Why Invest in Your Frontline Healthcare Workforce?

Why Invest?

Healthcare employers across the country—and particularly those engaged in the CareerSTAT network— are investing in their frontline workers because they seek tangible results that contribute to the success of the organization, individual workers, and the broader community. Employers are making the business case for their investments by aligning workforce training and education programs with strategic areas of business impact.

Each of the business problems or opportunities associated with the strategic impact areas can be addressed, in part, through frontline worker skill development or career advancement. Employers use specific metrics to gauge impacts and to determine if workforce programs generate the expected benefits. Results may be quantitative and measurable in terms of dollars saved in recruitment costs, reduced turnover, or preventable readmissions to the hospital. Or they may be qualitative—as when employees gain new competencies in caring for patients, or the working climate and team relationships on a unit become more collaborative.

Areas of Strategic Business Impact

Employers cite six major areas where developing the frontline workforce can have strategic business impact

Workforce Availability

Frontline staffing needs are addressed by filling vacancies, reducing turnover, decreasing overtime, and reducing temporary agency use.

Employee Competency & Advancement

Employees gain the needed knowledge, skills, and abilities to deliver high-quality care and advance their careers.

Employee Engagement

Employees express greater satisfaction with their jobs and are more engaged in their work, resulting in improved performance outcomes and increased staff retention.

Patient Experience

Patients and their families express higher levels of satisfaction with the quality of care received and services provided. Patient satisfaction scores improve.

Community Impact

Organizations demonstrate greater positive impact in the communities they serve by hiring local residents, increasing workforce diversity, and improving health outcomes in the community.

Quality & Safety

Organizations improve performance by expanding the role of frontline workers and enhancing their skills to reduce such measures as medical errors and avoidable re-hospitalizations.