OR Manager - September 2020 - 16

salary/Career survey
COVID-19 effects
In all, 214 respondents answered the question, how has COVID19
affected your facility and your staff? More than two-thirds
(68%) reported reduced case volume, often because elective
surgical procedures had been stopped. OR leaders noted volume
reductions as high as 90%.
A few respondents reported they were back in business or
shared changes they had implemented:
➤ " Almost total shutdown in March. Now we are testing every
patient, so this has allowed us to reopen. "
➤ " We are more cognizant of infection control practices; social
distancing implemented, not allowing family to wait in
lobby or be in treatment area. "
Understandably, volume reductions have resulted in significant
financial losses. For example, one OR leader reported " $25M loss
in revenue due to no elective surgery rule and impact on other OP
services (lab, radiology, pharmacy, etc). "
More than half cited staffing fallout from COVID-19, with furloughs,
reduced hours, and redeployments the most common
effects. Three OR leaders noted that staff had retired or resigned
because of the pandemic.
Some staff took earned paid leave, thereby avoiding furloughs.
Reported areas for redeployment for RNs included emergency
departments and medical/surgical units, and one OR leader
noted that the postanesthesia care unit was converted to an ICU
for COVID-19 patients, which required hiring contract ICU nurses.
Sample comments included:
➤ " We had to reduce hours for each employee by 10% for the
months of April and May and continuing into June unless
our caseload warrants full time. "
➤ " Furloughed 50% of staff. "
Thirteen OR leaders noted the psychological effects of the pandemic
on staff, citing anxiety, fear, and frustration:
➤ " It has caused increased stress and tension among staff
members. They seem to be more stressed in dealing with
patients as well. "
➤ " The staff are overworked, tired, emotional, and exhausted. "
➤
" There has been tremendous stress: staff deployed to other
units and working out of their comfort zones; increase in
dealing with death and dying, without families present. "
➤ " Morale has been taxed. "
➤ " Staff morale is low; a lot of anxiety and stress. "
Six respondents cited supply difficulties, including insufficient
personal protective equipment.
Perhaps one comment summed up the general feeling of many:
" Devastated. "
But there was a note of optimism, with one respondent saying:
" The facility has been impacted financially, but we will rebound. "
Hired more direct care staff
Reduced use of overtime
Reduced use of agency/travel (RNs/STs)
Increased use of agency/travel (RNs/STs)
Eliminated open positions
Required staff to take time off without pay
Hired more management
Had layoffs of management
Had layoffs of direct care staff (RNs/STs)
Other
None of these
How has your staffing changed during the past year?*
2020
36%
43%
27%
14%
17%
23%
7%
5%
8%
9%
2019
40%
34%
24%
20%
19%
14%
11%
6%
2%
7%
14%
*Respondents could choose multiple answers. **Other options not included.
Continued from page 15
increased RN turnover in the past 12
months (vs 34% in 2019), and 24%
reporting increased ST turnover (vs 29%
in 2019). The average turnover rate was
8% for RNs and 7% for STs.
16
OR Manager | September 2020
These numbers are strikingly different
from a decade ago, when only 7% of
respondents experienced increased RN
turnover and 10% reported increased
ST turnover. In 2010, the average turnover
rate was 7% for both RNs and STs.
The percentage of open full-time
11%
36%
20%
29%
19%
8%
6%
12%
35%
2015**
Which types of care models
have been implemented
or will be implemented
by your organization
in the next 6 months?*
N=224
Accountable Care Organizations 25%
Clinically integrated networks 17%
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery 46%
Perioperative Surgical Home 15%
None of the above 42%
*Respondents could choose more than one option
equivalent (FTE) positions for RNs in the
past 12 months increased for 30% of
respondents, down from 37% last year;
the number of open positions stayed
the same for 51%, up from 41% last
year. In all, 23% reported no open RN
positions, compared to 27% last year.
The average number of currently open
RN positions was 6.
A third of OR leaders said the percentage
of open FTE positions for STs
increased in the past 12 months, comwww.ormanager.com
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OR Manager - September 2020

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