoped they would do, which is create more sophisticated consumers of health care,” Marcotte said. “The health care system is just way too complex.” At the same time, companies have less incentive to pare coverage as Congress has repeatedly postponed the Affordable Care Act’s “Cadillac tax” on higher-value plans. Although deductibles are treading water, total spending on job-based health plans continues to rise much faster than the overall cost of living. That eats into workers’ pay in other ways by boosting what they contribute in premiums. Employer-sponsored group health plans, which insure 150 million Americans — nearly half the country — tend to get less attention than politically charged coverage created by the ACA. For these employer plans, the cost of family coverage went up 5 percent this year and is expected to rise by a similar amount next year, the research shows. Insuring one family in a job-based plan now costs on average $19,616 in total premiums, the KFF data show. The American worker pays $5,547 of that in a country where the median household income is more than $61,000. The KFF survey was published Tuesday; the NBGH data, in August. Mercer has released preliminary results showing similar trends. The recent cost upticks, driven by specialty drug costs and expensive treatment for diseases such as cancer and kidney failure, are an improvement over the early 2000s, when family-coverage costs were rising by an average 7 percent a year. But they’re still nearly double recent rates of inflation and increases in worker pay. Such growth “is unsustainable for the companies I have been working with,” said Brian Ford, a benefits consultant with Lockton Companies, echoing comments made over the decades by experts as health spending has vacuumed up more and more economic resources. For now at least, many large employers can well afford rising health costs. Earnings for corporations in the S&P 500 have increased by double-digit percentages, driven by federal tax cuts and economic growth. Profit margins are near all-time highs. But for workers and many smaller businesses, health costs are a heavier burden. Premiums for family plans have gone up 55 percent in the past decade, twice as fast as worker pay, according to KFF. Employers’ latest cost-control efforts include managing expenses for the most expensive diseases; getting workers to use nurse video-chat services and other types of “telemedicine”; and paying for primary care clinics at work or nearby. At the “top of the list” for many companies are attempts to manage the most expensive medical claims — cases of hemophilia, terrible accidents, prematurely born infants and other diseases — that increasingly cost as much as $1 million each, Umland said. Employers point such patients to the highest-quality doctors and hospitals and furnish guides to steer them through the system. Such steps promise to improve results, reduce complications and save money, she said. On-site clinics cut absenteeism by eliminating the need for employees to drive across town and sit in a waiting room for two hours to get a rash or a sniffle checked or get a vaccine, consultants say. Almost all large employers offer telemedicine, but hardly any workers use it. Thirty-nine percent of the larger companies covering telemedicine now make it comparatively less expensive for workers to consult doctors and nurses virtually, the KFF survey shows. This story originally appeared on Kaiser Health News. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
Hurricane Florence By The Numbers
While the remains of Hurricane Florence, now a tropical depression, makes its way northeast, residents, disaster relief workers and state officials in North Carolina and South Carolina are left to deal with the impact. Several government agencies and outside interest groups have released preliminary estimates of the damage done by the storm, as well as the level of support provided to evacuees. We’ve gathered the most notable information below and plan to update the data if final tallies are confirmed. You can find online relief resources and ways to help those affected by the storm by clicking here. Estimated Damage Storm-Related Fatalities: 33 North Carolina: 26 South Carolina: 6 Virginia: 1 317,849 customers without power in North Carolina (as of Sept. 18) Closed Roads: 1,200 in North Carolina 1/4 of North Carolina’s tobacco crops damaged 63,000 gallons of untreated wastewater flowed from a sewer main in Greensboro Damage To Homes, Businesses, Infrastructure: $16-20 billion Relief Response U.S. Coast Guard Total Rescues: 426 people and 234 pets (As of Sept. 17) Number of Coast Guard responders: More than 3,000 Shallow-water Rescue boat teams: 35 deployed to North Carolina Helicopter Rescue Crews deployed: 9 North Carolina Response Swift Water Rescues: 2,600* Swift Water Rescues (Pets): 578* Number of National Guard members activated: 2,800 NC Department of Transportation employees responding: 2,100 * Numbers include best estimates of state and federally-conducted rescues as of Sept. 18. Numbers only denote people who were saved by boat or helicopter, not those escorted to safety, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website. American Red Cross Total Evacuees In Shelters: 14,000* Number of Available Shelters: More than 200* Red Cross Worker Response: 1,500* Emergency Vehicles Deployed: 80* Trailers w/ Emergency Equipment & Supplies: More than 120* Meals and Snacks Served: More than 4,500* Weather Alerts Sent via Red Cross Apps: 1.8 million* * As of Wednesday, Sept. 12, according to FEMA data. Storm Strength Highest Recorded Rainfall (North Carolina): 35.93 inches in Swansboro, North Carolina. (New state record, also broke the record for 2-day and 3-day rainfall totals statewide) Highest Recorded Rainfall (South Carolina): 23.81 inches in Loris, South Carolina (Heaviest rainfall from a tropical storm in state’s history) Highest Predicted River Crest From Flooding: 61.8 feet along Cape Fear River in Fayetteville, North Carolina Hurricane Florence among top 10 most costly hurricanes in U.S. history
Healthcare Burnout: Why It Happens And How To Avoid It
Healthcare burnout is both regularly talked about among the community and widely studied among academic institutions. Just last week, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) released a survey which asked healthcare leaders if they felt burnt out at their job. The results were predictable—45 percent of 1,746 respondents said they feel burnout, 28 percent said they felt “somewhat” burnt out and 27 percent reported no burnout. Healthcare burnout is just as prevalent in the nursing realm, where unsafe staffing ratios, a projected nursing shortage and emotional hurdles create an environment of exhaustion. A quick search of “burnout” on nursing social media forums reveals numerous stories of personal struggles to stay motivated. Addressing this issue is a major concern for industry leaders. Healthcare burnout has a measurable impact on quality of care, costs and safety in healthcare environments, according to a study from the National Academy of Sciences. Travelers have the added challenge of being in a high-burnout profession while also dealing with life on the road, which can sometimes make them feel isolated from their family or peers. But what are the factors that contribute to this, and how can healthcare professionals manage their burnout to avoid quitting? Main factors that contribute to healthcare burnout Studies looking at healthcare burnout have focused on a wide variety of factors, but several large studies have these three in common: High-stress workplace environments Working in healthcare means working in a constantly changing, fast-paced environment. Employees have to adapt to new policies and procedures on a daily basis. Healthcare documenting and treatment technology changes just as quickly. Many healthcare professionals work in literal life-or-death situations where split-second decision making is crucial, so workplace stress is a major issue. Lack of personal agency How many times have you heard someone who works in healthcare say, “I wish I could just take care of my patients instead of dealing with…” or “I feel like my manager doesn’t even listen to what I have to say.” That’s called depersonalization, which refers to the feeling of not being able to focus on providing quality care because of outside forces. Those factors can be a number of different issues like problems with management or even personal conflicts with patients. Many professionals cite issues dealing with confusing or unnecessary documenting programs as a factor of this, although studies show that trend is fading away. Emotional baggage Dealing with sick or dying individuals on a daily basis can impose a heavy emotional toll on healthcare professionals. Violent or aggressive patients can also cause stress, as workplace violence is a major concern in the healthcare industry. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, incidents of serious workplace violence were four times more common in healthcare than in the private industry on average. Ways to avoid healthcare burnout Recognize the signs of burnout early The most dangerous thing you can do as a healthcare professional is ignoring when you feel stressed, overworked, undervalued or exhausted. Knowing the factors of what causes burnout is the first step to addressing those issues. Taking mental breaks to figure out why you are feeling this way can help you identify possible solutions to the problem. You may not be able to take these breaks on the job, so take some time at home to reflect. Consciously avoid distracting activities like watching TV or scrolling through your phone. Plan time for yourself Even the most experienced healthcare worker knows there are some things you can’t control on the job. That’s why it’s important to regularly and intentionally plan your time off to focus on relaxation and recovery. Planning for fun is especially important for travelers as any time off needs to be negotiated through your recruiter before accepting a position at a facility. Experienced travelers also typically take at least one to two months off for vacations, holidays or family time. Talk it out As mentioned by HCT Today contributing writer Natalie Newman, talking about your feelings and experiences with friends, family or professional counselors can help ease the emotional burden of working in healthcare.
Judge orders Maine governor to move on Medicaid expansion
Want to know how this will affect traveling healthcare professionals? Click here to read our take on the issue. After months of uncertainty following Maine’s passage of a voter-approved Medicaid expansion effort last year, a state judge on Monday ordered Gov. Paul LePage’s administration to officially move forward with expansion plans. In her ruling, Justice Michaela Murphy of Maine Superior Court ordered the administration to submit a state plan amendment that would update the terms of its Medicaid program and submit it to the federal government by June 11. The ruling cited the “complete failure to act” by Maine Department of Health and Human Services to establish a file a plan to expand Medicaid by the original April 3 deadline. Maine was the first state to expand Medicaid through referendum, and if Gov. LePage’s administration complies by next week, more than 70,000 eligible residents will be able to enroll for healthcare coverage by July 2. It would also trigger a federal cash flow of more than $500 million in federal funds to help the state cover healthcare costs of those with yearly incomes more than 138 percent of the poverty level, which is $16,642 for an individual or $24,600 for a family of four. A spokesperson for Gov. LePage’s administration told Politico that they are reviewing the decision and declined to say if they would appeal the ruling. The court order is a big win for Maine Equal Justice Partners, a progressive group that filed a lawsuit in April to force LePage’s administration to move forward on expansion after DHHS missed the deadline, according to a report in the Bangor Daily News. Gov. LePage has staunchly disapproved of Medicaid expansion efforts, vetoing similar measures multiple times in his two terms of office saying it will burden taxpayers and the state budget. His administration laid blame on the state legislature, arguing that they have not found adequate funding to implement the ballot measure. “Now that Medicaid Expansion is the law, it is my responsibility to implement it, and I will. But until they adequately fund it, there is nothing we can do,” Gov. LePage said in a press release. “Before we can proceed with expansion, DHHS needs both the staff to implement it and the money to pay the bills that will come due when the state plan amendment is approved.” The full cost of implementing the expansion is a disputed figure between Gov. LePage’s administration, which estimates as much as $100 million a year, and the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal and Program Review, which estimated a need of $45 million in state funds. How This Affects Travelers Similar to last week’s announcement that Virginia’s lawmakers successfully passed Medicaid expansion after a five-year battle, the new stream of funding for Maine hospitals could provide a boon to travel employment opportunities in the state. Newly insured patients who may not have had access to healthcare services will flock to hospitals, which could cause a spike in temporary staffing needs. The major difference with Maine, however, is that Maine’s enrollment will begin this summer if the court’s ruling stands, whereas Virginia won’t see an influx in new Medicaid patients until next year. We’ll keep tracking this story as it develops, but keep an eye out in Maine after mid-July and in August for a potential spike in job leads.
Managing Travel Healthcare Compliance Documents Digitally
The healthcare industry has more than its fair share of paperwork, and compliance documentation relating to healthcare professionals is a large part of that. The number of credentialing documents required increases annually, thanks in large part to the increased usage of vendor management systems by many hospitals. This volume of documentation is critical to your employment and not having the right paperwork can be impactful. If documents are missing or have expired, you may not be able to start an assignment. If already on assignment, you could be removed from the schedule until the document has been updated. Gathering, securely sending, and storing all these clinical documents and skills checklists can be a challenge for both facilities and individuals. Healthcare providers spend tens of thousands of dollars each year on software to manage these compliance files; individuals, thankfully, can do so for free. And, yes, you need to be storing your own documents. When you rely on an agency to do it for you, you could wind up scrambling if there are certain documents they won’t release to you, like the documents they paid to have completed. Manage Travel Nurse Compliance, Allied Health Compliance Digitally While a flash drive is a handy tool to keep documents, it can be lost or damaged. As an alternative (or, better, as a back up), there are several web-based tools for nurses to use. Many of these are likely familiar. Dropbox: Free for up to 2GB of storage, more than enough for all of your compliance documentation. If, however, more space is needed, it’s just $10 a month for up to 1,000 GB of storage. Google: Google provides 15GB of free storage across all of its online programs, including Gmail, Drive, and Photos. Additional storage is inexpensive: 100GB of space for just $1.99 a month and $9.99 for a massive 1TB. Microsoft OneDrive: Microsoft keeps making tweaks to its OneDrive online storage plans, but for now, the company is offering 5GB of storage for free. For 50GB of space, it’s going to cost you $1.99 a month. Online compliance document management services The only problem with these online tools is that the person you are sending documents to may have trouble opening or accessing them without login credentials. Luckily, there are other tools, like those from StaffDNA, that are free and allow individuals to securely store career documents and paperwork in one central location. Documents can then be shared from the site with a single click, passing a complete file to whoever needs it in a format that’s accessible without the need to log in anywhere. Where these sites differ from other online storage options, though, is that in addition to being easily shareable with prospective employers, nurses are notified of expiring documents, so everything is kept up to date. These tools are very helpful when working with a new employment recruiter or prospective employer, making it easy to complete much of the credentialing work required at the start of a relationship.