Articles Tagged With: fatigue
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Health Worker Burnout Is a Crisis; CDC Calls for Science-Based Steps to Improve Worker Well-Being
It is hardly a news flash to providers and staff in the ED that they often work long hours in a highly stressful environment, but according to new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the levels of fatigue and burnout that all healthcare workers are experiencing have reached crisis levels, and administrators there are calling for urgent action to address the problem.
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Reduce Risk of Long COVID Nightmare: Get Vaccinated
Healthcare workers and millions of other Americans are suffering from the ghost of COVID-19, a seemingly endless or remittent continuation of a disturbing panoply of symptoms that could have been lifted from Dante’s Inferno: cognitive decline, chronic pain, shortness of breath, intense fatigue, and neurological attacks on the body’s organs. This is long COVID, about which there is little consensus on diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. However, evidence is accumulating suggesting vaccination can prevent or reduce the impact of long COVID.
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Long COVID May Linger in Patients for Months or Years
The COVID-19 pandemic may be waning, but its effects continue as many patients experience long-term symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, and other problems. Healthcare providers across the continuum may see these patients for months — and possibly for years.
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Long COVID Hits Healthcare Workers
A Government Accountability Office report estimates long COVID has “potentially affected up to 23 million Americans, pushing an estimated 1 million people out of work.” This population is a moving target — at any given time, some may be clearing it while others are just starting to succumb to its spiderweb of symptoms. Some have experienced long COVID since the beginning of the pandemic, and their return to baseline health is in question.
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Using Technology to Alleviate HCW Stress, Strengthen Resiliency
As healthcare worker stress and burnout spiked during the pandemic, organizations searched for ways to alleviate the burden, including finding new uses for technology. To help healthcare workers adjust to these significant sources of stress, health systems can build and enhance resiliency.
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The Darkest Hour: Little PPE, No Vaccine Led to Moral Injury
A fascinating and disturbing study captures the emotions and attitudes of healthcare workers in 2020 when COVID-19 emerged. Personal protective equipment was in short supply, and the first COVID-19 vaccines would not be available until the end of the year. There was a general despairing feeling in this period that there was not “enough” of anything, including reliable information.
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Myopathy Is Associated with Post-COVID-19 Fatigue
Prolonged fatigue after COVID-19 infection may be associated with evidence of myopathy, based on physical examination, electromyography, and muscle biopsy.
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Long COVID May Mimic Myalgic Encephalitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the disease known as COVID-19, is producing a pandemic as it presents within a spectrum of symptoms from asymptomatic to mild to severe disease.
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Are Healthcare Workers Exposing Colleagues to COVID-19?
Healthcare workers may be vigilant with personal protective equipment (PPE) around COVID-19 patients, but inadvertently expose colleagues when they take breaks, socialize, and eat.
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Occupational COVID-19 Exposures to Colleagues
Healthcare workers may be vigilant with personal protective equipment around COVID-19 patients, but inadvertently expose themselves to colleagues when they take breaks, socialize, and eat. Part of the problem is healthcare workers are experiencing PPE fatigue and may be tempted to removed gear for brief respites when possible.