A new report reveals U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals face shortages of clinical and nonclinical positions.
The report, from the VA Office of Inspector General, includes a survey of approximately 140 VA medical centers, which self-reported occupational shortages as of Dec. 31, 2017. Facilities reported clinical occupational shortages and shortages of nonclinical roles, such as human resources and custodial personnel.
Overall, medical centers reported variation in the number and types of shortages, although they most commonly cited shortages of medical officers and nurses. The most commonly cited nonclinical shortages included human resources management and police occupations, according to the OIG.
Specifically, individual facilities designated between one and 89 staffing shortages, including up to 76 clinical shortages and up to 26 nonclinical shortages.
The OIG said the reasons provided for the shortages also varied, with lack of qualified applicants, noncompetitive salary, and high staff turnover among the most commonly cited reasons.
"This 2018 survey highlights the need for a staffing model that identifies and prioritizes staffing needs at the national level while allowing flexibility at the facility level," the OIG wrote. "OIG re-emphasizes the need for VHA to develop and implement a robust and targeted staffing model."
The OIG noted it did not independently confirm information provided by medical centers and that this was a general survey rather than a compliance tool.
In response to the report, the VA countered that it has achieved success with respect to staffing under the Trump administration.
"VA's vacancy rate is less than its turnover rate, and our total number of onboard employees has increased by 7,500 so far this fiscal year," the agency said in a statement to Becker's Hospital Review.
The VA also said it took the OIG's recommendation and has especially made strides with mental health hiring.
"Through the work of local and national leaders, VA has brought on a net increase of 424 mental health professionals and we are aiming to hit our target of 1,000 net new mental health professionals by December of 2018," the agency statement reads.
As of March 8, 2018, the entire VA, including medical centers, reported 33,642 full-time-equivalent vacancies, which represents a vacancy rate of 8.45 percent.
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