Human resource assessment of a district hospital applying WISN method: Role of laboratory technicians

Context: The Workload Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN) human resource planning and management tool, developed by Shipp (1998) and popularized by the World Health Organization (WHO), gives health managers a way to analyze and calculate correct staffing levels in health facilities. In present study, WISN tool was used to assess a District Hospital in terms of staffing of laboratory technicians to understand the staffing need against the existing workload of health system. Aims: To assess the staffing needs of laboratory technicians in District Hospital using WISN method. Settings and Design: Hospital-based cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional survey involving observation, record review, and personal interview. Study was performed in a District Hospital of Madhya Pradesh. There were six laboratory technicians in the District Hospital and all of them were included in the study. The staffing pattern and need of laboratory technicians in District Hospital was estimated and WISN indicators calculated. Statistical Analysis Used: Rate ratio and proportions were calculated using Microsoft Excel 2007. Results: WISN calculation showed that District Hospital in which the study was done requires 16 laboratory technicians in order to provide the volume of health services in its annual statistics in accordance with the professional standards (activity standards) for these services, thus having a shortage of 10 technicians. Conclusion: The laboratory technicians in the District Hospital where study was conducted are constantly under pressure to match the existing workload due to shortage of manpower. Appropriate human resources management and planning can contribute greatly to the improvement of efficiency of their work by ensuring optimum workload.