Blog

Dialogue:

Dr. Smith, a scheduler, is frantically trying to fill the 3 PM shift as it nears.

Dr. Smith:
“Ugh, it’s always this 3 PM shift! Every time I think I’ve got it covered, something changes. How is it so difficult to find someone for this one time slot?”

Dr. Joe :
“I know what you mean. It’s like every caregiver is either busy with their other shifts or doesn’t want to take this one. The timing is awkward, and I don’t blame them. It’s hard to find someone available for just that slot.”

Dr. Smith:
“And the worst part is that if we don’t find someone soon, it’s going to disrupt care for our clients. They rely on us to be there at the right time, but there’s only so much we can do. I just don’t get why this shift is such a headache!”

Dr. Joe:
“It’s the timing. It’s right between the peak hours, and not many people are willing to work it. If we had a better system to cover these kinds of shifts in real-time, it might help.”

Key Takeaways:

• The 3 PM Shift Is Tricky to Cover: This time slot often falls right between the peak working hours, making it difficult to find available caregivers.

• Caregiver Availability Is a Major Factor: Caregivers may have overlapping shifts or may not want to take on additional responsibilities during this time.

• Schedulers Face Increased Pressure: The need to fill this shift at the last minute creates stress and burnout for schedulers, who are already managing a packed schedule.

• Staffingly Helps Solve Scheduling Challenges: With Staffingly’s real-time updates and automated scheduling, agencies can better handle mid-day shift gaps, reducing the chances of missed shifts and improving coverage efficiency.

Industry Insight:

In a survey of home care agencies, it was found that the 3 PM shift is one of the hardest times to cover, with nearly 30% of agencies reporting difficulty in filling it consistently. The reason? The shift falls in a narrow window when caregivers may already be committed to earlier or later shifts, or when their availability is limited due to personal commitments. This results in a scramble to fill the gap, leading to late changes in the schedule and increased risk of disruption in care.

Staffingly’s Solutions:

Staffingly understands the frustrations home care agencies face when covering difficult shifts. By offering automated scheduling and real-time updates, Staffingly ensures that shifts, especially the challenging 3 PM slot, are filled quickly and efficiently. Here’s how Staffingly makes it easier for schedulers:

• Automated Scheduling System: With Staffingly’s automated scheduling system, real-time shifts can be assigned to caregivers based on their availability and proximity, ensuring better coverage for tricky time slots like the 3 PM shift.

• Real-Time Notifications: If there’s a last-minute cancellation or a shift that needs to be filled, Staffingly’s system sends out real-time alerts to schedulers, making it easier to find an available caregiver.

• Better Availability Tracking: Staffingly tracks caregiver schedules and availability in real-time, so schedulers know who is free and can quickly fill in gaps.

• Efficient Workflow: The system reduces the need for manual intervention and last-minute adjustments, streamlining the entire scheduling process and reducing stress on the team.

Cost-Saving Benefits:

Filling the 3 PM shift without disruption saves home care agencies both time and money. By utilizing Staffingly’s automated scheduling solutions, agencies can reduce operational costs and improve the quality of patient care:

• Up to 50% Savings on Administrative Costs: By automating scheduling and reducing the time spent on last-minute fixes, agencies save valuable administrative resources.

• Reduced Caregiver Turnover: Reducing stress and burnout for schedulers also helps prevent caregiver burnout and turnover, which is costly for agencies to manage.

• Improved Client Satisfaction: Reliable coverage for every shift ensures that patients receive their care on time, leading to improved client retention and satisfaction.

What Did We Learn?

The 3 PM shift is one of the most challenging times to cover in a home care agency, often leading to missed visits, caregiver frustration, and increased stress on schedulers. By leveraging Staffingly’s automated scheduling system, agencies can minimize these headaches, fill shifts more efficiently, and reduce the operational strain caused by scheduling issues.

What People Are Asking?

• Why is the 3 PM shift so hard to fill?
  The 3 PM shift falls during a transitional period when caregivers may be committed to other shifts or may not be available for the timing required.

• How does the 3 PM shift affect home care agencies?
  It can lead to missed appointments, increased stress on schedulers, and disruptions in patient care, which affects both caregiver morale and patient satisfaction.

• How can Staffingly help with difficult shifts like the 3 PM one?
  Staffingly automates the scheduling process and offers real-time updates, making it easier to fill last-minute gaps and reduce the pressure on schedulers.

• What are the financial benefits of using Staffingly?
  Automating scheduling helps save on administrative costs and reduces turnover, which ultimately increases the agency’s overall efficiency and profitability.

• How can Staffingly improve home care operations?
  By streamlining scheduling and reducing errors, Staffingly improves operational efficiency and ensures that every shift, including the challenging 3 PM slot, is covered reliably.

Disclaimer

For informational purposes only; not applicable to specific situations.

For tailored support and professional services,

Please contact Staffingly, Inc. at (800) 489-5877

Email : support@staffingly.com.

About This Blog : This Blog is brought to you by Staffingly, Inc., a trusted name in healthcare outsourcing. The team of skilled healthcare specialists and content creators is dedicated to improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare services. The team passionate about sharing knowledge through insightful articles, blogs, and other educational resources.