Nonprofit Gifted Nearly $500,000 to Conduct Research on Industry Burnout Rates
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Dec. 26, 2018) – The Michigan Health Endowment Fund has awarded Hospice of Michigan a grant of nearly $500,000 to conduct research regarding worker burnout rates in the hospice and palliative care industry.
Hospice of Michigan is just one of 30 organizations in the state to receive a grant from the Health Fund, which offered $14 million in awards to businesses and organizations working to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents. The grants, awarded in two categories (Healthy Aging, Special Projects & Emerging Ideas,) ranged anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000.
Hospice of Michigan will invest its Healthy Aging resources to design and test a customized intervention program aimed at reducing the extremely high burnout rates of hospice and palliative care workers. The results from employee interviews, as well as additional research and consulting, could eventually be used throughout the state to retain and eventually grow this in-demand workforce.
A national survey of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine showed that 62% of respondents met the criteria for burnout. Studies have shown that burnout leads to a high turnover for workers in the hospice and palliative care fields, resulting in poorer quality of care, more medical errors and less empathy toward the elderly population. In addition, caring for patients with serious and terminal illnesses puts the physical and mental health of hospice and palliative care workers at risk, which plays a factor in burnout as well.
This project is being conducted in conjunction with experts from the medical field. It will be completed in four phases over the span of two years:
- Hospice of Michigan will anonymously survey its nearly 500 employees to understand the predicators and prevalence of burnout.
- After receiving initial input, up to 50 employees (including clinicians and administrators) will be interviewed to help identify why the burnout rate is so high. Discussion about potential intervention topics will be talked about as well.
- In conjunction with national experts in the medical field from Hospice of Michigan, the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network, Michigan State University, Duke University and Stanford University, a customized intervention program will be designed and introduced. This is a critical step considering the science of burnout prevention in the hospice and palliative care field is in its early stages of development.
- A pilot study will then be conducted across the company to test the benefits of intervention programs.
For more information about Hospice of Michigan, please call 888-247-5701 or visit www.hom.org.
Listen to Hospice of Michigan Senior Vice President, Marcie Hillary discuss the new research grant with Jessica Young of WYCE. Click Here
About Hospice of Michigan
A nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care, Hospice of Michigan (HOM) is the original – and largest – hospice in the state. A founding member of the NorthStar Care Community, the nonprofit delivers the highest quality of care, raising more than $5 million each year to cover costs for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers a broad range of services to enhance the quality of life at the end of life. HOM also provides grief support and counseling, as well as caregiver education and support. A member of the NorthStar Care Community, HOM also provides palliative care through NorthStar Palliative Care, pediatric hospice care and compassionate support services through Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children, and education programs for physicians and health care professionals through the NorthStar Institute. The NorthStar Care Community also includes Arbor Hospice. In total, NorthStar Care Community members serve nearly 6,500 patients annually across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. For more information, call 888.247.5701.
About The Michigan Health Endowment Fund
The Michigan Health Endowment Fund works to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents and reduce the cost of healthcare, with a special focus on children and seniors. You can find more information about the Health Fund at mihealthfund.org.