Key Strategies for Optimizing Your Workforce
Healthcare is constantly evolving with the times and adapting to new challenges. It's a sector where the demand for quality and efficiency is not just expected but required. In this rapidly changing environment, effectively managing a healthcare workforce is critical.
Leora Westbrook, President of Workforce Strategy and Optimization (WSO) at AMN Healthcare recently appeared on Healthcare Insider, Modern Healthcare’s podcast hosted by Maria Castellucci, deputy editor of custom content. With over two decades of experience in healthcare services, Leora brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the table. The podcast episode offered a deep exploration of the current landscape in healthcare workforce management, addressing challenges, and discussing innovative solutions.
Key topics included:
- The recalibration of the healthcare workforce and managing labor costs amidst burnout and turnover
- The importance of an enterprise and data-driven approach to developing dynamic staffing models
- How data analysis and predictive modeling can guide organizations in understanding workforce dynamics and making informed decisions
What makes an effective workforce management strategy?
At its core, a dynamic staffing model considers both core staff and contingency or flexible resources. This dual approach allows healthcare organizations to adjust to varying patient volumes, optimizing staff levels to match. Not only does this strategy ensure financial efficiency, but it also empowers healthcare professionals to work at the pinnacle of their training and licensure – a critical factor in both patient outcomes and employee satisfaction.
But it's crucial to acknowledge that no two healthcare organizations are the same. Each faces unique challenges, from patient census variability to staff behavior patterns such as planned time off (PTO) and unexpected absences. For some, a more substantial core staff might suffice, supported by fewer contingent resources. Others, facing frequent fluctuations in demand, might find greater value in a layered contingency approach that ensures adaptability without sacrificing care quality.
Our approach to healthcare enterprise labor management (HELM) emphasizes the use of analytics and predictive modeling to make accurate staffing predictions, guided by client data. This strategy allows us to identify optimization opportunities by providing a detailed view across both core personnel and contingency staff. Our powerful dashboards offer deep insights into staffing patterns, financial productivity, and variances between expected and actual worked hours, enabling managers to take proactive steps in workforce planning and optimization.
Our WSO solutions feature Smart Square® healthcare scheduling software, a unique platform blending demand forecasting and scheduling with transparency and intelligence tools. This SaaS platform delivers swift implementation and continuous updates at no extra cost. It accurately predicts patient demand up to 120 days in advance, aligning staffing resources effectively. Forecasts 60 days ahead align within one required staff member 96% of the time, improving as the shift approaches. At 30 days out, our patented Open Shift technology incentivizes early shift sign-ups, filling 75% of open shifts over two weeks in advance, aligning with budgetary goals. Smart Square is versatile, supporting acute, clinic, ancillary, and long-term care settings, alongside strategic labor planning consultations. Smart Square has been ranked the number one scheduling software since February 2024, with a current overall satisfaction rating of 88.4.
This predictive prowess is not just about avoiding understaffing or curtailing excess expenditure on overtime. It's about ensuring that each healthcare professional can operate within an environment that recognizes and utilizes their full potential. When staff are deployed effectively, patient care is optimized, job satisfaction increases, and the foundation for sustainable operational success is laid.
Our partnership approach
Our partnership extends beyond delivering analytics; we collaborate with our clients to enhance operational efficiencies, laying the groundwork for predictable and sustained improvement. Our approach to workforce optimization encompasses thorough diagnostics, assessments of workforce operations, sophisticated staffing models, and comprehensive planning tools—including our workforce planning dashboard and talent strategy scorecard. We offer flexible staffing solutions and integrated, data-driven talent advisory services tailored to each organization's unique needs, ensuring a seamless pathway to advanced workforce management strategies.
Ready to gain actionable insights and strategies for optimizing your healthcare workforce? Tune into this enlightening episode of Healthcare Insider or contact us at client.services@amnhealthcare.com.