No ordinary time

Cost Burden of the ‘Presenteeism’ Health Outcome in a Diverse Nurse and Pharmacist Workforce: Practice Models and Health Policy Implications

“…Both nurses and pharmacists as employees are often required to continuously staff health service organizations that provide care to patients on a 24-hour basis. The review of literature indicated that these settings often required undesirable work-shifts and work conditions that are implicated in reasons for diminished job satisfaction and burnout among both nurse and pharmacists (Aiken, et al, 2002 Letvak & Buck, 2008;Longest, 2006;Pilette, 2005;Shamansky, 2002;Woods, 2007). Therefore, the decision healthcare professionals who work in direct care 24-hour settings versus non-direct care 24-hour settings were predictors of presenteeism in this study.…”

“…have all called for efforts to transform and reengineer the health system. This pressure is believed to be caused partly by the cost burden of healthcare in the US and partly because "the shortage of health care workers is becoming so critical that it threatens the quantity and quality of health care, including patient safety" (Sellers & White, 2002 Knapp & Cultice, 2007;Knott & Moscovice, 2000;Pilette, 2005;Rhoads, et al, 2006;Simpson & Bolton, 2007;Woods, 2007) have reported common issues.…”

“…Pharmacists suffer chronic staffing shortages and a need to provide around-the-clock care that means they are working many extra shifts at undesirable times (Woods, 2007). As mentioned previously, according to the 2002 General Social Survey of the National Opinion Research Center, 89.1% of all employed individuals in the U.S were moderately or extremely satisfied with their jobs.…”

“…In addition to traditional roles of patient and physician education about medications, pharmacists were monitoring patient compliance and conducting wellness and preventive health programs and approximately 50% of respondents also performed: pharmacoeconomic studies for formulary decisions, medication management programs, track adverse events, negotiate pharmaceutical contracting, perform pharmcoepidemiology decisions, and design pharmacy benefits. Pharmacists roles are expanding to the extent that 'essentially every area of our health systems are requesting new pharmacy services" (Woods, 2007). Pharmacists indicate that the profession has the ability to influence every aspect of the medication use process -prescribing, dispensing, administration, and monitoring (Woods, 2007).…”

“…Pharmacists roles are expanding to the extent that 'essentially every area of our health systems are requesting new pharmacy services" (Woods, 2007). Pharmacists indicate that the profession has the ability to influence every aspect of the medication use process -prescribing, dispensing, administration, and monitoring (Woods, 2007). There is evidence that involving pharmacists in roles such as medical rounds reduces medical errors by 66% and their involvement in counseling patients in community pharmacies can decrease errors by 28% (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2004).…”