This article is sponsored by MatrixCare. In this Voices Interview, Senior Housing News sits down with Allison Rainey, Head of Nursing and Clinical Informatics, MatrixCare, to talk about the importance of investing in clinicians to help with staff engagement. She lays out some of the strategies she has implemented over her career to combat burnout and turnover, and she also explains how technology, like MatrixCare, is playing a role in the equation. Additionally, she breaks down the key steps tech companies need to take to promote ease of use for clinicians.
What career experiences do you most draw from in your role today?
In my current role, I collaborate with our service and technical teams to ensure the health care provider’s perspective is integrated into the solutions we develop. Keeping end users at the heart of our strategic planning and product development is a priority for our teams. By providing effective solutions for service providers, we directly improve caregivers’ lives to the benefit of patients and residents – that’s our mission.
Drawing from my experience as a frontline caregiver, from nursing assistant to floor nurse, and as a facility and corporate clinical leader, I bring valuable insights to my work. Understanding caregiver tasks, workflows and historic barriers helps us design technology that they can use effectively and efficiently. Additionally, I offer perspectives on what leaders need to navigate change and implement the technologies we deliver.
I find this role exciting because technology can truly help us navigate the challenges of the health care environment. There’s immense opportunity in health care technology, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
Why is it so important to invest in clinicians?
As of April this year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a need for approximately 190,000 health care workers to return to pre-pandemic levels. Nursing homes were particularly impacted by the pandemic in terms of health care workers. For sustained success, it’s crucial not only to continue hiring but also to focus on the retention of clinical staff. The skill and engagement of clinicians play a pivotal role in the success of any health care facility or organization.
High turnover can be challenging to manage, as clinicians and direct caregivers are the face and heart of the facility. They are entrusted with the complex task of providing high-quality care and accurately documenting patient or resident records to meet post-acute care, health care and regulatory requirements. These skills are specific to our industry, and those who excel in them need to be retained and celebrated.
As leaders, we must ensure our clinical teams feel confident, comfortable within the team, and have a sense of purpose, while also feeling appreciated for their hard work. Achieving this requires ongoing intentional investment in the team. By investing time and effort in our team, they, in turn, will be committed to supporting the success of the facility and, most importantly, the best outcomes for patients.
Based on your experience, what strategies are most impactful in combating burnout and turnover?
Building strong relationships with employees is paramount. Being intentional in connecting with all team members, including leaders, sets the tone for positive engagement throughout the organization. Conceptualizing employee connections as clinical rounding, akin to patient rounding, can be helpful. Interacting, assisting and welcoming feedback during these rounds foster a sense of value for employees and provide meaningful insights.
The simple act of connecting and showing genuine care can lead to happier employees and reduced turnover. Rounding also helps identify reliable staff members who can fill in shifts when needed, ensuring better work-life balance. Structuring clinical systems with collaborative problem-solving promotes higher-quality solutions and team spirit.
In the first 90 days of employment, providing high-touch orientations and connecting new employees with experienced partners improve the onboarding experience. Choosing the right mentors who possess interpersonal skills and a heart for teaching is critical to the success of this process. By investing in relationship-building and employee support, we can support our facility’s success and create a positive and fulfilling work environment for all.
What are some of the immediate steps organizations can take to recognize their clinicians and drive engagement?
Appreciating our employees and the hard work they do, especially in the challenging role of clinicians, is essential. Consistent recognition helps boost morale and job satisfaction. As leaders, it’s critical to acknowledge not only exceptional efforts during difficult times, but also the everyday dedication of those who consistently perform well. This includes employees who maintain punctuality, adherence to schedules, and diligent documentation to ensure quality care for our patients and residents.
Monitoring and recognizing the steady performers are just as vital as acknowledging those who shine in crisis situations. Budget constraints shouldn’t deter us from showing appreciation — simple gestures like pats on the back, notes of gratitude, and public or private recognition can make a significant impact. Regular feedback, along with internal upskilling opportunities, team lead roles, involvement in quality improvement efforts, and opportunities for skills advancement, are meaningful ways to engage and motivate our dedicated employees. Implementing these practices fosters a culture of inclusion and encouragement, making everyone feel valued and contributing to the overall success of our facility.
How does technology play a role when it comes to making life easier for clinical teams?
Technology offers numerous opportunities to enhance health care systems, improve clinician satisfaction, and optimize patient care. However, successful implementation is crucial. Despite our best intentions, not all ideas materialize as expected. Nevertheless, technology allows us to automate manual tasks, ensuring up-to-date and comprehensive patient records are readily available for clinicians. By ingesting critical patient data like vital signs and lab results, we can proactively monitor and address risks, adding an extra layer of safety.
Prescribing tools ensure legibility, provide notifications and prevent data entry errors, reducing medical record inaccuracies. Advanced Electronic Health Records (EHRs) integrate data from multiple systems, offering comprehensive, data-driven decision-making tools to support clinician workflows. This enables clinicians to make quick and accurate clinical decisions, develop appropriate care plans, and dedicate more time to patient care.
Technology, when properly employed, enhances job satisfaction for clinicians by streamlining tasks and empowering them to focus on their essential duties. As an enabler, technology should free up time for clinicians to excel at bedside tasks and complex care plan development. By prioritizing user-friendly technology, we can support clinician satisfaction and ensure the long-term retention of these critical caregivers in our health care environment.
What are the most important things technology companies need to do to promote ease of use for clinicians?
I think that technology companies must forge true partnerships with their customers and clinicians, maintaining constant communication to understand their needs. Being receptive to feedback and open to pivoting when necessary is important, and identifying pain points and collaborating to develop innovative solutions are essential to success. Embracing AI, machine learning and other cutting-edge tools in the health care environment can significantly improve clinician ease of use.
We have an abundance of remarkable tools at our disposal, and we need to think outside the box to optimize their potential. Analyzing system usage patterns empowers us to refine the technology for efficiency, reducing clicks and streamlining workflows. This not only saves time and reduces confusion, but also ensures clinicians can focus on patient care.
Integrating resources into our technologies enables clinicians to access information quickly, reducing interruptions and allowing them to perform their roles more effectively. Embracing these technology opportunities will undoubtedly lead to successful outcomes for clinicians and better care for patients.
In a couple of words, finish this sentence: “In 2023, the senior living industry has been defined by…”
…clinical labor availability, digital transformation and operational innovation.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
MatrixCare is the country’s largest post-acute care technology provider and the only electronic health record (EHR) provider in the industry to focus on the entire continuum of care. We deliver innovative solutions to help you reimagine the way you provide care. To discover how you can maximize staff retention and satisfaction, check out Allison’s top 10 tips to keep your clinical team engaged at matrixcare.com/checklist
The Voices Series is a sponsored content program featuring leading executives discussing trends, topics and more shaping their industry in a question-and-answer format. For more information on Voices, please contact [email protected].