Imagine you鈥檙e a nurse or emergency responder in Florida when an outbreak of infectious
disease collides with the aftermath of a hurricane.
This happened in 2022, when COVID-19 and hurricane Ian 鈥� a Category 4 monster 鈭� combined
in a kind of havoc for which few were prepared. But it also gave researchers at USF鈥檚鈥��(COPH) plenty of data on a problem that poses another threat: health care worker
burnout.
鈥淗ealth care workers often endure long, demanding hours and heightened responsibilities
during emergencies, all while managing rising patient needs and increasingly complex
care environments,鈥� said Ryan Sledge, DrPH student in . 鈥淭hese pressures have amplified stress and emotional strain across the workforce,
making mental health support an urgent priority.鈥�
The issue has opened doors to new conversations and studies, and Sledge recently shared
his ideas at the International Occupational Medicine Society Collaborative (IOMSC)
in Geneva, Switzerland. He spoke on mental health as a foundational occupational medicine
and organizational imperative not only for health care but all industry.
鈥淭he conversation around mental health has become more open and honest,鈥欌�� said Sledge,
who also serves as vice president of occupational medicine and workforce health and
safety at HCA Healthcare. 鈥淭hat shift created space for us to talk about the well-being
of the health care workforce in a much more prolific way. What motivates me today
is the chance to make lasting improvements for the people who care for all of us.鈥欌��
The 2022 calamity nearly repeated itself two years later, when Hurricane Helene sent
its storm surge into Florida鈥檚 west coast and local emergency responders and health
care workers pulled all-nighters for weeks. Then came Hurricane Milton right behind
it, with Category 3 winds and rain destroying property and testing the patience and
nerves of those same exhausted crews.
鈥淗ealth care workers see difficult situations every day,鈥欌�� Sledge said of their work
even without the complications of disease and storms. 鈥淭hey carry stories of loss,
trauma, uncertainty, and episodes of workplace violence. And, they often put their
own needs aside so they can focus on patients. Over time, that takes a toll. Burnout,
compassion fatigue, and emotional exhaustion are very real, and they affect both the
worker and the patient experience.鈥欌��
For this reason, Sledge focused his conference lecture on the idea that mental health
is a core part of workplace safety 鈭� and not separate from the work environment. He
emphasized a concept called self-determination theory, which explains what people
need to stay motivated and healthy in their work. When they are autonomous, feel capable
in their roles and connected to their teams, their well-being and work environment
improve.
鈥淚f we want safe, reliable care, we have to create workplaces that support people
emotionally as well as physically,鈥欌�� he added. 鈥淭he goal of the conference was to
bring together leaders who can share practical ways to support the health care workforce.
For a state like Florida, where hospitals also face hurricanes and other large-scale
events, having a healthy and supported workforce directly affects community resilience
and access to care.鈥欌��
Sledge鈥檚 topic follows another COPH research effort summarized in the paper鈥��,鈥濃�痯ublished in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Although the study focuses primarily on the height of the COVID pandemic, its lessons
apply equally to the post-traumatic problems that arise in the aftermath of natural
disasters.
The paper鈥檚 findings showed that Florida public health employees had high levels of
confidence in the quality and effectiveness of their work, but also high levels of
emotional exhaustion, cynicism and burnout. What made the most difference in their
decision to quit their jobs or not was the work environment and how supported they
felt by their bosses and leadership.