In 2017, RNU began advocating for an acuity-based staffing model, which is a model where staffing is based on the actual acuity of patients, clients and residents in care verses limited factors such as the number of beds on a unit. We pushed hard for a system that used real-time data to show when the acuity of patients has increased and to signal that help is needed. The model we lobbied for was known as the New Zealand model.<\/p>\n
RNU\u2019s advocacy efforts paid off when government eventually agreed that acuity-based staffing was needed.<\/p>\n
In 2020, the Newfoundland and Labrador government announced a new workforce management system would be introduced across the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) \u2013 and that acuity-based staffing would be a component of this system.<\/p>\n
This system is called Integrated Capacity Management (ICM). Work began on ICM last year.<\/p>\n