Between February 6 and February 17, 2023, the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) conducted a digital survey of nursing facility members of for-profit, nonprofit, and government-run facilities. The focus of the survey was to better understand the current state of long-term care. The purpose of the report of the findings is to share information gathered about nursing facilities. PHCA also surveyed members that operate assisted living communities and personal care homes, the results of which will be released at a later date.
“The information shared by survey respondents revealed a continued workforce crisis and exacerbated concerns of access to care availability with an impending new state staffing regulation and the potential for an unattainable federal staffing mandate. While workforce challenges have been widely known, the survey underscores how many positions need to be filled and how many beds are unable to be used because of staffing limitations. The survey also revealed providers’ efforts to address their staffing needs.”
The 2023 survey of Pennsylvania nursing homes showed that:
• 52% of respondents said they were limiting admissions because they did not have enough staff to provide care.
• 22% said they had between 21% and 40% of their beds available but that they were unable to be used because of staffing limitations.
• One respondent said they were unable to use between 51% to 60% of their beds because of a lack of staff.
• On average, 17 admission denials took place per facility because of insufficient staffing during a three-month period.
• 31% of respondents said they had at least 21 or more unfilled direct-care positions (certified nurses’ aides, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses).
• 98% said they had some positions that were unfilled.
• 81% said they are using contracted agency staff to fill open positions, which would drive up costs.
• The average wage for a full-time certified certified nurse’s aide is $17.26, according facilities that participated in the survey.
• The current average wage for a contracted certified nurse’s aide is $34.90 per hour, according to those same facilities.
• The average labor cost increase from 2019 to 2022 was 20%, according to participants.
• 93% expected to be forced to use contracted workers to comply with state staffing ratios that took effect in July 2022.
We have found that many avoidable injuries suffered by residents of nursing homes can be traced back to inadequate staffing.
If you or a loved one may have been injured (or worse) as a result of medical malpractice in a nursing home in Pennsylvania or in another U.S. state, you should promptly find a Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyer, or a medical malpractice lawyer in your state, who may investigate your nursing home medical malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a nursing home medical malpractice case, if appropriate.
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