Cancer providers must prepare to care for pent-up volumes while simultaneously ensuring their operations and facilities remain safe for patients and staff.
While every organization is unique and will need to tailor workforce plans to their situation, below are practical strategies that cancer programs can deploy to position themselves for a successful pandemic recovery.
» Scale staffing to meet patient demand, but avoid overstaffing. Maximize flexibility. Pursue capacity-increasing models (e.g., extended operating hours), but survey staff to gauge their support.
» Use technology to alleviate staff responsibilities (e.g., automated triage tools); implement digital health strategies to help staff work top-of-license.
» Recognize staff limitations due to outside demands (e.g., child care). Be cognizant of emotional burdens and encourage (and offer) counseling.
» Evaluate and monitor provider staffing to ensure readiness to handle capacity fluctuations. Prepare to absorb increased capacity through care model adjustments (e.g., increasing APP roles).
» Be transparent about the impact of COVID-19 on production-based compensation and adjust when necessary. Consider compensation guarantees for providers under such arrangements with year-end reconciliation periods. Proactively communicate about what to expect for 2021.
This is part of the COVID-19 oncology response series from ECG Management Consultants. For more information, visit ECG’s website.