Workload capacity measures for estimating allied health staffing requirements

Schoo, A. M., Boyce, R. A., Ridoutt, L. and Santos, T. (2008) Workload capacity measures for estimating allied health staffing requirements. Australian Health Review, 32 3: 548-558.


Author Schoo, A. M.
Boyce, R. A.
Ridoutt, L.
Santos, T.
Title Workload capacity measures for estimating allied health staffing requirements
Journal name Australian Health Review  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank C)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2008
Sub-type Article
Volume number 32
Issue number 3
ISSN 0156-5788
Start page 548
End page 558
Total pages 11
Editor S. G. Leggat
C. Binskin
Place of publication Sydney, Australia
Publisher Australasian Medical Publishing Company
Collection year 2009
Language eng
Subject C1
111709 Health Care Administration
150312 Organisational Planning and Management
150305 Human Resources Management
920201 Allied Health Therapies (excl. Mental Health Services)
910402 Management
910405 Public Sector Productivity
1117 Public Health and Health Services
Abstract Workforce planning methodologies for the allied health professions are acknowledged as rudimentary despite the increasing importance of these professions to health care across the spectrum of health services settings. The objectives of this study were to (i) identify workload capacity measures and methods for profiling allied health workforce requirements from a systematic review of the international literature; (ii) explore the use of these methods in planning workforce requirements; (iii) identify barriers to applying such methods; and (iv) recommend further action. Future approaches to workforce planning were explored through a systematic review of the literature, interviews with key stakeholders and focus group discussions with representatives from the different professional bodies and health agencies in Victoria. Results identified a range of methods used to calculate workload requirements or capacity. In order of increasing data demands and costliness to implement, workload capacity methods can be broadly classified into four groups: ratio-based, procedure-based, categories of care-based and diagnostic or casemix-based. Despite inherent limitations, the procedure-based measurement approach appears to be most widely accepted. Barriers to more rigorous workforce planning methods are discussed and future directions explored through an examination of the potential of casemix and mixed-method approaches.
Keyword Allied Health Personnel/classification
Allied Health Personnel/supply & distribution
Diagnosis-Related Groups
Focus Groups
Health Services Research/methods
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Needs Assessment
Personnel Staffing and Scheduling
Review Literature as Topic
Task Performance and Analysis
Victoria
Workload
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code

 
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Created: Tue, 14 Apr 2009, 14:23:02 EST by Elizabeth Pyke on behalf of School of Pharmacy