Medicine and Science from The BMJ

Fixing healthcare's workforce problems

Apr 26, 2024

Amy Edmundson, a Professor at Harvard Business School, discusses psychological safety in healthcare. The podcast also delves into the influence of alcohol and tobacco industries on public health, education conflicts, and NHS staffing recommendations. Key topics include creating safe workplaces, corporate funding impact, and workforce challenges.

36:51

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Amy Edmundson

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Psychological safety in healthcare is essential for quality improvement, enabling open communication and collaboration among employees.

The impact of corporate funding on public health and education highlights the need for transparent and unbiased information dissemination.

Deep dives

Importance of Psychological Safety in Healthcare

Psychological safety in healthcare is crucial for quality improvement: ensuring that employees feel comfortable enough to speak up, share concerns, and collaborate effectively. Amy Edmondson's work highlights the significance of creating environments where individuals can freely express thoughts without fear. The podcast emphasizes the need for realistic expectations about human interactions, kindness, and the impact of hierarchy on communication and patient care.

Introduction

2min

Industry Funding in Public Health, NHS Workforce Recommendations & Healthcare Quality and Safety Discussion

2min

Fostering Psychological Safety in Healthcare

8min

Unveiling Corporate Interests in Medical Education

3min

The Influence of Big Alcohol on Public Health Education

6min

Navigating Workforce Issues in the NHS: A Call for Change

14min

Innovative Solutions and Evidence-Based Practices in Healthcare Workforce

3min

Where next for psychological safety? Amy Edmundson is professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School. Her work on psychological safety has underpinned so much quality improvement, and she joins us fresh of the stage at the International Forum on Quality and safety in healthcare to talk about the next steps in creating a safe work place.

The BMJ has published two new investigations, looking at the alcohol and tobacco industry funding of public health and education - we’ll hear how the companies who create the problems, are now styling themselves as the solution. Rebecca Coombes joins us to explain what The BMJ has found, and May van Schalkwyk, a researcher from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, explains how commercial conflicts are shaping the wrong education tactics.

And finally, our NHS commissioners have more recommendations - this time on workforce issues. Mary Dixon-Woods, director of THIS institute at the University of Cambridge, and Matt Morgan, intensive care consultant in Cardiff, tell the NHS to get serious about staffing.

02:03 Amy Edmondson on Future Health and Psychological Safety
10:24 The Impact of Corporate Funding on Public Health
19:57 Addressing NHS Workforce Challenges: Insights and Solutions

Reading list;

Our new podcast - Future Health

International forum keynote - Medscape caves in on courses funded by tobacco giant Philip Morris, while medics fear global push into medical education
Investigation - Big alcohol: Universities and schools urged to throw out industry-funded public health advice

Commission on the future of the NHS - The future of the NHS depends on its workforce