
Staffing shortages in healthcare have reached critical levels. According to an American Hospital Association (AHA) report, there will be an estimated shortage of up to 3.2 million healthcare workers by 2026.
Resolving this crisis requires the same protocols physicians use to repair an acute infection: identify the problem, take action, and monitor the situation.
For many healthcare organizations, leveraging technology can offer the same strategies. These innovations can help identify the causes of staffing shortages, fix them with targeted solutions, and provide ongoing support.
Join us as we break down the reasons behind healthcare staffing shortages and reveal ten effective ways healthcare leaders can adopt advanced technologies to tackle staffing challenges effectively.
Mission Critical: Factors Contributing to Today’s Staffing Shortages
Most of us know that the healthcare sector is grappling with a severe staffing shortage. What some may not know are the reasons behind it.
According to one review, some of the leading causes of this issue include:
- The aging population drives increased healthcare demand, putting pressure on the existing workforce.
- High turnover rates and burnout, especially the departure of nurses.
- A skills gap, particularly in specialized fields like radiology.
- Geographical barriers, such as rural areas and underserved communities, struggle to attract and retain healthcare personnel.
- The high demand for healthcare professionals, especially nurses, drives up costs and makes it challenging for healthcare facilities to compete for new staff.
Understanding these complexities gives organizations committed to providing health services the opportunity to devise strategies to effectively resolve issues related to the diminishing workforce.
Read on to learn about the must-have technology solutions for improving today’s healthcare staffing
Effective Technology Solutions for Fixing Staffing Shortages in Healthcare
1. Telehealth and Remote Care Solutions
Telehealth has revolutionized the way healthcare is delivered, making remote care more accessible and reducing the strain on healthcare staff.
Some telehealth solutions include:
- Video conferencing
- Mobile apps
- Electronic health records (EHR) integrated with telehealth services
For example, thanks to rural telehealth technology, a specialist can give a visual assessment to someone who would otherwise not have access to care.
The specialist can also advise the onsite providers while the patient is being prepared for transport. This solution reduces additional staffing needs.
Remote care technology lets physicians track patients’ health data in real-time. For example, Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) devices, such as smartwatches, monitor different vital stats, enabling early detection of potential health issues.
This allows providers to monitor patients without requiring them to come into the clinic as often, lessening staff burden.
2. Using the Right Software to Hire the Right People
To address long-term staffing challenges, organizations must focus on attracting new talent to the healthcare workforce. Modern healthcare staffing software provides actionable insights into workforce management.
This software offers features like:
- Candidate management
- Reporting and analytics
- Candidate sourcing and resume filtering
For example, AI tools like HireVue can analyze large volumes of resumes, identifying candidates who best match the job requirements based on predefined criteria.
These recruitment tools help improve efficiency, data management, and compliance with rules and regulations.
3. Virtual Care and AI-Driven Solutions in Healthcare Staffing
AI-powered healthcare solutions are playing a critical role in addressing staffing shortages. According to one article, technology like ChatGPT assists nurses with managing EHRs and other data that may be time-consuming or distracting.
AI tools can also analyze staffing data, predict future workforce needs, and identify big data trends that affect staffing levels.
For example, artificial intelligence in healthcare staffing can help forecast high-demand periods and preemptively adjust schedules or hire temporary staff, reducing staff shortages.
Virtual care also offers solutions to staff shortages. According to one report, 74% of hospital leaders say virtual nursing will become integral to acute care.
These programs include “virtual sitting,” which enables virtual safety attendants to watch over patients with video and audio connections, improving patient safety.
4. EHR for Workflow Efficiency
Electronic Health Records have streamlined many aspects of healthcare management. However, leveraging an EHR to its full potential is essential for enhancing workflow efficiency. For example, an integrated EHR platform that merges software and services can be a game-changer for practice management.
This solution automates several functions like patient management, billing, and communications and offers services like revenue cycle and chronic care management.
By using EHRs that offer user-centric software and services, healthcare professionals can focus on providing quality care, saving staff time and energy.
5. Healthcare Workflow Automation
Workflow automation, such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in healthcare, frees up valuable time for staff by automating monotonous processes like billing and insurance claims. It handles repetitive tasks, reducing operational bottlenecks and ensuring staff resources are better utilized.
For example, claim denials are complicated, requiring staff to revisit coding and clinical documentation to gather evidence to justify reimbursement for services rendered. RPA technology can check claims information against payer rules, minimizing the risk of claim denials due to errors.
By freeing medical coders from repetitive tasks, they will have the bandwidth to focus on higher-level goals. And, with a 30% shortage of medical coders nationwide, RPA can partially fill staffing gaps and enhance efficiency.
6. Digital Solutions for Staffing Shortages
Technology doesn’t just fill immediate gaps; it also plays a long-term role in reducing turnover. Digital health solutions, such as mobile apps and communication platforms, improve transparency and make it easier for staff to stay connected and manage work.
One healthcare staffing agency explains how:
- Mobile staffing apps improve how shifts are managed. These apps use text messages and push notifications to optimize scheduling processes, making it easier for healthcare workers to find and accept shifts.
- Mobile platforms can connect healthcare organizations with a bigger pool of available medical staff, including per diem nurses, expanding the potential workforce.
- Apps can help staff to choose shifts that fit their availability, promoting better work-life balance and reducing burnout.
7. Leveraging Data for Staffing Optimization
Data analytics is a powerful tool for identifying gaps in staffing workflows. By analyzing historical and real-time data (predictive analytics), healthcare organizations can identify inefficiencies.
According to a AHA Center for Health Innovation report, predictive analytics can optimize staffing practices and workflows, balance workloads for staff, and deliver better patient service. This approach reduces stress on existing staff and improves the workplace environment.
8. Flexible Solutions for Healthcare Professionals
Offering flexibility through remote care opportunities or hybrid work environments can attract and retain more healthcare professionals.
Technology solutions like telehealth and automated scheduling systems also empower staff to choose shifts that fit their needs, improving overall job satisfaction.
9. Level-up Training
Training sets the tone for how your practice operates, and 68% of employees say training is essential to job satisfaction. By ensuring this process is smooth, providers can address and combat staffing issues.
Using technology can set the tone for and improve training. Here are some suggestions:
- Online learning platforms can help a broader audience access training, making it easier to study independently and reinforce learning.
- Virtual Reality (VR) training helps prepare medical staff for real-life practice and procedures. The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing has implemented VR training in different focus areas, including postsurgical and acute-care management.
10. Improve Onboarding
Onboarding is one of the most time-consuming steps, but doing it right the first time can help staff retention. Utilizing technology can make this process easier.
Here’s how:
- Invest in digital credentialing software or platforms. This solution allows HR teams to request verification and receive answers quickly through secure systems.
- Create a digital onboarding system. Many documents are involved in onboarding, and inaccurate data can prevent new hires from getting started. A secure digital onboarding system prevents that backup by allowing HR teams to send customized information to each new hire in one place.
How Your Practice Can Build a Resilient Workforce
Staffing shortages in healthcare are complex, but they are manageable.
By adopting cutting-edge technologies like telehealth and remote care solutions and healthcare workflow automation, organizations can positively shift their approach to staffing while improving efficiency and patient care.
It’s time to think beyond traditional methods and leverage technology tools that drive lasting impact.
Contact EverHealth to explore digital health solutions and user-centric software that can help you build a stronger, more resilient healthcare workforce and practice.