WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Novant Health today announced the launch of the Novant Health Center for Public Policy Solutions, a clinician-led, patient-focused research center designed to elevate public policies that impact health care. The Center’s mission is to drive public policy solutions that address workforce challenges, health care accessibility, affordability and other barriers to high-quality care.
“At Novant Health, we innovate, transform, and drive forward solutions that provide the best care for our patients, the communities we serve, and one another,” said Carl S. Armato, president and CEO, Novant Health. “Government mandates and problematic insurance practices require doctors, advanced practice providers and nurses to spend more time with paperwork than with patients. We can’t stand idly by when we see problems affecting our frontline caregivers and patients. We are stepping in to drive real-world solutions that improve health care for all.”
Nationwide, clinician burnout has reached crisis levels, where 2 in 3 physicians and 1 in 2 nurses report experiencing burnout. In 2022, 45.6% of all health workers, both clinical and nonclinical, reported feeling burnout often or very often. For those in clinical practice, this marks a nearly 39% increase in the prevalence of burnout since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The result is taking a toll on clinician supply, leaving the ever-increasing demand for care access at risk. The federal Health Resources and Services Administration estimates that by 2035, there will be a national shortage of more than 81,000 doctors; in both North and South Carolina, the organization predicts nursing shortages over 10%, making this one of the most pressing issues in health care.
With the collective knowledge of Novant Health experts and a strategic focus on critical issues such as clinician burnout, patient satisfaction, affordability, and unnecessary government and insurer mandates, the Center will drive solutions that improve patient care and keep clinicians at the bedside.
“By launching the Novant Health Center for Public Policy Solutions, we are bringing together some of the smartest minds in health care to use their real-world experience to start addressing the unnecessary barriers public policies create,” said Dr. Pam Oliver, executive vice president and chief medical officer, Novant Health.
Coinciding with today’s launch, the Center released its first white paper, “Addressing Over-Regulation Can Help Clinician Burnout: Actions to Protect Patients and the Clinicians Who Care for Them.” This comprehensive assessment provides invaluable insights into the challenges faced by patients and clinicians and offers solutions to address opaque coverage rules and confusing annual check-up policies.
Through collective expertise and collaborative efforts, the Novant Health Center for Public Policy Solutions will propel the creation of impactful, evidence-based policies that drive positive change in the health care sector.
For more information, visit NovantHealth.org/PolicySolutions.
About the Novant Health Center for Public Policy Solutions
The Novant Health Center for Public Policy Solutions shapes and advances public policies to address what matters most to clinicians and patients. The Center moves beyond theory to drive action to combat clinician burnout, address healthcare access and affordability challenges, and enable innovation. The Center utilizes the latest research, direct expertise from front-line clinicians, and collective experience as a leading not-for-profit health system to improve healthcare across the region and the country.
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