Guarding patient safety when your hospital has staff reductions

As in any industry, healthcare faces waves of cost-cutting measures that include reductions in staff. This unavoidable condition of business management triggers many stressful challenges.

If staff reductions are pursued without a commitment to safety, patients are at risk.

One of the most common developments after staff reductions is the negative impact on staff engagement including employee satisfaction, loyalty and internal pride. When job security worries become a higher focus than proper implementation of policies and procedures, bad things can happen.

There are long-standing studies that indicate staff burnout is a direct contributor to medical errors and incidents , so having less staff on hand logically amplifies hazards patients may be exposed to. If less staff means additional tasks for remaining caregivers, they can struggle with new distractions around patient care duties. If clinical and support staff are given new responsibilities that they aren't well trained for, such as sterilization of surfaces or supplies, patients face new infection risks.

If your organization will be implementing necessary staff reductions, consider these important items:

• As positions are reviewed for possible elimination, categorize likely patient care impacts before final decisions are made.
• Reductions in staff are not solely a spreadsheet process. The skills and competency of one individual in the same position may be significantly different, and it is imperative that skills must be considered.
• Carefully evaluate any special skills/tasks carried out by staff members who will no longer be employed. Often times, line supervisors may be the keeper of this special knowledge. Ensure that these responsibilities can be competently carried out by those who remain.
• Consider the impact of staff reductions based on shifts and days of the week. For example, reductions in night shift may pose greater risks.
• When re-assigning patient care duties to remaining positions, review current levels of productivity, performance and staff proficiency before assigning new duties. Check that new assignments do not require any individual to carry out tasks that are out of their practice area, experience level, knowledge base or judgment capabilities.
• Quality and safety measures, including engagement and financial impact scores should be carefully monitored before, during and after planned staff reductions.
• When communicating reductions to staff, clearly share the patient safety perspective and its importance in the staffing decisions. State the ongoing commitment and accountabilities for safe behaviors. Identify informal safety leaders in the organization and engage these people to assist with positive internal communication and commitment.
• Establish authentic, anonymous feedback channels for staff at all levels to share any safety concerns they have with the pending staffing changes. Be sure to promptly investigate and communicate any accommodations. Ask for specific risks they anticipate.
• Prior to separations, interview departing staff on their thoughts about patient safety implications to help prevent unexpected incidents. Thank those who share their concerns openly with a gift card or other token of appreciation.
• Prior to the remaining staff taking on new duties, be sure to design and implement a comprehensive education or re-training process so staff are well prepared to protect the patients as they carry out new job assignments.

Diane Stover-Hopkins is the principal consultant for DuPont Sustainable Solutions, Healthcare, in Wilmington, Delaware. Diane.Hopkins@mail3.dupont.com or for more information visit www.safepeoplesafepatients.com.

# # #

The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of Becker's Hospital Review/Becker's Healthcare. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars