How is your organization dealing with the shortage of healthcare talent?
In addition to permanent staff, many healthcare organizations need to rely on supplemental staff to maintain adequate staff levels. Supplemental staffing can offer various options, including emergency coverage, single shifts, block booking, or extended contracts. Assignment dates and lengths can vary, depending on your needs. Your organization may also use a combination of these options at different times and in different situations. If you are using supplemental staffing in your facility, keep the following valuable tips in mind.
1. Accreditation
Since not all staffing agencies are created equally, you will want to ensure they meet certain criteria before partnering with them. First, verify the agency in consideration is properly registered with the MDH Supplemental Nurse Services Agency. Next, read the reviews and testimonials to better understand the agency’s capabilities and what to expect when making the organization a trusted partner.
2. Personnel Record
When a facility contracts with a supplemental staffing agency, those individuals must meet the same requirements required for personnel employed by the facility. Therefore, the supplemental staff should be treated as employees of the facility. As such, facility management should request a copy of the employee’s background study, TB testing, licensure verification, and completed required educationand training records. Finally, records should be maintained for each supplemental staff member employed at your facility. Minnesota
Department of Health has been targeting supplemental staff employee records during surveys. Make sure you are prepared.
3. Agency Orientation
Like your facility employees, agency individuals need to be appropriately orientated to your site to help ensure quality care to residents and teamwork among staff. Create a supplemental staff orientation checklist to review with a new agency employee. Include topics such as:
> orientation to residents and care plans
> equipment use
> medication system
> communication system
> infection control practices
> emergency procedures
> policies and procedures, including vulnerable adult
It is helpful to have all this content in a central binder. Have a designated facility staff member responsible for the supplemental staff to report directly to should they have questions or need further support.
The Bottom Line
As the staffing shortage looms, the need for proper staffing is critical to help prevent staff burnout and maintain quality resident care. With more healthcare facilities beginning to understand the importance of having a multi-faceted approach to staffing and MDH focusing on contracted staff, leaders need to become more knowledgeable about the different types of staffing agencies and factors to consider to best fit their needs.
For more information on Supplemental Staffing Suport contact us at Consult@srcaresolutions.net.
