COVID-19 showed us how reliant we are on health care workers and hospital staff, especially in our times of great need. But, like most industries, the pandemic affected the health care industry as well. A combination of long hours, low wages, and lack of supplies during COVID-19 jeopardizes the safety of our health care workers in Western Pennsylvania.
News during the pandemic continuously showcases the dedication and lifesaving work that hospital workers provide. However, those long hours can take a toll. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Most healthcare workplace injuries are the work of overexertion as the #1 cause. The most common injuries caused by overexertion include back strains, ankle sprains, neck injuries, hernias, muscle strains, and more. Shortages of health care workers can cause existing staff to be overworked and stretched thin. In addition, poor pay and a lack of benefits can prevent hospital staff from taking time off because employees need those hours to make ends meet. The overexertion of hospital staff takes a toll, leading to decreased productivity, illness, and injury.
A lack of medical supplies also impacts the safety of our health care workers. A decreased standard of care for patients negatively influences health care worker morale. For many who have entered the field out of a sense of duty to help others, being unable to supply needed and sufficient care can be demotivating at the least but cause serious mental distress at worst.
Health care workers share that the problems experienced during COVID-19, while certainly critical, are not new. Rather, the epidemic brought them to the forefront. and By 2029, it is estimated that 1.5 million nurse positions will need to be filled. Additionally, experiences of new nurses during COVID-19 are leading them to reconsider their career choice.
As hospitals function with staff shortages, the risk of healthcare worker injuries rises. If you or a loved one has been injured while working in health service, Dugan & Associates lawyers will work to pursue fair and just compensation for loss of earnings, medical expenses, and damages. Contact us today online or by telephone at 412-353-3572.
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