CHOC Children’s Utilizes Aya Workforce Consulting to Develop a Flexible Workforce Plan

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

CHOC Children’s (CHOC), a Magnet-designated pediatric healthcare network, includes a state-of-the-art 334-bed main facility hospital in Orange County. The facility faced several challenges including a high census year-round — with a perfect storm of core vacancies, seasonal peaks and increased patient census. Additionally, CHOC’s float pool was not meeting in-house demand, leading to frequent crisis rates for contingent staff. Finally, the facility wanted assistance identifying the correct number of core and float staff for each unit to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

CHOC turned to the Aya Workforce Consulting and Analytics team to analyze data and provide the framework for the facility to create a more flexible workforce. Aya’s team identified the number of RNs required in each department and optimal staffing levels to reduce call-offs and mandatory overtime. Specific to each unit, nurse leaders were given a staffing plan that allowed for flexibility to meet core unit needs while accounting for variation in peak demand and census drop-off. Furthermore, areas of FTE erosion, where core staff are not meeting budgeted hours commitment, were identified across the organization. Core staffing optimization will result in decreased bonus shift utilization to cover census peaks, vacations and expected seasonality for over 2,300 shifts each year. Aya also made recommendations to increase the size of the facility’s float pool by more than 10 FTEs, and to structure the float pool into two care segments to align nurse competency with patient acuity. The facility was also overpaying 15% on contract labor pricing compared to like facilities in the market and nationally.

“In addition to identifying cost savings opportunities for our facility, Aya’s Workforce Consulting and Analytics team used census trends to build a staffing model that corresponds with our current scheduling practice,” said Melanie Patterson, CNO of CHOC Children’s. “I’m completely amazed by the work Aya did and look forward to utilizing their expertise to benefit our patients, nurses and facility.”