Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 92
ethical
policy statement
Ethical Issues Related to a
Reduction in Force
August 1995
November 2000 (revised)
November 2005 (revised)
November 2012 (revised)
Statement of the Issue
As the result of shorter lengths of stay, the increase of
ambulatory care, higher productivity, new technology
and other factors, the capacity of some healthcare organizations could significantly exceed demand. As a result,
these organizations may be required to reduce their workforce and related costs. Additionally, mergers and consolidations can result in further reductions and reassignments
of staff. Financial pressures will continue to fuel this
trend. However, patient care needs should not be compromised when determining staffing requirements.
Policy Position
The American College of Healthcare Executives recommends that specific steps be considered by healthcare
executives when initiating a reduction in force process to
support consistency between stated organizational values
and those demonstrated before, during and after the process. Among these steps are the following:
Careful planning, diligent cost controls, effective resource
management and proper consultation can lessen the hardship and stress of a reduction in force. Formal policies
and procedures should be developed well in advance of
the need to implement them.
The decision to reduce staff necessitates consideration of
the short-term and long-term impact on all employees—
those leaving and those remaining. Decision makers
should consider the potential ethical conflict between formally stated organizational values and staff reduction
actions.
92
Healthcare Executive
SEPT/OCT 2013
• ecognize that cost-reduction efforts must be approR
priate—if they are too aggressive, the consequences
for patients, staff and the organization can be as
harmful as doing too little or proceeding too late;
• xplore and evaluate best practices from similar orgaE
nizations, which could be helpful in designing and
implementing a workforce reduction plan; best practices can be identified by conducting a thorough literature review, attending seminars and speaking with
colleagues;
• evelop a workforce reduction plan that effectively
D
describes its rationale, objectives, implementation
process, timeline and impact assessment techniques;
• btain input and advice from senior management
O
and human resource leaders on the number and type
of positions to be reduced, which open positions
should not be filled, and when and how communication regarding the reduction plan should be made.
Include other key components, such as discussing the
rationale and process with the organization’s governing body, medical staff leadership and, if necessary,
the media;
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013
Contents
ACHE Online
Take Note
Perspectives
Health Information Exchange: Achieving Coordinated Care
Protecting Patient Medical Data: The C-Suite’s Role
Global Lessons for U.S. Healthcare Leaders
Professional Pointers
Healthcare Management Ethics
Satisfying Your Customers
Community Health Innovations
Public Policy Update
Careers
Governance Insights
Improving Patient Care
On Physician Relations
Executive News
CEO Survey
On the Move
Member Accolades
Board Highlights
Chapter News
Professional Development Calendar
Policy Statements
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Cover2
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Contents
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 2
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 3
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - ACHE Online
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 5
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Take Note
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 7
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Perspectives
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 9
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Health Information Exchange: Achieving Coordinated Care
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 11
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 12
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 13
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 14
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 15
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 16
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 17
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 18
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 19
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Protecting Patient Medical Data: The C-Suite’s Role
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 21
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 22
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 23
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 24
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 25
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 26
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 27
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 28
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 29
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 30
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 31
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Global Lessons for U.S. Healthcare Leaders
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 33
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 34
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 35
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 36
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 37
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 38
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 39
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 40
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 41
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Professional Pointers
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 43
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 44
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 45
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 46
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 47
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Healthcare Management Ethics
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 49
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Satisfying Your Customers
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 51
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 52
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 53
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Community Health Innovations
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 55
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 56
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 57
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Public Policy Update
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 59
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 60
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 61
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Careers
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 63
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Governance Insights
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 65
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 66
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 67
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Improving Patient Care
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 69
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 70
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 71
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - On Physician Relations
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 73
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 74
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 75
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Executive News
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 77
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 78
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 79
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - CEO Survey
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 81
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - On the Move
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 83
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Member Accolades
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 85
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Board Highlights
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 87
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Chapter News
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 89
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Professional Development Calendar
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 91
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Policy Statements
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 93
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 94
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 95
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 96
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Cover3
Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - Cover4
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