Home Health Employee Pilot Study 2003

Home | Research & Reports | Links

Vermont Health Workforce Assessment Survey

PREPARED BY: OFFICE OF NURSING WORKFORCE RESEARCH, PLANNING, AND DEVELOPMENT

University of Vermont, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
(802) 656-0023 e-mail: marypalumbo@uvm.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes and References:

1. HWAT members are from the UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Business Administration, Community and Economic Development, Bioinformatics, College of Medicine Area Health Education Center, and Fletcher Allen Health Care. The project was funded by the VT Health Department, Office of Rural Health.

2. Vacancy rates were calculated as follows: 1- (Total actual FTEs employed from all responding institutions divided by the total budgeted FTEs from all responding institutions) as of 2/15/03.

3. Turnover rates were calculated as follows: Total # workers leaving institution between 2/15/02 – 2/15/03 divided by total # part-time + full-time workers employed as of 2/15/03

WHY WAS THIS SURVEY DONE?

Workforce shortages affecting any area of the home health team can impact the ability to provide quality care for homebound Vermonters. The Office of Nursing Workforce Research, Planning and Development created the Health Workforce Assessment Team (HWAT)1 to develop a new system to assess Vermont’s healthcare workforce, including new ways to measure the state’s need for various healthcare positions. The following is a report of the 2003 pilot survey of home health agencies. Adaptations will be made to this survey as a result of this pilot.

WHO WAS SURVEYED?

In February 2003, the Vermont Health Workforce Survey was sent to all home health agency executive directors. This contact person was asked to participate in the data collection with assistance from human relations and other department heads if needed. The response rate was 92% (11 of 12 home health agencies responded).

WHAT WAS LEARNED?

Vacancy rates2:

Vacancy Rate %
Speech Therapist 50%*
Waiver coordinator 23%*
Homemaker coordinator 13%*
Physical Therapist 5%
Managers 2%*
Occupational Therapist 0%*
PCA/Waiver attendant 0%
Social Worker 0%*

 

Turnover rates3:

Turnover Rate %
PCA/Waiver attendant 270%
Speech Therapist 67%*
Occupational Therapist 31%*
Social Worker 21%*
Homemaker coordinator 20%*
Waiver coordinator 15%*
Managers 13%*
Physical Therapist 12%
(* based on data for less than 20 FTEs statewide)

 

CONCLUSIONS:

Speech therapists are the most needed skilled professionals (non-nursing) in the home care setting. The personal care attendant/waiver attendant position appears to be easily filled; however, retention is an issue. High turnover rates will mean that valuable health care dollars will be spent on recruitment and orientation and can negatively affect quality of care.
(C) 2002, Office of Nursing Workforce Research, Planning and Development
School of Nursing, University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405, phone 802-656-0023