The findings add weight to ongoing policy discussions around minimum staffing mandates, the costs of compliance during crises, and the need for more flexible regulatory frameworks.
Examination of Staffing Shortages at US Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In this study, qualitative and quantitative data from 40 US nursing homes were integrated to assess staffing levels during the pandemic. Short-term compensatory strategies were used by administrators to comply with minimum staffing regulations and offset staffing shortages. Payroll Based Journal data measures supported administrator reports showing that study facilities had reductions in staff hours, increased use of agency staff, and decreased resident census. Findings were similar to national trends.
Brazier, Joan F., et al. “Examination of Staffing Shortages at US Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” JAMA Network Open, vol. 6, no. 7, 27 July 2023, p. e2325993, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.25993.
Study’s amazing discovery: COVID-19 was not very good for long-term care
Facility coping tactics during COVID-19 included additional overtime payments, greater reliance on staffing agencies and reductions in resident admissions. The major takeaway: Higher staffing costs and fewer customers can lead to financial difficulties.
— McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, August 5, 2023
Report: Nursing homes’ reliance on agency staffing during pandemic resulted in hits to bottom lines
The administrators said they faced staffing shortages during the pandemic and used different compensation strategies to cope. These tactics included adding overtime, shifting staff-to-resident ratios, relying on agencies for staffers, and limiting new residents. As a result of more overtime pay, increased costs for agency staff and less revenue from new admissions, nursing homes took a financial hit on top of dealing with operational costs during the pandemic.
— McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, August 3, 2023
Study suggests staffing shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic placed strain on nursing homes
First, nursing home administrators used crisis management compensatory strategies to meet regulatory staffing minimums and maintain operations during the earlier part of the pandemic. Second, these measures added extra financial costs for nursing homes already coping with rising operational costs amid the pandemic due to reduced resident admissions. Third, compensatory mechanisms adopted by administrators increased staff burnout.
— News-Medical.Net, August 2, 2023
“This study conducted a qualitative assessment of nursing home administrator experiences during the pandemic and integrated qualitative findings with quantitative analysis of national payroll staffing data,” Brazier and colleagues wrote. “The objective was to provide context to conflicting aggregated data on nursing home staffing levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
— HCPLive, August 2023
Examination of Staffing Shortages at US Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
A total of 156 interviews were completed with 40 nursing home administrators. Administrators reported experiencing staff shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic and using compensatory strategies, such as overtime, cross-training, staff-to-resident ratio adjustments, use of agency staff, and curtailing admissions, to maintain operations and comply with minimum staffing regulations.
— SimpleLTC, July 28, 2023
Nursing home administrators succeeded at meeting minimum staffing standards during the pandemic, but their crisis management practices came with financial and emotional costs, suggesting that policy makers need to rethink staffing regulations and increase sources of governmental funding for more persistent labor solutions. “Increased staff overtime pay, the high cost of agency staff, and the decreased revenue from new resident admissions has had major financial influences on nursing homes already coping with high operational costs due to the pandemic,” researchers noted.
— Skilled Nursing News, July 27, 2023
