Heroes of Healthcare

Nurses, physicians, and providers face a major problem. Their focus lies on the well-being of their patients — but not enough on their own well-being. Similar to the line from your flight attendant: you need to put your own oxygen mask on before helping others. How can we help providers help themselves? https://lnkd.in/efm6rD29

The healthcare industry is faced with a double-edged sword. The Baby Boomer generation is retiring, and, as they age, they require more in-depth healthcare. Yet, Gen X is much smaller. The workforce in healthcare is shrinking as the caseload continues to rise. Creative, innovative solutions are necessary to keep the industry (and providers) afloat and well.

Elisa Arespachonga with The American Hospital Association has a unique advantage. She gets to hear from over 5,000 individual hospitals from across the entire county. From these conversations, Elisa can find the interesting and innovative ways they are supporting their workforces. With a strong focus on listening and learning, she can then share those ideas with other hospitals — helping the entire network improve each time. https://lnkd.in/efm6rD29

People in rural areas may have hundreds of miles standing between them and quality healthcare. Rural clinics are working to improve health equity — and they are making extreme progress. Through modern solutions, such as telehealth for specialized care, rural facilities are able to provide top-level care close to these communities that desperately need it. We spoke about this crisis with Elisa A., the Vice President of Clinical Affairs and Workforce for the American Hospital Association. Listen in to hear the ways facilities are closing the health equity gap. ?? https://lnkd.in/eMF7KDva

A good nurse provides adequate care. A great nurse goes above and beyond to make sure their patients are comfortable and healthy, even after discharge. When Andrea Wilson Wood's sister, Adrienne, was diagnosed with liver cancer, she had the pleasure of meeting a great nurse. This nurse told Andrea everything that wasn't listed in the literature — how to keep her house clean and sanitary to avoid colds and illnesses while Adrienne's immune system was weakened from treatment. She went through explicit details, gave intricate advice, and ensured Andrea was prepared to take the best care of Adrienne before they went home. As a result, Adrienne only contracted one cold throughout her 147-day battle with liver cancer. Heroes like these are why we do what we do.

From the trenches of tragedy, advocacy can often arise. This is the case for Andrea Wilson Wood, Founder of Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association. Throughout her childhood, she navigated adversity and trauma while witnessing her mother's battle with addiction. Once she was older, she quickly took in her 8-year-old sister, Adrienne, and became her parental figure. While navigating her own emotional healing journey and helping Adrienne along hers — they were both blindsided by a diagnosis. Adrienne was suffering from liver cancer at the young age of 15. Andrea stood by Adrienne's side throughout her 147-day battle with the disease. After Adrienne succumbed to her illness, Andrea knew she must do something to keep her memory alive. This is where Blue Faery was born. The non-profit serves to advance liver cancer advocacy, research, and support. To learn more about Andrea and Adrienne's story and what Blue Faery is doing, listen to our full conversation.

When we can't find an organization working towards our mission, we may just have to start our own. This is what Andrea W. did after losing her sister to liver cancer. She couldn't find any organization performing significant research, advocacy, or support for liver cancer patients or their caregivers. This is how her organization, Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association was born.

Andrea Wilson Woods is one of our many Heroes of Healthcare. From raising her young sister to watching her battle liver cancer to creating an advocacy and research organization in her memory — she has used a tragedy to bring a positive force in the world. Hear about her journey and experience as well as her organization, Blue Faery, below. ??

The physician-health plan chasm of trust keeps getting wider and wider… But there is a solution. Get involved. Change can't happen unless people drive it forward. You don't have to become an employee — reach out and ask if you can participate in a focus group or join the board. Change in healthcare starts with you but requires all of our voices to be heard. Stop waiting on change and start taking steps to make that change happen ?

Burnout in healthcare isn't limited to physicians… Anyone working in the industry is susceptible to declining well-being without the proper support and practices. Principal and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sally Brooks made the shift from being a practicing physician to working for an insurance company. While the role shifted, the pressure remained. So how can professionals in healthcare protect their own well-being and that of others in similar roles? It starts with taking on leadership positions. When you take a seat at the table of decision-makers, you can help shape the environment you work in. Feeling overwhelmed with admin responsibilities? Propose hiring scribes to help you better focus on patient care. Not happy with the environment or systems at your facility? Raise the issue and brainstorm solutions. Until you get involved in designing the system you're working in, you have little power in changing the actual construction of your environment. How can you get involved and change the game for healthcare professional wellbeing? We share actionable ideas every month in our newsletter ?? ?? https://lnkd.in/eG7gfEtV