Traditional solutions such as overtime and in-house pools are certainly an important part of the total staffing solution. But, when any method is used independently without the appropriate mix, it can become extremely costly! For instance, when overtime is utilized as the primary or only staffing method for increased treatment load, the result is usually staff burnout; costing much more in the long run than is first measured on paper. How often has your organization or one you are familiar with tried this approach in the past, only to find that your dependable, qualified staff is spending more days out sick (usually when you need them most), or is giving lower quality output due to lack of rest or a general decrease in well-being?

Similarly, an in-house pool is not the answer by itself either. When hospitals establish their own pool, they are recreating the wheel at each local facility. Often, pool employees sign up for several local pools to ensure they can 'earn a living.' Then, when one facility needs a particular therapist, it's catcher's catch can. If the dollars spent managing a local pool could be effectively measured in its entirety, it would become much more apparent as to why it is not the cure-all for staffing woes. And, if you are in an area with high seasonal fluctuations, non-fulltime employees are often sparse, as again, the seasonal changes force them to move to more 'even' markets.