The University of Utah Health system will be the recipient of nearly $3 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), in a series of awards to improve the retention of healthcare workers and help respond to the state’s critical staffing needs by reducing burnout and promoting mental health and wellness among the healthcare workforce. These awards will fund evidence-informed programs, practices and training, with a specific focus on providers in underserved and rural communities. The program is nationwide but the UofU is the only Utah grantee.
COVID-19 has compounded rates of depression and anxiety among healthcare workers, an HRSA press release said. The physical and emotional demands of treating patients during a pandemic have exacerbated longstanding barriers to workplace well-being. While the challenge is complex, these multi-year awards will support proven strategies for healthcare providers, academic institutions and other recipients to reduce burnout and build resiliency.
These strategies will include the creation of partnerships and utilization of local resources to directly support health professionals’ response to workplace stressors and provide training to help individuals manage the constantly changing, high-stress environment of healthcare.
Under the heading “Promoting Resilience and Mental Health Among Health Professional Workforce,” HRSA is awarding $2,955,996 to the university.
