Key House Panel to Examine Pandemic's Impact on Health Care Workers

Statement

On Wednesday, March 2, at 10:30 a.m. ET, a key House subcommittee -- led by U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) -- will hold a hearing to examine the effect that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had on our nation's health care workers, and what needs to be done to better prepare the country for future public health emergencies.

The hearing comes as a growing number of U.S. health care workers have either quit their job or are considering leaving the industry. According to one recent study, nearly 1 in 5 health care workers across the U.S. has already quit their job in the wake of the pandemic, while an equal number are considering leaving the industry.

On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations panel -- which oversees the nation's health care agencies -- will hear directly from a group of medical workers about the issues they, and their colleagues across the country, are facing and what Congress can do to help alleviate the stress on America's health care workforce.

"Our nation's health care workers have been on the frontlines of this crisis since day one," DeGette said. "They are overloaded, burnt-out and have been forced to deal with increased levels of anxiety and depression as a result of this pandemic. Each and every one of them has gone above and beyond to take care of their community during this difficult time, and we have to make sure we're taking care of them.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, an average of 400 hospitals per day in the U.S. were experiencing a critical staffing shortage last month.

These staffing shortages have reportedly caused many patients to delay non-emergency care, including screenings and other preventive measures, that could potentially delay the diagnosis of certain cancers and other life-threatening illnesses. They're also putting additional strain on the nation's already overworked health care workforce.

In 2021, Congress approved a series of emergency spending bills in response to the pandemic that, among other things, provided more than $103 million to increase retention, and improve the mental health and wellness, of health workers across the country.

And just last month, Congress approved additional legislation requiring HHS to establish grant programs and conduct other activities intended to directly address the behavioral health and well-being of U.S. health care professionals.

The hearing, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. ET, will be streamed live at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGqoVde0sZ0

Below is the list of the witnesses that will be testifying:

Megan Ranney, M.D., M.P.H.

Emergency Physician

Rhode Island Hospital

Tawanda Austin, M.S.N., R.N., N.E.-B.C.

Chief Nursing Officer

Emory University Hospital Midtown

Daniel Calac, M.D.

Chief Medical Officer

Indian Health Council, Inc.

Laura E. Riley, M.D.

Obstetrician and Gynecologist-in-Chief

New York Presbyterian Hospital

Lucy McBride, M.D.

Internist

Private Practice

Source