The Top Strategies for Addressing Staffing Shortages in Hospice Care Agencies

Hospices, like other providers, face ongoing challenges due to staffing shortages, which can impact the quality of care they are able to provide. An aging U.S. population and the imminent retirement of a portion of the healthcare workforce are some of the factors contributing to hospice labor shortages.

In response, hospice agencies are finding creative and innovative ways to address staffing shortages to ensure that patients receive the best care possible. This requires addressing not only the inflow and hiring of qualified candidates but also minimizing turnover among existing team members. In this article, we explore strategies hospices can use to attract and retain talent.

Flexible Work Arrangements

Flexible work arrangements help to both retain existing staff and attract new talent. An advantage of flexible work arrangements is that they have the potential to appeal to experienced staff who work for competitors offering less flexible arrangements. This reduces training costs and can improve the quality of care and patient experience.

Flexible work arrangements can include options such as part-time work, remote work, and flexible scheduling. By offering employees more control over their work hours and locations, hospices can gain an edge not only over other hospice agencies but also over other healthcare employers competing for the same applicants. In an industry with high turnover, flexibility helps to retain existing staff members who might otherwise leave due to the demands of the job.

For example, a hospice could allow nurses to work from home for administrative tasks or offer shorter shifts for caregivers who may have other commitments during the day. This flexibility not only helps with staffing shortages but can also improve employee satisfaction and morale.

Technology

Technology can help hospices address staffing shortages by playing a pivotal role in streamlining recruitment and creating operational efficiencies. A robust Hospice EMR software and a solid technology infrastructure can reduce the total number of manhours needed. Telehealth options and remote monitoring devices can also help decrease on-site staffing needs and costs.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic processing automation (RPA) tools can work 24/7 without a break to allow a hospice’s existing workforce to do more without adding hours. For example, Hospice software AI can help mitigate the effects of labor shortages by managing appointment reminders, reviewing compliance documentation, and other administrative tasks.

AI can also give hospices a competitive edge when it comes to recruitment. AI can help source, screen, and identify qualified candidates, shortening the time to hire, and increasing the quality of candidates.

Staffing management software can optimize scheduling and resource allocation, ensuring that the right number of caregivers is available when needed. These systems can take into account employee preferences, availability, and qualifications, creating fair and efficient schedules. Technology can also be deployed to provide data analysis for workforce planning, identifying staffing trends, patient needs, and employee performance and productivity. This can help identify potential shortages early, allowing hospice agencies to be proactive rather than reactive.

Creative Incentives

With so much competition for nurses and other healthcare workers, hospices should design creative incentives that resonate with the lifestyle needs of top candidates. For example, if home health aides or other candidates who need to travel to patients’ homes struggle with new car prices or high interest rates, organizations can partner with local dealerships or rental companies to explore ways to offer reliable transportation at a reduced cost. Besides alleviating the financial burden of commuting, this emphasizes that the organization understands and supports its team members’ needs.

Student loan repayment assistance could also be part of a recruitment package. Many nurses and other workers struggle with significant education debt. Tuition reimbursement programs can attract talented employees seeking to expand their skills and advance their careers. Similarly, hospices can offer tuition assistance to support existing staff working to attain useful new credentials.

Referral rewards programs incentivize and leverage the networks of existing employees. By combining these various incentives, hospices can craft a competitive recruitment strategy that appeals to hospice nurses, aides, and other job candidates, making them feel valued from the moment they apply.

Shared Staffing Arrangements

Often, hospices are part of a larger health system with other service lines such as outpatient palliative care, home health, or hospitals. Shared staffing arrangements can be a strategic solution for staffing shortages, allowing multiple business units, locations, teams, or organizations to pool talent and resources as needed to provide patient care. In these arrangements, staff such as nurses are shared between service lines or participating hospices, enabling them to fill in as needed. This is also a way to provide overtime opportunities for existing staff who need extra hours or income.

This type of arrangement can also streamline administrative costs related to staffing, such as recruitment, training, and benefits. Nurses and aides can benefit from exposure to diverse work environments and experiences, which can enhance their professional development. Key considerations when developing shared staffing arrangements include staffing models, scheduling, roles and responsibilities, training, and compensation.  

The Takeaway

Staffing shortages can pose significant challenges for hospices seeking to provide high-quality care to patients. However, by implementing strategies such as flexible work arrangements, technology, creative incentives, and shared staffing arrangements, hospices can overcome these challenges and ensure that patients receive the care and support they deserve.

By thinking outside the box and embracing new approaches to staffing, hospices can not only address current shortages but also build a strong and loyal workforce for the future. In a rapidly changing healthcare environment projecting ongoing labor shortages, creativity and flexibility are key. Hospices that embrace these principles are more likely to thrive.

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