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Introduction
Staffing shortages are not anything new to the healthcare industry. When a staffing shortage occurs, the quality of patient care suffers, and the costs go up to ensure schedules are covered. Across the country, healthcare systems are deploying alternate workforce solutions to address staffing demands and to contain costs, including using per diem clinicians. These clinicians can fill the schedule gaps that can develop when hospital staff is absent or there are spikes in inpatient censuses. To address these issues, Norman Regional Healthcare System (NRHS) embarked on a transformative journey with Trio Shifts to reduce staffing agency spending. This case study explores the workforce solution journey that NRHS took that helped to reduce staffing agency spending and help to keep the attrition rate low.
The Challenge
NRHS, like many healthcare institutions, faced several critical challenges:
- Staffing Shortages: Periodic shortages of qualified healthcare professionals stressed the existing workforce, jeopardizing patient care quality and staff well-being.
- Scheduling Complexities: Managing schedules for a diverse healthcare workforce across multiple facilities, including nurses, physicians, and support staff, proved labor-intensive and intricate.
- Regulatory Compliance: The organization needed to navigate strict labor regulations while ensuring staffing levels adhered to industry standards while maintaining quality patient care.
- Barriers to Efficient Communication: No platform existed to allow Norman Regional and its staff to communicate directly, leading to messy, disjointed messaging between Norman Regional, its agency partners, and its staff.
The Results of Trio Shifts
Delivered Cost Savings in Excess of
15%
Doubles the size of cleared clinicians (float pool)
< 90 days
Reduced cancellation by
40%
Reduced shifts cancelled <4hrs only
50%
Reduced future shifts unfilled by
90%
Future shifts % filled exclude cancelled 48% to 98%
< 90 days
The Solution: Trio Shifts
NRHS recognized the potential of Trio Shifts as an additional workforce solution by using per diem clinicians to address these challenges. The organization initiated this program with a focus on the following key areas:
Efficient Scheduling
Trio Shifts provided a user-friendly platform to streamline per diem scheduling, enabling administrators to effortlessly create, manage, and communicate open shifts to staff.
Optimized Staffing Costs
By utilizing Trio Shifts' data-driven insights, NRHS ensured they placed the right clinician in the right role at the right price.
Compliance Management
The platform's automated compliance tracking and reporting supported the organization in maintaining labor law compliance and meeting accreditation standards.
Enhanced Communication
Real-time updates and notifications ensured that all staff members were well-informed about their shifts, reducing missed shifts and associated complications.
Bringing Real Value
The per diem program with the utilization of Trio Shifts delivered substantial positive outcomes for Norman Regional:
Improved Efficiency
Scheduling time decreased by 50%, allowing administrators to redirect their focus from administrative work to strategic tasks.
Cost Savings
The organization achieved a 15% reduction in labor expenses through optimized staffing levels and reduced overtime costs.
Enhanced Patient Care
Well-staffed shifts and reduced staff burnout led to a marked increase in the quality of patient care, resulting in higher patient satisfaction scores.
Compliance Adherence
The organization consistently met regulatory standards, avoiding penalties and legal challenges.
Increased Staff Satisfaction
Better communication and fair scheduling practices led to higher staff morale and decreased turnover rates.
Conclusion
The per diem program utilizing Trio Shifts highlights the transformative power of cutting- edge technology in optimizing healthcare workforce management. Trio Shifts has solidified its position as an invaluable tool for healthcare organizations navigating the ever-changing healthcare landscape by tackling staffing challenges, streamlining processes, and enhancing patient care.
The partnership between Trio Shifts and Norman Regional serves as a blueprint for how innovative technology can create positive change in healthcare workforce management, ultimately benefiting healthcare professionals and the patients they serve. With the successful onset of this program, Norman Regional is poised to continue their journey toward excellence in healthcare workforce management.
Are You Ready to Shift Gears?
Today’s challenge of deploying a sustainable and cost-effective healthcare workforce is only compounded by fragmented talent pools, disjointed technology platforms, and siloed reporting. Trio Workforce Solutions is here to solve that challenge.