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The Impact of Staffing Shortages on Healthcare Organisations

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- 7 months ago

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The Impact of Staffing Shortages on Healthcare Organisations

Running a successful healthcare organisation today can be challenging, with pressures to deliver quality care while keeping costs down. Nowhere are these pressures felt more acutely than in the area of staffing, ensuring that workforce numbers and skills meet the needs of modern healthcare requires careful management. Staffing shortages have significant and far-reaching impacts, and this issue is not unique to Ireland. However, the specific effects and challenges may vary based on the systems, policies, and demographics of a particular country. The impact of staffing shortages on healthcare organisations in Ireland can be looked at in various ways.

Decreased Quality of Care

Staffing shortages can lead to a decreased quality of care as workers are stretched thin, resulting in longer waiting times, rushed procedures, and reduced attention to patients’ needs.
This may result in a decline in patient outcomes, increased medical errors, and potentially adverse events.
Overworked and fatigued professionals are more prone to making mistakes. The likelihood of medication errors, misdiagnoses, and other medical errors that can harm patients.
Delayed care can be especially problematic for patients with urgent or critical conditions.

Did You Know?

Staffing levels across healthcare have hit record lows with an additional 15,000 workers needed by 2035, as reported in the Irish Examiner.

Servisource Wins Tier 2 Status on the Multi Supplier Panel for Nursing & Midwifery Placement in Ireland

Increased Workload and Burnout

Existing staff often have to take on extra duties and longer hours to compensate for the shortage. This increased workload can lead to burnout, fatigue, and decreased job satisfaction.
Burnout can contribute to higher turnover rates among professionals, exacerbating the staffing shortage problem.
Workers may be responsible for caring for a larger number of patients than they can manage effectively. This can result in decreased time per patient, leading to rushed care and potentially overlooking critical details.
Workers may also be burdened with increased administrative tasks, such as documentation and paperwork, which can further add to their workload.

Longer Wait Times

Patients may face longer waiting times for appointments, treatments, and surgeries due to limited staff..
Delayed access to care can negatively impact patients’ health, potentially leading to the progression of diseases or conditions.
Patients may encounter delays in scheduling diagnostic tests such as MRI, CT scans, or X-rays and elective procedures like surgeries due to limited staff availability. These delays can prolong the diagnostic process and treatment planning.
Patients relying on regular medication refills may face longer wait times at pharmacies, especially if there are shortages of pharmacy staff. This can lead to interruptions in medication regimens, which can be detrimental to patients’ health.

How to avoid staffing shortages?

Anticipate Future Needs: Organisations should regularly assess their current workforce and project future staffing needs based on population growth, patient demographics, and trends. This can help identify potential shortages in advance.
Attractive Compensation Packages: Offer competitive salaries, benefits, and incentives to attract and retain professionals. Conduct regular salary benchmarking to ensure compensation packages are competitive in the job market.
Work-Life Balance: Promote work-life balance by implementing flexible scheduling options and reasonable work hours to prevent burnout and staff turnover.
Emergency Staffing Plans: Develop and maintain emergency staffing plans that can be activated during unexpected surges in patient demand, such as during a pandemic or natural disaster.
Use a Staffing Agency: To alleviate the recruitment strain, use a staffing agency who can anticipate needs because of their industry expertise and professionalism.

How Servisource Can Help:

• Servisource was also awarded the
Employment Recruitment Federation 2021 Award for Best in Practice Healthcare based on our excellent track record of providing healthcare staff.
• We have been providing hospitals with a 24-hour service, guaranteeing fast results and excellent service.
• Our training academy offer bespoke solutions, providing a supply of qualified, skilled and competent people, in the right place at all times.
• These are some of the key reasons why we have been the partner of choice for hospitals since 2010.

It is clear that staffing shortages can take a massive toll on certain organisations, both physically and financially. It remains up to leaders within this industry to create solutions to this problem before it gets any worse. By encouraging better recruitment strategies and recognising high-performance staff members through incentives, organisations can begin to uphold healthcare standards and reduce shortages.