The global pandemic has taught us all just how important healthcare workers are. Whether you run a healthcare business or work for one, there are many resources out there to help support essential workers in their jobs and at home, all adding up to better quality care for all. For healthcare provider resources you need to know about, read on.
1. Continuing Education and CPR Classes
To maintain certifications and licenses in the United States, most healthcare workers need ongoing training. Even when a healthcare worker doesn’t work directly with clients, it’s important for them to have basic skills like CPR certification because of the clients they come into contact with. For this reason, many healthcare facilities offer free or even mandatory trainings in skills like CPR and AED to staff and employees. CPR classes for healthcare provide staff with the ability to feel more confident about their ability to perform in an emergency situation and can add up to a higher level of confidence for all. They can be easy to access, too. For example, Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics provides first aid, CPR/AED, and EMR Training in Mississauga. These courses are developed to enhance theory development and provide continuing education for students.
Maybe you work as a direct support provider to developmentally disabled adults. Trainings on new medications, how to work with a client with disabilities, or how to learn a new skill like sign language will make it easier to do your job. As an employee in a healthcare setting, it’s important to have the tools you need to help patients. Ask your company about trainings available to you. If you’re the employer, you’ll want to be on the lookout for online courses and other trainings for staff, too.
2. Health and Wellness Programs for Healthcare Workers
Healthcare workers are caregivers. On top of providing healthcare provider courses, it’s important that healthcare facilities model their interest in health and wellness in employees through employee wellness programs. An effective way to have happier, better trained and rested employees, is to offer regular programs to encourage healthcare worker self-care. Doing so will mean fewer absences, higher productivity, and a better overall job performance.
If you’re a healthcare provider manager, look into wellness programs your employees might be interested in. From fitness challenges that come with incentives to free trainings of interest to your employees, there are plenty of ways to help your staff feel supported. Perhaps your employees have voiced an interest in alternative practices and want to know more about crystals and the importance of spirituality in recovery. You could reach out to mineral enthusiast Howard Fensterman for information on the latest in research about minerals and gemstones and offer a free workshop on lunch breaks to interested employees. Fensterman isn’t just a mineral enthusiast, he is also a renowned lawyer who can provide insights about medical malpractice cases. By showing employees you’re invested in them and their interests, you’ll be strengthening your alliance as a team and giving them time away from the ongoing stresses of working as essential workers in a pandemic.
3. Covid-19 Essential Worker Protection Equipment
By now, everyone knows it’s a good idea to have the best of protective equipment on hand when it comes to healthcare and the Covid-19 pandemic. From gloves to masks and shields, it’s important that employees have the best in personal protection equipment or PPE to protect themselves from getting infected. The best way to go about this is to offer employees the option of the Covid-19 vaccine as well as providing them new and fresh PPE equipment daily. Doing so will not only protect your employees, but also your patients. If you are someone who works in healthcare and isn’t in the position of making PPE decisions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your human resources office if you don’t feel your place of business is giving you all you need to stay protected. It’s your right to work in a safe environment.
4. Podcasts for Best Practices and Ethics
Many healthcare workers overlook the value of podcasts, blogs, websites, and support groups where they can get the latest information on healthcare trends and best practices. The reality is that there are podcasts on nearly every chronic condition and ailment. For healthcare providers looking to learn more about illnesses from a patient or clinical perspective, podcasts can be a great place to find uncensored and nonclinical information.
5. Advocates and Public Education
Another undervalued tool for healthcare providers and workers is those who advocate for healthcare reform, disease awareness, mental wellness, and more. Healthcare advocates are often patients or former essential workers. Having been through the healthcare system, they are fantastic allies and resources for today’s healthcare workers and have even become social media influencers working hard to share accurate information on health care workers’ behalves. The reality is that the safer and happier healthcare employees are, the healthier we’ll all be for it. In supporting essential workers both at home and in their jobs, we’ll all be closer to a healthier world.
