According to the World Health Organization, there aren’t enough doctors. A WHO report suggests that the healthcare shortage is going to increase dramatically, reaching 12.9 million by 2035 – aka, the world will be short of 12.9 million health specialists. Needless to say, this will not only affect waiting times. The health of billions of people is at risk. Unfortunately, the healthcare sector is struggling everywhere to keep staff satisfied and engaged – or even to appeal to future employees. In the UK only, the Brexit vote has driven a healthcare crisis. With less oversea professionals joining, the British National Health Service has recorded a shortage of over 100,000 staff, a figure which could increase and reach 250,000 by 2030. Recruitment and retention in the healthcare industry are challenging issues everywhere in the world. With no indication of resolving staff shortage any time soon, it becomes vital for healthcare centers to adapt their processes and develop strategies to do more with fewer employees.
An important truth to remember: Staff are not cheap
First of all, it’s important to embrace the many challenges of recruitment in the healthcare sector. Indeed, recruiting staff comes as a cost. Aside from promoting vacations, healthcare centers need to factor in the cost of training for young professionals. Ultimately, interns who have recently graduated from medical school, need time to develop their practical skills and find their way with the equipment and the patients. Additionally, if you choose to hire experienced doctors, you’ll need to invest in a thorough background check to guarantee that each candidate is trustworthy and suitable for patient care. Finally, you can’t hire a doctor without dedicated insurance coverage, to protect your business from lawsuits and complaints. Consequently, it’s fair to say that the lack of interest in the profession is not the only reason for the staff shortage. Costs play a significant role too.
How far can you go with automation?
However, there are medical areas that can operate in a reduced staff constellation without much friction. For instance, preparing IV bags and syringes can be time demanding in the hospital pharmacy, which affects the work of nurses too. However, using an intelligent and programmable solution to support IV automation safely and precisely can not only cut down waiting time for the patients but also keep the pharmacy team available for an emergency. Similarly, the trend for online doctor appointments is growing as a way to save time. Could the industry develop AI appointments for benign health complaints, so that simple prescriptions could be prepared, using smart trackers to monitor patients’ health?
Do more with your decor
At home, your decor serves as an extension of your personality. When it comes to the workplace, and especially a healthcare institute, the interior design can help individuals to relax – something crucial in a hospital environment which typically inspires fear and stress. The addition of houseplants and murals can encourage patients to feel at ease. In the long term, making the patient-healthcare professionals interactions smooth can also help to treat and identify issues more effectively.
There is no immediate solution to the staff shortage in the healthcare sector, other than making hospitals and practices an appealing career choice. However, in the meantime, healthcare centers can diversify their approach to reduce the impact on their patients, from applying for a budget boost to decorating the waiting room.