Happy Hump Day! Wow, winter has really settled in for most of the U.S. – cold and snow as far south as Arkansas and cold, almost everywhere. Next week looks a bit more promising, weather-wise.
Staffing for all providers is a major issue. For rural facilities, it can be the difference between staying afloat or closing. I hear story after story from providers nationwide about agency costs, inability to recruit or retain staff, compensation costs rising faster than reimbursement, etc. I also know that many providers have struggled with maintaining or improving census and/or caseload (home health, hospice) due to lack of sufficient staff by number and by type (primarily, clinical staff, direct care).
Not too long ago, I did a webinar for a professional association/organization on this issue and what, if anything can be done to improve staffing levels at the provider end – recruitment and retention. As I note at the conclusion, there is no magic bullet but there are various strategies that I have used and watched other organizations use, that do have positive impacts on attracting and retaining staff, at all levels. The presentation is available for download here: Framework for improved staffing levels It is also available on the Presentations page. Happy Hump Day!