We are a small, hospital-based Home Health that covers 3 counties and approximately 2700sq miles of mostly rural territory. I am looking for information on how other agencies determine the correct number of FTEs needed each day/week. As you all know, the Home Health setting is so fluid, it is difficult to make it through a day without missed or cancelled visits. Currently, our hospital-based accounting/finance team uses the same calculation that they use to determine appropriate staffing for the hospitals and clinics. This seems inappropriate given the vastly different setting that our clinicians work in. They want us to "flex" staff off if they don't have a full schedule, but this isn't always information we have until the day is well underway. And, with 8 FT nurses and 4 FT physical therapists covering this territory, it would be difficult and even more inefficient to send a clinician home and have someone from another territory cover their own and another person's patients.
Any information you have will be appreciated.
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J Scott Lambert MPT, JD
Director
Washington Regional Home Health
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