Increasing focus for healthcare facilities and clinics is to minimize the number of staff while maximizing the care for patients. Optimizing the workforce and ensuring it aligns with the needs of patients can be challenging, but there are things that management can do to help make this easier. Some of the ways they can work on addressing staffing issues while ensuring patients receive the right care include the following.
Know Where to Get Staffing Help
It can take a long time to hire new staff, so it’s important for hiring managers to know where they can get help to speed up the process. Staffing agencies are a great option, as they can help match healthcare facilities with staff that would be a good fit for their needs. This can help the healthcare facility save money and time when they need to hire a new employee. Staffing managers can get more information on how a staffing agency can help by contacting CompHealth today.
Determine Appropriate Staffing Ratios
Staffing ratios can vary based on the type of healthcare facility, the number of patients seen each day, and more. Depending on the type of clinic or facility, there may be state laws that dictate staff-to-patient ratios, too. It is important for staffing managers to make sure they determine the appropriate staffing ratios for their facility. This helps them determine the number of staff to hire to make sure patients always receive high-quality care at the facility, even if the facility is busier during some parts of the year or is starting to grow and take on new patients.
Use Flexible Staffing Solutions
Sometimes, there will be gaps in coverage that can impact staffing ratios. One way to combat that is to use flexible staffing solutions. If an employee needs to be out of work for any reason, flexible staffing solutions enable the facility to find the coverage it needs for that period of time. There’s no need to hire extra workers just in case they’re needed, as it’s possible to hire locum tenens who provide coverage when needed and move on to a different job when the employee returns to their position.
Implement Data-Driven Forecasting
Leveraging technology can be a great way to stay on top of staffing concerns and prevent potential issues down the road. Predictive analytics is a great way to use technology to predict spikes in patient care that may be needed. For instance, using the data from past years, predictive analytics may suggest hiring a few extra staff members at certain points of the year because the clinic may see an influx of new patients due to flu season. This helps ensure there is always the right number of staff on hand to provide the right care for patients.
With increasing pressure on hiring and staffing managers, it can be challenging to find a way to align staffing needs with patient needs to continue providing the best care. However, there is help available. Management can use the techniques and strategies listed here to make sure they are maintaining the right amount of staff to handle the workload and to be prepared for the future. Use a staffing agency to get more help with staffing best practices or to ensure there are enough staff to continue providing excellent patient care.
