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Maximizing Patient Care: Staffing Strategies For Your Clinic

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Published
11/03/2024

The healthcare industry has been plagued by staffing shortages for some time now. Many believe these shortages started with the global pandemic, but it was a problem before that crisis. These shortages often lead to a decrease in patient care quality.

Organizations cannot operate as efficiently when short-staffed, and remaining staff members frequently experience burnout. They're overworked and tired, leading to more people leaving the industry. Experts predict the problem will only worsen in the coming decades, as America's population is aging, and there already aren't enough workers to care for patients today. Staffing levels must be addressed to ensure patients receive high-quality care without overburdening medical professionals. 

Staffing Ratios

Every organization struggling with staffing shortages must look into staffing solutions for your clinic. Research shows that staffing ratios have a direct impact on patient outcomes. Unfortunately, the majority of states don't mandate nurse-to-patient ratios. Furthermore, when doctors are short-staffed, hospital mortality rates increase.

Determining Ideal Staffing Levels

Healthcare organizations often let finances drive staffing levels. Other factors need to be prioritized. When determining staffing levels, the healthcare facility must determine the total number of patients and their care needs. Patients in intensive care need more care than those ready to be discharged, which influences staffing levels. Patient demographics also play a role in this. Specific demographics need more attention than others, which influences staffing levels.

How to Calculate Staffing Needs

Organizations may use one of several methods to determine staffing needs. Patient classification systems are often used to analyze patient care needs and assess staffing needs. To do so, the organization might use prototype tools, summative task tools, or care interaction tools.

Other organizations use workload management systems, which consider patient acuity unit priorities and nursing tasks to determine the proper staffing level. These organizations use the Workload Indicators of Staffing Need created by the World Health Organization. The tools analyze nurse workloads staffing and balances and staffing needs to determine the best patient-to-medical provider ratio.

Benchmarking is another method for determining ideal staffing levels. This process involves comparing facilities, departments, or other healthcare dimensions against their peers. Entities must work together when this method is used to drive quality improvement.

Tools and Technologies

Healthcare organizations often rely on tools and technologies to determine appropriate staff levels. These tools help recruit new talent, decrease turnover, and improve talent satisfaction by tracking key metrics, streamlining job postings, simplifying resume tracking, and more. Healthcare organizations must use all methods possible to ensure optimal staffing levels.

Implementing Staffing Changes

Bringing in new talent is only one way to implement staffing changes that benefit the organization. Organizational leadership should talk with staff members to learn where changes are needed and why. They should also consider adjusting the staff structure to move individuals around when needed. Cross-training is of great benefit to healthcare organizations today. Leaders need to actively participate in this and work to develop and support their staff. They must also review best practices regularly to ensure nothing gets overlooked and continuously evaluate staffing needs.

Organizations that prioritize overcoming staffing challenges are likely to keep staff members. Workers see that the organization is committed to their health and well-being and will remain loyal even during challenging times when staff members are short. However, organizations cannot take advantage of this. They must always attract top talent and continuously improve their staffing levels—those who do will be prepared for success now and in the future.

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