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Implementation of the Workload Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN) Method in Determining Staff Requirements in Public Health Laboratories in Serbia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 July 2020

Katica Tripković ,
Milena Šantrić Milićević ,
Marina Mandić Miladinović ,
Lazo Kovačević ,
Vesna Bjegović Mikanović  and
Dejana Vuković
Katica Tripković*
Affiliation:
City Institute of Public Health of Belgrade, Department for Analysis, Planning and Organization of Health Care, Belgrade, Serbia
Milena Šantrić Milićević
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Institute of Social Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Centre - School of Public Health and Health Management, Belgrade, Serbia
Marina Mandić Miladinović
Affiliation:
City Institute of Public Health of Belgrade, Laboratory for Hygiene and Human Ecology, Belgrade, Serbia
Lazo Kovačević
Affiliation:
City Institute of Public Health of Belgrade, Laboratory for Microbiology, Belgrade, Serbia
Vesna Bjegović Mikanović
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Institute of Social Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Centre - School of Public Health and Health Management, Belgrade, Serbia
Dejana Vuković
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Institute of Social Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Centre - School of Public Health and Health Management, Belgrade, Serbia
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Katica Tripković, City Institute of Public Health of Belgrade, Department for Analysis, Planning and Organization of Health Care, Bulevar Despota Stefana 54a, 11000Belgrade, Serbia (e-mail: dr_cvrcak@yahoo.com)
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Abstract

Objectives:

This study aimed at identifying the needs for the health workforce in 16 public health laboratories in the Serbian capital by assessing the workforce stock, workload activities, activity standards, and workload pressure.

Methods:

A review of laboratory records and regulations, interviews with key respondents, and observing work processes provided data for the World Health Organization method for determining staffing needs based on workload indicators (Workload Indicators of Staffing Need, WISN).

Results:

A total of 99 laboratory workers spend almost 70% of their available working time in undertaking core activities. Core activities per sample can take from 0.25 to 180 min. Laboratory workers are under moderate or high workload pressure (the WISN ratio from 0.86 to 0.50). The WISN difference indicates a shortage of 22.22% of laboratory analysts and 20.63% of laboratory technicians. To balance the staffing to workload, these laboratories need an additional 8 FTE analysts and 13 FTE technicians. They could also consider selectively reducing workload pressure by automating some of the additional activities while maintaining the competence of laboratory workers and opportunities for professional development.

Conclusions:

Staffing policy should account for work processes, activity standards, and workload pressure to determine necessary staffing to meet the need for laboratory services in the local context.

Keywords

health workforcepublic health laboratoriesWISN method
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , February 2022 , pp. 71 - 79
Copyright
Copyright © 2020 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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