Staff pooling in healthcare systems – results from a mixed-methods study

Abstract

This study examines how staff pooling can be used to create a higher service level at a predetermined total capacity in the healthcare sector. We develop new empirical knowledge through a systematic empirical study, using a mixed-methods approach, with a preliminary interview study followed by a principal quantitative survey study, with data from a multihospital system. The purpose was to explore practical barriers for a staff pooling strategy in healthcare systems. Three barriers were identified:recruitment difficulties, community view, and specialisation. Significant differences in perceived height among these barriers were found. The results from this study have important managerial implications for healthcare systems when implementing a staff pooling approach. This study contributes to the existing literature since, to the best of our knowledge, no previous research has been done where barriers to staff pools are systematically identified using a holistic approach that includes all healthcare professions in a multihospital system.

Slack Is Needed to Solve the Shortage of Nurses

“…Staff and patient pooling are very effective in making working times more predictable, preventing overtime, creating a better work environment, and reducing the need for safety capacity (and thus redundancy) [18]. An obstacle to implementing the pooling strategy is the inherent challenge of preventing an increase in the heterogeneity of the case mix [18]. If the case mix becomes too heterogeneous, the effects of pooling may become negative, as more redundancy and/or investment in extra coordination is required.…”