Workforce. Workforce. Workforce. No topic has occupied our hearts and minds so deeply as those who do the important work of caring for patients. Labor shortages have led recent headlines, and embedded in the stories are the details of personal loss, grief and countless demonstrations of courage, perseverance and empathy.
Illustrating the challenge is the data from ACHE’s 2021 Top Issues Confronting Hospitals survey, where hospital CEOs have ranked personnel shortages as their No. 1 concern—the first time since 2004 that financial challenges has not held the top spot. When looking at the survey results on Page 62, readers will more clearly understand that shortages and financial challenges go hand in hand as labor costs rise and solutions seem elusive.
Though the healthcare labor shortage is not a new topic, the signals are more urgent as the list continues to expand across the care continuum to include roles like therapists and lab and medical technicians. Both short-term and long-term solutions will be needed if we are to find ways to support our essential workforce partners, while also facing the financial realities before us. A few thoughts may serve as starting points.
Build organizational well-being. The immediate priority is relieving physical and psychological stress for the front line. Though strong tactics like zero tolerance policies must be in place to protect workers, strategies must go further. Prioritizing well-being resources, allowing time and space to rest and finding ways to bring joy into our work will help create a safe, resilient culture.
Evidence suggests professional development can make a difference as well. Supporting and investing in continuing education both ensures up-to-date clinical skill sets and improves professional well-being through expanded opportunities to learn and grow. Clinical practitioners also report that both face-to-face and virtual development opportunities impact their decisions to stay with their organizations. Mentors, sponsors and coaches can also add to a learning environment that helps advance clinicians and, ultimately, the patients they serve.
Support the practice. It has often been said that healthcare is a team sport. Innovations in care delivery have accelerated, and leveraging the full power of the interprofessional team is more important than ever. Effective teams require an intentional balance of the right skill in the right setting at the right time. Recent history suggests our paradigms will make better use of advanced practice providers and other clinical professionals, as well as alternative models, like hospital-at-home, to help build agility and intention into the care mix to serve a growing number of patients.
Another strategy is simply making the job easier. Flexing schedules and staffing models may ease the burden of those juggling the needs of family and loved ones. Technology may also serve to be an effective remedy when applied to workflow issues that add time and complexity for caregivers.
Solve for tomorrow, today. Overall, workforce must be central to strategic planning to ensure structure, resources and investments thoughtfully address and fund relevant priorities. Some organization are hiring chief wellness officers, creating well-being champions and experimenting with other new initiatives. Some are partnering with educational institutions and community organizations to increase the recruitment pool—cultivating a diverse mix of future talent. Regardless of approach, incorporating long-term solutions today is necessary to create a foundation for future success.
People are our most precious resource. While we may not solve for shortages overnight, leadership is uniquely positioned to find innovative care delivery solutions, identify and grow talent, improve well-being, and reduce the burden on our workforce. Let us all rise to the challenge of doing more.
Deborah J. Bowen, FACHE, CAE, is president and CEO of the American College of Healthcare Executives (dbowen@ache.org).
Editor note: For more resources, consult the American Hospital Association’s 2022 Healthcare Talent Scan at aha.org/aha-talent-scan.