Determining diagnostic radiographer staffing requirements: A workload-based approach

• Published in: Radiography (London, England. 1995) England. 1995), 2022-05, Vol.28 (2), p.276-282
• Main Authors: Bam, L., Cloete, C., de Kock, I.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allied Health Personnel; Diagnostic radiography; Framework; Healthcare human resource (HHR) planning; Humans; Radiography; Staff planning; Workforce; Workforce planning; Workload
• ISSN: 1078-8174; 1532-2831
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radi.2021.09.014

The topic of healthcare human resource planning for diagnostic radiographers has received limited research attention to date. This research is concerned with developing a framework that can be used to determine diagnostic radiographer staffing requirements at a unit- or department level (i.e. at the micro-level). An inductive approach is applied to formulate requirement specifications that inform the development of the framework. A number of verification and validation activities are performed, including theoretical verification and a case study application. The diagnostic radiographer staffing framework consists of seven steps that comprise a workload-based approach to determining the number of full time equivalent diagnostic radiographers that are required for each modality, or group of modalities. Both clinical and non-clinical activities are considered, and guidance is provided on calculating staffing requirements to cover leave allowances. A number of potential approaches to determining activity times are also discussed. The framework represents a holistic approach to determining the required number of diagnostic radiographers at a practice-level, that is designed to remain relevant as technological advances are made in the field of diagnostic radiography. By providing a practical guideline, with accompanying examples, the framework is expected to hold value for individuals involved in the management of diagnostic radiography practices. The framework proposes an approach to a topic that affects every radiography practice in operation yet has received limited attention in literature to date.