Reducing overtime in health care is a significant challenge for nearly every leader with any stake in staff and scheduling management. While there are times when it is unavoidable, having your staff regularly go into overtime is a symptom of operational inefficiency due to one or more issues. There are many downsides to overtime, from the higher pay rate to an increase in employee burnout.
This is just as true in therapy services, including physical, occupational and speech therapy, as it is for other departments. Not only does it take away funds from other areas of your budget, but it can actually take away from patient care if you have a staff that is feeling overworked. If you're looking to reduce overtime in your therapy services program, we're happy to share the following guide.
Ways to reduce overtime for health care workers, including therapists
As an organization dedicated to helping hospitals improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency for therapy departments, here are some of our common recommendations:
- Better communication ” Sometimes repeat overtime is simply a communication problem that is based on staff, or even administrators, not being properly trained in best timekeeping practices. This can be improved through consistent communication and a focus on proper training.
- Flexible scheduling practices ” To avoid overtime, you need a full staff of therapists with the availabilities you need and the ability to plug holes in your schedule as they arise. The right partner will help you both overhaul your scheduling practices and recruit a talented and flexible staff.
- Streamlined workflows ” Overtime can happen if your therapists have to spend too much time dealing with outdated systems and redundant tasks instead of being able to focus on patients. By upgrading systems and reducing unnecessary tasks, your team can get more done in less time.
Reducing overtime in your health care organization can be easy with the right expertise and resources. By working with a therapy services partner, your hospital can get the guidance it needs.
Alliance has been helping hospitals for decades
We're industry veterans, and reducing expenses through managing staff overtime is common in the industry. Our hospital partners across the United States have received the communication and support they need to streamline their operations, increase revenue, improve staff engagement and most importantly, increase patient satisfaction. Want to learn how we can help you? Contact us today to schedule an assessment of your therapy services program.