Why nurse travelers are more friends than foes
Many are quick to blame travelers for the poor state of hospital finances. However, isn’t there a difference between a traveler in the OR—an interim staff member in the hospital’s profit center—and an interim RN in an area financially supported by OR profits? What about the argument that travelers can…
On-demand staffing reduces costs, boosts efficiency
For many healthcare facilities, operational costs are steadily rising, and no clearcut solution is in sight. However, some hospital systems are gradually reclaiming control over their budgets by finding ways to stabilize their finances and improve workforce morale. During the pandemic, many hospitals turned to short-term contract labor as a…
Traveler tightrope: OR leaders balance best practices, reduction strategies
Takeaways Providers are generally seeking to reduce use of travelers through strategies such as float pools, training programs, and cultural reforms. However, travelers remain useful as a bridge to permanent staff and for difficult-to-fill positions. Best practices for selection, onboarding, team integration, and performance evaluation are essential for maximizing return…
Localized nurse shortages to persist amid nationwide surplus, analysis predicts
Editor's Note A new report by Mercer projects a national surplus of 30,000 nurses by 2028, but significant shortages will remain in some states and rural areas where healthcare access is already limited, according to a September 15 report in MedCity News. For example, New York is projected to face…
Countdown to OR Manager Conference: Lean and mean surgery centers—thinking outside the box
Editor’s Note Bob Winandy, MSN, MBA, RN, CEO of Brightside Surgical, Brightside Specialty Clinics, and Infinity Medical Management, LLC, shared insights on innovative practices for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) at last year’s OR Manager Conference. With nearly 20 years of experience in surgical services, he emphasized the importance of flexibility,…
Countdown to OR Manager Conference: Creative staffing models to increase surgical case volume within a fixed footprint
Editor's Note MD Anderson Cancer Center shared insights on overcoming OR capacity challenges during a session at last year’s OR Manager Conference that highlighted creative solutions to staffing shortages and capacity constraints. With the ongoing pressures exacerbated by COVID-19, which is hitting a peak this summer, MD Anderson has implemented…
High RN, higher travel RN pay reflect post-pandemic demand
Editor's Note Heightened demand has made nursing lucrative relative to other professions, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a May 9 report from healthcare job marketplace Vivian Health. Based on the firm’s proprietary salary data as well as information from the Bureau of labor Statistics, Vivian estimates registered nurses…
Leadership survey: Operational demands overwhelming hospitals
Editor's Note Nearly half of hospital executives report that their hospitals are not fully prepared to cope with patient volumes, Becker’s Hospital Review reported June 13. Citing the June 12 Hospital Operations Outlook Survey from FTI Consulting, Becker’s reports that nursing and mental and behavior health specialists represent the greatest…
Ambulatory endoscopy management strategies keep patients, finances healthy
Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is one of the most common procedures in the US. Performed more than 17.1 million times per year in inpatient and outpatient hospital settings as well as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), GI procedures account for 68% of all endoscopies, according to a May 2022 article in Digestive…
Study: “Team nursing” at odds with patient safety; alternative staffing solutions recommended
Editor's Note Substituting lower-wage staff for registered nurses leads to additional patient deaths, the Washington Post reported on June 15. The article focuses on a study published in the journal Medical Care, noting that the new research coincides with a nationwide shortage of RNs and “reports of widespread burnout.” Researchers…
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