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Post-Pandemic Burnout and Staffing Shortages in Pediatric and Neonatal Transport Teams: A Multicenter Survey
Paul Dahm1, Rudy Kink2, Michael Stroud3
1Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX.
Insights
Pediatric and neonatal transport teams face significant post-pandemic staffing shortages due to a lack of qualified applicants. These personnel shortages impact team composition and new hire onboarding processes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric transport medicine
- Neonatal transport medicine
- Healthcare workforce studies
Background:
- Post-pandemic healthcare environments present unique staffing challenges.
- Interfacility transport teams are critical for specialized pediatric and neonatal care.
- Resilience promotion strategies are being explored to mitigate workforce issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the current staffing status of pediatric and neonatal transport teams after the pandemic.
- To investigate the influence of resilience strategies on transport team staffing.
- To identify challenges faced by these specialized medical teams.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was administered to members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Transport Medicine.
- Data were collected on team vacancies, reasons for shortages, turnover rates, and burnout.
- Statistical significance was assessed for reported findings.
Main Results:
- A 30.9% response rate was achieved with 34 teams surveyed.
- Over half (58.8%) of responding teams reported post-pandemic vacancies.
- A significant shortage of qualified applicants (90%) was the primary reason for unfilled positions.
- Increased turnover (50%) led to modifications in onboarding.
- Burnout was prevalent (76.4%), with most teams (73.5%) receiving burnout recognition training.
Conclusions:
- Most pediatric and neonatal transport teams are experiencing staffing vacancies post-pandemic.
- A critical shortage of qualified applicants is the main driver of these vacancies.
- Personnel shortages result in suboptimal team compositions and altered onboarding procedures.
Objective:
To evaluate the post-pandemic staffing status of interfacility pediatric and neonatal transport teams and the impact of resilience promotion strategies.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was distributed to members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Transport Medicine.
Results:
A total of 34 teams respond (30.9% response rate) to the survey. Most of them (58.8%) reported post-pandemic vacancies. Of the teams with vacancies, 90% cited a lack of qualified applicants as the reason for being unable to fill the vacant slots (P < .01). Increased turnover was reported by 50% of the teams resulting in change in the on-boarding/orientation process for the new hires. Burnout was identified by 26 of the teams (76.4%, P < .01), and 25 respondents (73.5%, P < .01) reported that they had received training to recognize burnout.
Conclusion:
In our survey, most of the responding pediatric and neonatal transport teams faced post-pandemic staffing vacancies, primarily due to a shortage of qualified applicants. Our data suggest that there were subsequent deviations from ideal team compositions and alteration in the on-boarding process for new hires, secondary to personnel shortages.
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