Hiral Patel
CEO
Lakeview Regional Medical Center
Maintaining appropriate levels of staffing to provide both a safe work environment and safe patient care is our highest priority. To mitigate staffing challenges, we have begun to redeploy resources to meet the demand in specific healthcare service lines. We are also offering additional premium pay opportunities for staff to pick up extra shifts. And in order to attract and retain new qualified staff, we are offering hiring incentives and advancement opportunities through education and training. We strive to create a work-life balance that puts our people first and as a result creates a positive environment for patients and employees alike.
Shondra Williams
President and CEO
InclusivCare
Long gone are the days where the “boss is always right.” Employees want a voice. They want diversity. They want opportunities. Listening to your people will lead to success. Higher wages, flexible work schedules, and simply having a voice are important to employees. Employees also value service to others. Healthcare is particularly challenging as healthcare workers have been on the frontlines for over two years. Burnout is a real phenomenon and can and will impact the bottom line. Addressing burnout can greatly improve retention. This is another area where listening to employees matters.
“In response to staffing challenges, we have implemented several proactive protocols with a focus on resilience, engagement and support. We listen to our team members and remain open to innovative, practical retention and recruitment approaches. We’ve incorporated remote work opportunities where possible, flexible schedules, competitive pay practices and internal personnel pools. We’ve increased cross-training and ‘floating’to provide better coverage, and we share workforce development opportunities like tuition reimbursement for continued education into advanced areas of practice.”
Rene Ragas, President, Northshore Market, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
Warner Thomas
President & CEO
Ochsner Health
At Ochsner Health, we are focused on meeting our current needs while investing in pipeline programs for future healthcare professionals. We have developed several programs for employee retention and an in-house nursing agency to support short-term staffing. We are building on our rich legacy by making significant investments in education and workforce development programs for multidisciplinary healthcare teams, with a goal of reaching a healthier Louisiana through education. We created our Ochsner Scholars Program, offering scholarships to nursing and medical school students who are committed to staying in Louisiana and serving their communities.
Lindsey Casey
Senior VP and Chief Nursing Officer
Children’s Hospital New Orleans
Challenging times require great teamwork, so we find ways to support each other. We do this by ‘floating’ staff across departments and across the system, as needed. We use data, analytics and forecasting to drive planning and decision making, and when needed, we make operational adjustments to redirect staff to patient care areas. Communication is also key. We do our best to keep team members informed and provide opportunities for staff dialogue and questions.
