New HPIO, OSU policy brief explores link between clinician wellbeing and patient care and safety

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio, in partnership with the Ohio State University College of Nursing Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for Evidence-based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare, has released a new policy brief titled A Call to Action: Improving Clinician Wellbeing and Patient Care and Safety.

A growing body of research indicates that healthcare clinicians face serious problems related to their overall health and wellbeing, including high rates of burnout, depression, addiction and suicide. Understanding the relationship between clinician well-being and patient care and safety enables state policymakers and healthcare leaders to implement evidence-informed policies and programs that improve outcomes for clinicians and their patients.

This brief serves as a call to action to improve clinician wellbeing and its impacts on patient care and safety, providing a:

• Framework for the relationship between clinician wellbeing and patient care and safety
• Summary of research findings
• Review of evidence-informed policies, programs and practices that improve clinician wellbeing and support high-quality, safe patient care
• Set of evidence-informed state policy options