Each December, more than 6,000 people end up in U.S. emergency rooms. This holiday rush presents unique challenges for healthcare facilities. As patient loads increase, many staff members also take time off to enjoy the holiday season. It’s a perfect storm that can put significant strain on existing teams and potentially impact patient care quality.
To ensure a seamless workflow and maintain high standards of care, healthcare facilities must adopt effective staffing strategies that can handle the holiday surge. Advanced planning, flexible staffing models, and leveraging temporary staff are all effective strategies for managing the increased patient load during the holiday season.
Importance of Advanced Planning
Hospital administrators understand the crucial nature of managing increased patient loads during holidays. However, without proper preparation, healthcare facilities risk understaffing during critical times, leading to overworked employees, increased errors, and compromised patient care.
Forecasting Patient Load
A key step in preparing for the holiday season is to review historical data to forecast the expected patient load. Healthcare administrators can predict the busiest periods and staff by analyzing previous years.
Scheduling in Advance
Once the patient load forecast is complete, it is essential to plan staff schedules well in advance. Account for holiday time-off requests, balance accommodating staff’s personal time, and ensure the facility remains adequately staffed.
Cross-Training Staff
Another critical strategy is to cross-train staff members. Ensuring that your team is skilled in multiple patient care areas allows for more flexibility in assignments and helps fill gaps when staff members are on leave.
Implementing Flexible Staffing Models
Healthcare facilities need to adopt flexible staffing models to manage fluctuations in patient demand. Flexibility in staffing can always ensure the right staff volume, regardless of how patient numbers change. Several flexible staffing options can help alleviate pressure during peak periods.
Float Pools
Float pools consist of employees trained to work across different departments as needed. This approach allows you to shift staff from departments with lower patient loads to areas with higher demands during the holiday season, optimizing the allocation of resources.
Per Diem Staffing
Offering per diem shifts, where staff members are paid daily, can help manage unpredictable patient surges. This model allows staff to pick up extra shifts, giving the facility more hands on deck during critical periods without committing to long-term hires.
On-Call Staff
Another flexible option is to have on-call staff ready to fill in at short notice. On-call employees offer a quick solution to unexpected staff shortages and ensure patient care isn’t compromised during busy times.
Leveraging Temporary Staff
Most hospitals leverage temporary staff to address staffing needs during the holiday rush. These professionals can fill gaps created by permanent employees taking time off, allowing facilities to maintain patient care standards without overburdening the existing teams.
Partnering with Staffing Agencies
Establishing strong relationships with healthcare staffing agencies can help streamline the process of bringing in temporary nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals. Recruiting firms like Bluebird Staffing have a vast pool of qualified candidates and can provide quick solutions for facilities facing shortages.
Temporary-to-Permanent Models
Some healthcare facilities adopt a temporary-to-permanent model during the holiday season. This approach allows facilities to bring in temporary staff for short-term needs while assessing their performance for potential long-term employment, ensuring continuity of care once the holiday season ends.
Flexibility in Temporary Roles
Temporary staff can also provide flexibility in terms of hours and roles. For example, temporary nurses might take on part-time or weekend shifts, freeing up your permanent staff to cover weekday schedules.
Ensuring High-Quality Patient Care
While managing staffing levels is essential, healthcare facilities should never lose sight of their core objective—ensuring high-quality patient care. Overworked and understaffed environments can lead to burnout, increased errors, and poor patient outcomes. Effective staffing strategies help prevent these issues.
Preventing Burnout
The holiday season often leads to increased stress, which can contribute to burnout among healthcare professionals. Facilities can avoid overloading their permanent employees by using flexible staffing models, temporary hires, and cross-trained staff.
Maintaining Patient-to-Staff Ratios
High patient-to-staff ratios can lead to rushed and inadequate care. Maintaining appropriate ratios during peak times should be a priority, as this ensures that patients receive the care they need without compromising quality.
Monitoring and Adjusting
During the holiday season, healthcare facilities must continuously monitor patient loads and adjust staffing models. Frequent check-ins with department managers can help assess whether more staff is required and prevent any potential breakdowns in service delivery.
Prepare Early for the Holiday Rush with Bluebird Staffing
Planning helps healthcare providers navigate the seasonal patient influx without compromising on care quality. With the right approach, healthcare facilities can survive and thrive during the holiday season, delivering excellent care even during the busiest times. Bluebird Staffing can help you find various staffing options that fit your goals. Find out why we’re the top choice of healthcare facilities seeking to staff up throughout the year.