High Agency Staffing List

The facilities listed below have a history of high agency staffing usage ( >30%) on average over the past six months of data available.  Facilities use agency staffing for a number of reasons, including a shortage of qualified permanent staff or a surge in the need for staff, but regardless of the reason, there are are significant drawbacks:

• Agency staff are less likely to give ‘relationship based’ care since they are taking on assignments that are task oriented.  Industry best practice proves that residents feel more secure when they have a consistent relationship with their caregiver.  On the flip side, when staff have consistent residents in their care, they have a better understanding of the care needs thereby decreasing the learning curve and improving efficiency.
• Agency staff is expensive – at least twice the cost of in-house staff
• Agency usage is bad for in-house staff morale which undermines stability and increases employee turnover

While it is normal for facilities to need agency staff from time to time, if it becomes the norm it is considered a red flag that management is struggling with creating the right work environment for their in-house staff.  Note that only facilities who are eligible for CMS’s Staffing Star Rating are considered here.