It’s the most wonderful time of the year…and the busiest time of the year for those working in healthcare or the medical field.
The hustle and bustle of the holidays are on. For most, this time of year means spending time with family, chaotic schedules and sprinting toward the new year. For most healthcare workers, working the holidays often means long hours away from home and family and a major influx of patients.
Why do many facilities and providers see an increase in patient visits?
Between turkey-carving to having too much to drink, the holidays present many opportunities for accidents to occur. Before you go on thinking that those accidents are more often a figment of imagination than real-life scenarios, there were over 36,000 visits to emergency rooms on Thanksgiving Day alone in 2016.
Beyond carving accidents and Christmas light disasters, there is an abundance of other scenarios that lead to increased hospital or doctor’s office visits around this time. Patients disobey doctor’s orders regarding dietary restrictions when it comes to holiday meals and many don’t get enough sleep caused by the stress of the holidays which can lead to strains, broken bones and other things. Lastly, illnesses remain prevalent around this time of year – the flu, colds, and any contagious illnesses spread fervently during the season that emphasizes getting together.
Why patients, especially veterans, need support during the holidays
While accidents may bring an increase in patients to the emergency room on holidays, there are many patients – especially at VA centers – who need regular support and care during the holidays, too. The holidays don’t represent cheer and warm, fuzzy feelings for everyone. For many, including veterans and active duty returning from tours overseas and those who have experienced loss, the holidays can bring feelings of stress, anxiety, and loneliness.
Additionally, patients who have been hospitalized during the holidays and cannot travel home or cannot have their family travel to them need support from those working in healthcare during the season when winter blues can hit the hardest.
Increased opportunity for assignments during the holiday season
Due to the increase in patient visits, the holidays present a rising number of opportunities for medical professionals to support patients. Many temporary assignments populate during the holiday season simply to bridge the gap in coverage where many hospital workers take a vacation or simply need a break. The influx of patients also rely on receiving continuing care throughout the holiday season.
There are also inherent benefits to working during the holiday season. Beyond giving your time to provide care for patients when its most critical, medical professionals can benefit from aspects like higher pay for working on holidays and gaining a rewarding experience serving patients and veterans during the holiday season.
Whether you’re looking to earn extra income or searching for a way to gain rewarding experience serving others during the holidays, providing patients with care during the holiday season can be critical for the patients, the staff, and yourself.
At JIT Staffing, we specialize in the placement of healthcare providers in over 65 different specialties. If you’re ready to achieve work-life balance while serving others in a rewarding career, contact our team for the resources to get started today or take a look at our jobs page for available opportunities.