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In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, particularly in the senior living sector, one challenge stands out above all others: finding and retaining quality employees.
This insight comes directly from a recent conversation with Tommy Comer, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of Commonwealth Senior Living, who shared valuable perspectives on the current state of staffing in the industry.
You can watch the full webinar here!
The Number One Topic in Healthcare HR
Comer emphasized the ubiquity of hiring and retention amongst healthcare providers around the country.
"Any conference I go to now, the number one topic is how do you find and keep employees. And senior living, it's literally the biggest problem, even more so than finding and keeping residents." - Tommy Comer, CHRO at Commonwealth Senior Living
This statement underscores a subtle but important shift in priorities for healthcare organizations. While patient care and resident satisfaction have always been paramount, the ability to maintain a stable, qualified workforce has become the linchpin for success in the industry. Without it, quality care wouldn’t have the chance to occur.
A Universal Challenge
The staffing crisis isn't isolated to a few organizations or regions. As our CHRO noted:
"So it's a constant topic. And I think everyone in the HR space in health care is like, what are you doing? What are you doing? What are you doing? And bouncing ideas off each other [to try to solve this problem]."
The industry’s collective brainstorm won’t solve the issue overnight, as evidenced by the still-constant volley of ideas across peers. But healthcare HR professionals are actively seeking innovative approaches to attract and retain talent, from “big ideas” like subsidized education pathways or “easy wins” like payroll benefits and EWA.
The Quest for Effective Solutions
While there's no silver bullet for solving the staffing crisis, Comer emphasized the importance of exploring multiple strategies:
"Look, I don't want to sugarcoat it. I'm not going to say anything we talk about today is going to cut your turnover in half. But it might be a lever that helps a percentage. And that's important."
Addressing employee retention requires a multi-faceted strategy. But even small improvements, such as supplemental benefits like EWA, can have significant impacts when dealing with large-scale staffing challenges.
The Impact of Small Improvements
Incremental improvements in retention rates can have significant impacts:
- Cost Savings: Reducing turnover, even by a small percentage, can lead to substantial savings in recruitment and training costs.
- Improved Care Quality: A more stable workforce often translates to better continuity of care for residents and patients.
- Enhanced Team Dynamics: Lower turnover rates can lead to stronger team cohesion and improved workplace culture.
- Increased Productivity: Experienced employees are typically more efficient, leading to overall productivity gains.
Wrapping Up
The healthcare staffing crisis, particularly in senior living, presents a complex challenge with no easy solutions. However, as Comer's insights reveal, the industry is actively engaged in finding innovative ways to attract and retain talent.
By implementing a combination of strategies – from financial wellness programs like earned wage access to enhanced training and development opportunities – healthcare organizations can make incremental improvements in their retention rates. While these efforts may not solve the problem overnight,they represent important steps towards building a more stable, satisfied, and effective healthcare workforce.
As the industry continues to evolve, staying open to new ideas and consistently prioritizing employee needs will be crucial in addressing the ongoing staffing challenges in healthcare and senior living.
