Staffing Shortages Creating a Crisis in Healthcare Delivery
Workers in every industry are leaving their jobs in record numbers in what has been deemed “The Great Resignation.” And nowhere has this exodus been felt more keenly than in the healthcare industry. What makes the healthcare worker shortage more critical than most other industries is the crucial life-or-death services these workers perform daily.
The Great Resignation in healthcare
According to an American Medical Association study, one in five physicians and two in five nurses plan to leave practice or reduce their hours within two years. This could result in a shortage of 1.1 million nurses by next year, according to the American Nurses Association, and rural hospitals, which historically have difficulty attracting workers, are especially hard hit. COVID stress, fatigue, and burnout are major contributors to the exodus of healthcare workers, as are fear of infection and lack of adequate safety measures. But other, more subtle factors are also influencing workers’ decisions to leave, including a lack of appreciation and limited opportunities for advancement.
Consequences of staff shortages
One of the biggest challenges of staff shortages is the financial burden they create. Maintaining adequate staff levels likely means paying overtime wages and expensive travel nursing agencies for temporary workers to fill critical gaps. It also takes money to hire permanent replacement staff. You’ll need to cover recruiting expenses, incentives, and hiring bonuses to attract qualified personnel, and apply more financial resources to training new staff in clinical and administrative operations.
Nurse and physician shortages also create scheduling problems, further stress on those who continue working, and dissatisfaction about long hours, low pay, and the rising cost of child care. Shortages also raise issues for patient safety and optimal health outcomes. Some of the hardest hit areas, especially during the pandemic, are emergency rooms and critical care units where quality care is most vital.
Solving the crisis
Measures to solve healthcare staffing shortages should begin with retention efforts. It’s less expensive to retain workers than replace them. Identify challenges and reasons for clinical staff leaving. Then you can develop a well-defined strategy to overcome those specific challenges.
The first step is to establish a communications channel so workers can freely express their concerns and reasons for their dissatisfaction. Let staff know they’re valued by acknowledging their concerns and making changes wherever possible. Provide worthwhile incentives, such as additional time off and opportunities for continuing education.
Technology can also help compensate for staffing shortages. Many routine or administrative tasks can be automated to give clinical healthcare workers more time to focus on patient care. Telemedicine can improve healthcare outcomes without significantly adding to workload. You can also support and advocate for government programs that provide funds for recruiting and training healthcare workers.
Although the pandemic exacerbated healthcare staffing shortages, it also brought other persistent issues to light — issues that will continue to cause problems for healthcare facilities when the current crisis has passed.
For help dealing with financial problems surrounding provider shortages and revenue cycle management, contact the experts at HRG today.
