Staffing

Good People are Hard to Find and Keep

Demand for home health services is growing rapidly because of the aging population, the prevalence of chronic conditions, and the preference for care at home—for both providers and patients—whenever possible. However, companies struggle to meet that demand because of persistent staffing challenges.

Respondents to our survey reported a whopping average annual staff turnover rate of 46 percent.

Home healthcare agencies report a 46% average annual turnover rate

Why Turnover is High

We asked respondents what top three issues lead to turnover and the impact of that turnover on their organization. The top five reasons were:

44% lack of career development
43% lack of support and resources
43% poor work-life balance
41% workplace violence
37% frustration with technology

We compared the responses of those below the average 46-percent turnover to those above it and found some interesting differences. Those with above average turnover were much higher on lack of support and resources and workplace violence, whereas organizations with below average turnover outpaced in not a culture fit, compensation, burnout, and a caregiver moving. Organizations with lower turnover are doing better at providing support, resources, and managing workplace violence.

87 % of respondents said mobile technology has a moderate to very high impact on satisfaction and turnover.

Turnover is Disruptive

Turnover is highly disruptive for any organization—with over 94 percent of our respondents saying it does impact overall productivity. Unsurprisingly, higher turnover rates in our respondents corresponded directly with the significance of the impact on their business.

Technology came up as the number one mitigation strategy for worker safety, and frustration with technology was one of the five leading causes of turnover. In fact, 87 percent of our respondents said mobile technology has a moderate to very high impact on satisfaction and turnover. Seventy-six percent said mobile tech has a high or very high impact on satisfaction.

How Mobile Tech Impacts Satisfaction

We asked respondents for more details about how mobile technology impacts employee satisfaction, and there was a discernable difference in the tone and implied strategic importance to the business for those who see high impact versus those who see low or no impact. Here are some of their answers:

High to Very High Impact Comments:

"Enables quick decision-making through access to data and analytics anytime, anywhere."
"Supports work-life balance by allowing employees to handle personal matters without leaving the workplace."
"The availability of mobile support tools boosts confidence in handling tasks independently."
"Reduces stress by enabling employees to manage their tasks efficiently."
"Mobile apps streamline administrative tasks, reducing the time spent on paperwork."
"It improves communication, leading to quicker decision-making and better team collaboration."
"Mobile technology's network connectivity and network speed both affect employee satisfaction."
"Employees can use mobile technology to communicate in real-time, which can reduce errors at work."

No or Low Impact Comments:

"It has relative flexibility and can satisfy employees' remote work, which is very convenient."
"Employees may have different work styles, and it can compensate for this shortcoming."
"Helps make a work environment."

The responses show how organizations placing high importance on caregiver satisfaction with technology truly view it as a critical tool that helps care teams collaborate, handle tasks efficiently, enable efficient workflows, and better manage tasks and workflows.

Mobile Technology Brands.

35% of caregivers were very satisfied with their technology

Overall, 35 percent of respondents said their caregivers were very satisfied with their technology. So, we asked what brands of mobile devices home health agencies are using and found Android devices from various providers, including Samsung, Pixel, and Zebra, have 55 percent of the market. Apple is leading the other individual brands with a 38 percent share.

When asked to rank the brand of mobile devices employees ask for most, Apple ranked first 53 percent of the time. Apple has a clear advantage in recognition and familiarity.

Staffing Conclusions

Technology came up as the number one mitigation strategy for worker safety. Frustration with technology was one of the five leading causes of turnover, and 87 percent of respondents said mobile technology has a moderate to very high impact on satisfaction and turnover.

While respondents reported overall satisfaction with mobile technology to be good—showing that users like and depend on their mobile tools—we know that can quickly go south when technology is slow, doesn't work, or there are connectivity problems.

That means companies need to prioritize technology that works well for caregivers and that they're comfortable using. Tech should help them be productive and enjoy a good work-life balance.

EMR Upgrades are Coming. Are you Ready?

New releases like Swift Skin & Wound will empower caregivers to be even more nimble and productive. Digitized workflows offer faster access to the information caregivers need. The challenge for most home health agencies is that new releases and the aggregate number of apps required on a single device is requiring more powerful mobile devices to optimize the enhanced features. With many devices to choose from, it’s a strategic investment decision that organizations need to balance carefully.

Device refreshes are a big investment, and every decision maker wants to not only choose the right equipment but also deploy the right overall program that makes it easy for the organization to get behind and support. That’s why home healthcare providers are choosing Stratix as their partner. It’s because we are so much more than a device reseller. We really work with you to design the right mix of devices, connectivity, and services that will keep your costs low. Our aim is to be cost-neutral through an upgrade.

How You Can Stay Ahead of the Pack