The healthcare workforce crisis in Europe is being exacerbated by extreme levels of stress, anxiety and burnout among physicians, with the deleterious effect of putting patient care at risk.
A session at the HIMSS European Health Conference and Exhibition (June 7-9) in Lisbon will examine the potential of digital tools to support employees and create a healthier and more stable workforce.
Solutions being discussed include an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platform designed to support staff resilience and well-being and an AI-powered solution that takes the burden off nurses by conducting routine follow-up calls to patients.
why does it matter
When physicians experience stress and burnout, it can have a profound impact not only on their mental health, but on patient care and the entire health care system. Welfare issues can lead to low morale, early retirement and long-term sick leave, which puts a strain on the workforce.
Nearly a third of the 636,348 respondents to the 2022 NHS Staff Survey said they would often consider leaving their jobs and the picture is similar across Europe. This discontent could be a further factor in fueling industrial strike action, as in the UK where nurses, ambulance workers and junior doctors have all gone on strike over the past year.
If implemented correctly, technology can provide the opportunity to relieve stress on staff, but it is important that solutions are tailored to the clinician’s needs rather than adding to complexities.
The session “Digital Solutions to Combat Staff Stress and Burnout” will be held on June 9 and chaired by Mette Maria Skjoth, Ph.D., Department Chair at Odense University Hospital, Denmark and Chair of the HIMSS EMEA Advisory Board. She will be joined by speakers Alex Young, CEO and founder of virtual reality company Virti, and María González-Manso, CEO and co-founder of Spanish digital health company Tucuvi.
larger context
All over the world, AI-driven solutions are being used in an effort to reduce clinical fatigue from spending time on administrative tasks. One example is a pilot project by electronic health records (EHR) company Epic at the University of Wisconsin and the University of California. This aims to test the capabilities of Epic’s Language Large Model (LLM) artificial intelligence for crafting responses to patient communications, allowing health professionals more time to focus on time with patients.
Another example is the Suki Assistant voice AI system that is being used at CVFP Medical Group and the PartnerMD concierge services network to reduce the time doctors spend taking notes.
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