Staff Turnover

(Kory Razaghi) These days it is very easy to see that the staff turnover rate is high in medical practice. It is very important to obtain staff that complements the practice. Yet, for this to happen, the values of the staff must align with those of the practice. However, such an alignment does not always happen and we find more and more people walking out the door to seek new jobs and pursue new avenues.

Staff turnover can affect practice in four critical areas. Let's put the effects of staff turnover on practice under the microscope.

Productivity is seriously affected

When people leave their jobs they inadvertently and automatically place the burden of their previous responsibilities on the remainder of the staff. For example, if the receptionist abandons his job, a clinical staffer will have to cover the phones. By doing this, some work will definitely be omitted.

Morale is lowered

One of the worst things that high staff turn-over breeds in a medical office is low work morale. This monster creeps into the work place and affects hard working staff members who are already burdened with their own tasks. Staff members who have a sense of duty and industry are more inclined to be negatively affected by the increased work load resulting from high staff turnover. These people like to complete a task thoroughly and effectively. However, this cannot happen because the former employee's work has to be covered.

Paperwork gets sloppy

Sloppy paperwork that is full of errors and omissions is another issue that plagues the remaining staff members. Again, the cause is attributed to the distraction and gloominess of covering multiple tasks while knowing that none of them are being done well. Such mistakes can be committed by the best employees if the distraction is strong enough. Like a rotting fish, this problem is only compounded in the course of weeks.

Income is reduced with reduced productivity

One of the most significant effects of reduced productivity stemming from high staff turnover rates is decreased income. There are lowered billed amounts and billing delays. These are attributed to vacancies that reduce the working speed of the physician, delay technical work and delay mailings because of inadequate information collection.

Putting it together, medical practice is seeing a high staff turn-over rate attributable to factors that need to be identified and examined with the perspective of the staff. This turn-over rate casts a shadow on the remaining working staff and, through various pathways, adversely affects the practice.

Aptus Advisors, Inc, a healthcare consultancy, managed by Kory Razaghi, provides Capital Strategy & Capital Projects Consulting, and operational turnaround services to healthcare organizations including community, children’s, government/public, and critical access hospitals, as well as healthcare sector focused private equity firms.

We bring a comprehensive array of resources that provides critical support for our clients. Let us position your organization for growth and improved performance. 

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