Engagement of hospital pharmacists and technicians to optimize staffing schedules
Challenges exist in developing work schedules for hospital pharmacy staff due to the need to meet around the clock patient care requirements. Work–life integration and reduced burnout are increasingly important considerations in staff schedules. However, information regarding methods to systematical...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-021-00360-5 |
| _version_ | 1797401287776534528 |
|---|---|
| author | Jessica Wright Richard Arndt Jason Christensen Kirstin Kooda Julie Cunningham |
| author_facet | Jessica Wright Richard Arndt Jason Christensen Kirstin Kooda Julie Cunningham |
| author_sort | Jessica Wright |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Challenges exist in developing work schedules for hospital pharmacy staff due to the need to meet around the clock patient care requirements. Work–life integration and reduced burnout are increasingly important considerations in staff schedules. However, information regarding methods to systematically improve scheduling satisfaction is currently lacking. Hospital pharmacist scheduling surveys were reviewed for solutions in a retreat setting to address growing concerns at our institution. All hospital pharmacists and technicians were surveyed to understand opportunities to improve their schedules. Subsequently, pharmacists participated in a retreat to identify opportunities to share work, prioritize for scheduling improvements, and develop a staffing restructure proposal. Out of 172 pharmacists, 84% completed surveys, whereas 55% of 196 technicians responded. The highest ranked scheduling improvement was a more consistent schedule for both pharmacists and technicians. Several solutions identified during the pharmacist retreat were incorporated into a proposal including decreased weekend staffing frequency (every 3rd to a mix of every 3rd and every 4th), improved scheduling consistency and reduced evenings. Negotiation was among the methods used to identify scheduling solutions. Engagement of frontline staff to lead staffing restructure is expected to ensure success of scheduling changes. Future directions include measuring pharmacist burnout and staff satisfaction before and after change implementation. If successful, the retreat and technician-developed proposal can be used for implementing technician schedule improvements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:07:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9923596fc0f145ecb458f1299c5a6ab4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-3211 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:07:46Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-9923596fc0f145ecb458f1299c5a6ab42023-12-07T15:28:04ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice2052-32112021-12-0114110.1186/s40545-021-00360-512315270Engagement of hospital pharmacists and technicians to optimize staffing schedulesJessica Wright0Richard Arndt1Jason Christensen2Kirstin Kooda3Julie Cunningham4Department of Pharmacy Services,Department of Pharmacy Services,Department of Pharmacy Services,Department of Pharmacy Services,Department of Pharmacy Services,Challenges exist in developing work schedules for hospital pharmacy staff due to the need to meet around the clock patient care requirements. Work–life integration and reduced burnout are increasingly important considerations in staff schedules. However, information regarding methods to systematically improve scheduling satisfaction is currently lacking. Hospital pharmacist scheduling surveys were reviewed for solutions in a retreat setting to address growing concerns at our institution. All hospital pharmacists and technicians were surveyed to understand opportunities to improve their schedules. Subsequently, pharmacists participated in a retreat to identify opportunities to share work, prioritize for scheduling improvements, and develop a staffing restructure proposal. Out of 172 pharmacists, 84% completed surveys, whereas 55% of 196 technicians responded. The highest ranked scheduling improvement was a more consistent schedule for both pharmacists and technicians. Several solutions identified during the pharmacist retreat were incorporated into a proposal including decreased weekend staffing frequency (every 3rd to a mix of every 3rd and every 4th), improved scheduling consistency and reduced evenings. Negotiation was among the methods used to identify scheduling solutions. Engagement of frontline staff to lead staffing restructure is expected to ensure success of scheduling changes. Future directions include measuring pharmacist burnout and staff satisfaction before and after change implementation. If successful, the retreat and technician-developed proposal can be used for implementing technician schedule improvements.http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-021-00360-5staffingschedulewell-beinghospitalrestructurepharmacisttechnician |
| spellingShingle | Jessica Wright Richard Arndt Jason Christensen Kirstin Kooda Julie Cunningham Engagement of hospital pharmacists and technicians to optimize staffing schedules Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice staffing schedule well-being hospital restructure pharmacist technician |
| title | Engagement of hospital pharmacists and technicians to optimize staffing schedules |
| title_full | Engagement of hospital pharmacists and technicians to optimize staffing schedules |
| title_fullStr | Engagement of hospital pharmacists and technicians to optimize staffing schedules |
| title_full_unstemmed | Engagement of hospital pharmacists and technicians to optimize staffing schedules |
| title_short | Engagement of hospital pharmacists and technicians to optimize staffing schedules |
| title_sort | engagement of hospital pharmacists and technicians to optimize staffing schedules |
| topic | staffing schedule well-being hospital restructure pharmacist technician |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-021-00360-5 |
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