Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1526238
14 PATIENT & CAREGIVER EXPERIENCE PAs urge AMA to drop 'scope creep' campaign By Mackenzie Bean T he American Academy of Physician Associates is calling on the American Medical Association to end its "scope creep" campaign, arguing a more collaborative approach is needed to strengthen the U.S. healthcare system amid significant provider shortages. By 2026, the U.S. will be short 3.2 million healthcare workers, AAPA's top leaders wrote in a July 30 letter to AMA President Bruce Scott, MD. "The American Medical Association's ongoing campaign against PAs and other healthcare providers disregards their contributions and impedes progress in our nation's healthcare system," AAPA President Jason Prevelige, DMSc, and CEO Lisa Gables wrote in the letter. "In this critical moment, the focus must be on building a stronger, more resilient healthcare system — not on tearing down other professions." Dr. Prevelige and Ms. Gables allege AMA is "spreading misinformation and using fear-mongering tactics" to undermine the contributions of advanced practice providers. AAPA also said the physician organization has blocked more than 100 bills in 2023 designed to modernize healthcare laws and expand care access. "This obstructionism is not merely a setback but a significant barrier to addressing the pressing challenges within our healthcare delivery system," Dr. Prevelige and Ms. Gables wrote. "Your campaign against 'scope creep' is a thinly veiled effort to maintain outdated practices, rather than confronting the urgent issues we face today." AAPA is urging AMA to end its public campaign against advanced practice providers and instead engage in constructive dialogue and collaboration. The AAPA has requested a formal response to their letter by Aug. 30 and proposed a meeting between the two organizations to discuss potential solutions. AMA has consistently advocated against expanding scope of practice for advanced practice providers, arguing that patient safety and care quality could be compromised without physician oversight. "Patients deserve care led by physicians — the most highly educated, trained and skilled healthcare professionals," the organization's website reads. "That's why the AMA vigorously defends the practice of medicine against scope-of-practice expansions that threaten patient safety, and it's why fighting scope creep is a top priority of how the AMA is fighting for physicians." n The price of being a workaholic By Paige Twenter P eople addicted to work are more likely than their peers to report health complaints — which is only one cost of workaholism, e Washington Post reported July 21. ese work "addicts" oen have unhealthy habits, including excessive drinking, sleep deprivation and a lack of exercise, Malissa Clark, PhD, industrial-organizational psychologist at the University of Georgia in Athens, told the Post. Workaholism is not a term for those who work long days because they love their jobs, nor does it define temporary bursts of work activity to advance careers or adhere to car or house payments, according to Toon Taris, PhD, a behavioral scientist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. ere's a sharp line between enjoyment and addiction. It's the work email checks aer a shi ends, the guilt experienced when not working, the extra hours that feel compulsory. About 15% of the workforce are workaholics, according to a 2023 study. Nine things to know about workaholism, according to research compiled by the Post: • ere is no correlation between workaholism and job performance; such employees receive roughly the same performance reviews as their coworkers. • Perfectionists, extroverts and people with type-A personalities are more prone to workaholism than other personality types. • Low self-esteem is not a factor to becoming addicted to work. • A 2018 study of nurses in Norway found that workaholics were more likely than their counterparts to harm or nearly harm patients and themselves, break equipment and sleep on the job. • Managers and self-employed employees are at a higher risk of workaholism than others. • A 2006 study also discovered a link between life dissatisfaction and overcommitment to work. • Organizations that encourage competition and long hours are likely to breed workaholics. • e increase in workaholism might be connected to online platforms such as Zoom, Slack and Microso Teams, which can carry work to wherever the worker is. • ere are no scientifically proven solutions for workaholism, Dr. Taris told the outlet. Research shows steps toward improvement, such as practicing mindfulness, scheduling time for recovery, encouraging autonomy and empowerment, limiting access to work aer the workday ends, checking in on suspected workaholics, and advocating for upper management to model healthy work lives. n