We’ve seen the results of healthcare understaffing. It’s been a chronic problem with no end in sight. When hospitals and clinics don’t have enough staff, everyone pays the price—especially patients. Burnout skyrockets. Overtime costs climb. Compliance issues increase. And patient satisfaction plummets.
According to a 2023 report by the American Hospital Association, 90% of hospitals faced significant staffing shortages in the last year, contributing to care delays and lower patient outcomes. These gaps don’t just stress clinicians—they strain finances and reputations.
Let’s break down the real cost of understaffing—and how healthcare organizations can fix it with the right staffing strategies.
Healthcare Burnout and Turnover: A Costly Cycle
When teams are stretched too thin, stress and burnout follow. The consequences aren’t just emotional. Burned-out workers are 2.6 times more likely to leave their jobs, driving up costly turnover rates.
Replacing a single nurse can cost between $40,000 and $64,000, according to Nurse Journal. Multiply that across a department, and you’re looking at hundreds of thousands in annual losses—just to maintain staffing levels.
Healthcare Overtime and Compliance Risks
To compensate for staffing shortages, many facilities rely heavily on overtime. However, too much overtime increases the risk of errors. In fact, nurses working shifts longer than 12.5 hours are three times more likely to make medical mistakes.
Overworked staff may also overlook compliance tasks. Missed documentation, skipped protocols, and delayed reporting can trigger penalties or legal trouble—compounding the cost of understaffing with regulatory consequences.
Patient Satisfaction Suffers
Staffing gaps lead to longer wait times, shorter interactions, and higher readmission rates. According to Press Ganey, nurse responsiveness is one of the top drivers of patient satisfaction—and it’s directly tied to adequate staffing.
Patients who feel neglected are less likely to return or recommend the facility, affecting your revenue and reputation.
Strategic Staffing: The Fix Healthcare Needs
So how do you stop the bleeding? The answer lies in smart, flexible staffing.
Strategic workforce planning paired with flexible options—like per diem, contract, and private duty staffing—helps healthcare leaders stay ahead of gaps. These solutions give facilities the agility to adjust staffing levels based on real-time needs, without overburdening full-time staff or incurring excessive costs.
Temporary healthcare professionals also bring specialized skills, allowing facilities to match patient needs with the right expertise, even during surges or staff absences.
Partnering with Gotham Companies for Support That Delivers
Gotham Companies understands the pressure healthcare leaders face. That’s why we offer more than staffing—we deliver stability.
Whether you need last-minute shift coverage or long-term contract professionals, we provide experienced, credentialed staff ready to step in. Our team moves fast, so you can focus on patient care—not scheduling headaches.
With Gotham, you get reliable talent when and where you need it. Our flexible staffing solutions help facilities reduce burnout, stay compliant, and protect patient satisfaction—all while managing costs.
Let’s work together to close your staffing gaps—before they cost you more. Contact Gotham Companies today to build a better, more resilient workforce.
