How To Use Chronic Disease Education To Build An Elite Staff

Kenyon HomeCare Consulting • March 16, 2021
According to the CDC, chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in our country. In 2012, approximately half of all adults in the United States suffered from at least one chronic health disease. What’s worse, one out of four adults had two or more of these life-altering conditions. If that’s not enough to grab your attention, consider the fact that seven of the top ten causes of death in 2010 were chronic diseases. Chronic Disease Education Many elderly adults suffer from numerous chronic illnesses, which are on the rise in the United States. This epidemic results in the majority of healthcare dollars being spent on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of these diseases. Where does your healthcare organization fit into the picture? With the increase of chronic conditions, clients and their families need elite caregivers who are properly trained to help care for and manage their chronic illnesses.

Chronic Disease Education and Your Staff
When considering how to create an elite staff that is certified to offer the specialized care that clients with chronic ailments require, consider setting guidelines regarding which employees should participate in your chronic disease education program. To maximize the chronic disease education you provide, choose employees who have shown loyalty to your organization, as well as a desire to succeed and move forward in their careers. Some factors to take into account when making your decision:

Time on the job – While length of employment doesn’t always equal ability, or even loyalty, it’s a good indicator as to which employees are likely to remain at your organization. These are the people who make good candidates for your chronic disease education program.
Reviews – Yearly reviews are a good place to look when determining which employees might make up your elite staff. Those who consistently achieve good reviews display their willingness to work hard, as well as their ability to get the job done well.
Future goals – If you’re unaware of your employees’ goals, you need to ask questions. Those who plan on staying with your organization long-term or want to advance their careers in the healthcare field are good candidates for advanced training.
nce you’ve created guidelines for choosing your elite caregiver team, take the next step toward success by providing easy-to-access, sufficient chronic disease education. .

Chronic Disease Education and Your Bottom Line
By building an elite staff, you give your organization an edge over your competition. Clients, their families and referral sources seek knowledgeable caregivers who can help manage client conditions, recover from setbacks, avoid hospitalizations /rehospitalizations, and prevent complications. While employing an elite staff benefits your clients, it also significantly benefits your organization – and your bottom line. Here are a few of the many ways:

Higher employee retention – As an owner or manager, you know the stress employee turnover has on an organization. It costs time and money to find and train replacements, and to fill in the responsibility gaps during the transition. When you provide advanced education, employees are happier because they see a career path within your organization. Happy employees lead to less turnover. To maximize this effect, consider providing additional benefits to staff members who complete the education and become elite employees. Such benefits can include:
Paid vacation
Increase in pay
Health insurance
Recognition on name tags
Increase in referrals – When your organization is known to have an elite staff, clients and professionals alike will send more customers your way. It’s a simple, effective project that yields significant results.
When you’re ready to make the jump toward building an elite staff, chronic disease education is the first step. Take a look at Aide University today to learn about the numerous benefits of providing chronic disease education for your aides.

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