In a move hinted at in yesterday’s Weekend Update, the Office of Personnel Management today released government wide results from the 2020 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.
As shown in the 2020 OPM FEVS results, the federal workforce adapted quickly to the challenges presented by the pandemic. Together with their managers and policy makers, employees found creative solutions and leveraged workplace flexibilities – including the widespread adoption of telework — to continue to support their agency’s mission while balancing personal responsibilities. Results demonstrate that federal workers derive great satisfaction and meaning from successfully doing their jobs through even the most disruptive of circumstances.
Medscape reports on a recent Health Affairs reports on last year’s dip in healthcare services stemming from the great hunkering down.
Since last spring, utilization of healthcare services has largely rebounded, and [study coauthor Kevin] Callison [, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine] speculated that involuntary delays in care have diminished greatly. He attributed that partly to improved treatment of COVID-19, the restored capacity of many healthcare facilities, and the expiration of orders to delay or cancel elective procedures. Also, he noted, people have become more comfortable with seeing physicians in person, which has partly explained the increase in ambulatory visits. Nevertheless, he added, “we’re not seeing a rebound above pre-pandemic levels to make up for that lost care.”
Healthcare Dive informs us that primary care “practices are financially stabilizing more than a year after the pandemic began. However, primary care practices are facing enormous challenges in the near term, including pent-up demand for medical and mental health services and a growing feeling of exhaustion among physicians.” Also those practice now are playing a much larger role in COVID-19 vaccination administration.
The Primary Care Collaborative surveyed more than 650 primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and pharmacists in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Guam. Altogether, nearly four out of 10 practices are administering the COVID-19 vaccines, “a marked increase” compared to just a few weeks prior, while 47% are partnering with local vaccination administration sites. “Primary care is now beginning to be leveraged to target the vaccine to hard-to-reach populations,” the survey’s authors concluded.
The International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plan discusses its “a webcast on legal considerations for employers regarding employee vaccinations.” Check it out.
Last week the FEHBlog called attention to National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which was held on April 24. The Drug Enforcement Administration points out today that there are many convenient drug disposal sites open year round in our country.