If you want to improve patient outcomes, quality and cut costs at your hospital, start with a hiring assessment and then pay attention to who the top scorers are. That's the finding of a new study by global leadership company DDI called "Better Hires, Better Outcomes."
DDIs analyzed 6,086 assessments of U.S. healthcare employees across the care continuum and at all levels. DDI compared the employees' assessments with their on-the-job performance in five categories: safety, quality, service orientation, inspirational leadership and engagement and retention.
Compared to candidates who scored in the bottom 25 percent, healthcare workers who scored in the top 25 percent turned out to be better employees who brought value to their organizations in a number of ways.
First, top scorers were twice as likely to maintain a safe work environment and were three times as likely to maintain low error rates. Health systems need employees to support and contribute to a robust safety culture at their institutions and ensuring a level of patient safety means fewer errors and drives down costs.
Quality caregivers can dictate whether a patient has a good or bad experience at your hospital, and not only does quality care drive down cost it also can dictate reimbursement for government programs. Top scorers on employee assessments were nearly three times more likely to exemplify quality care, more than two more likely to demonstrate superior patient assessment skills and were roughly two times more likely to avoid disciplinary actions.
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Employees that are service oriented understand that patients are looking for reassurance, compassion and respect and deliver the kind of service that yields high HCAHPS and provider scores. Top scorers on employee assessments were almost twice as likely to excel at providing emotional support to patients and families, making decisions and problem-solving. They were also more likely to put a patient first and their performance was 20 percent to reduce patient complaints.
"Leaders who scored highest on the assessment were 3.7 times more likely to drive efficiency than those scoring lowest. This is especially critical in highly matrixed environments and for controlling costs. Top scorers were also nearly twice as likely to contribute to the achievement of their organization's vision."
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Finally, when it comes to keeping employees long-term, an employee assessment can be a good way to gauge whether a candidate is truly a good fit for your hospital. Top scorers on assessments were 93 percent more likely to show real intent to stay at their job and were four times more likely to be engaged employees versus low scorers, the study said.
"Every person who works in healthcare has a tremendous responsibility toward patients, and a bad hire can have disastrous consequences that could cost patients their lives," said Jim Thomas, vice president at DDI and leader of its healthcare practice. "The good news is that healthcare employers don't have to guess. This study offers scientifically-backed evidence that employers can predict which employees are most likely to perform well in high-stress situations, be the least likely to make an error, and most likely to spot a safety risk."
Twitter: @BethJSanborn
Email the writer: beth.sanborn@himssmedia.com