The mental and physical well-being of the workforce is one of the ECRI's top 10 patient safety concerns for 2024.
The nonprofit organization published its annual list detailing the biggest threats to patient safety March 12.
"Rampant physical and emotional exhaustion" has led some healthcare workers to leave the workforce, creating stress on those who remain and possibly threatening patient care, according to ECRI's report.
The percentage of healthcare workers reporting sleep problems, burnout and harassment and work increased from 2018 to 2022, the report said.
ECRI recommended health systems take several actions to support workers' physical and emotional well-being, including eliminating stigma around behavioral health needs. The report also recommended implementing a trained behavioral health team to deescalate workplace violence, and implementing a peer program to provide psychological first aid to staff.
Declining physical and emotional well-being among healthcare workers was listed as ECRI's No. 5 concern for patient safety in 2024. In 2023, the organization named the pediatric mental health crisis as its top concern.
ECRI's No. 1 concern for 2024 is challenges transitioning new clinicians from education to practice.
Read the full report here.