Last update:

   28-Sep-2019
 

Arch Hellen Med, 37(5), September-October 2019, 662-671

SPECIAL ARTICLE

Translation into Greek of the Workload Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN) method
developed by the World Health Organization

F. Gialama,1 M. Saridi,1 P. Prezerakos,2 Y. Pollalis,3 X. Kontiadis,4 K. Souliotis1
1Department of Social and Educational Policy, University of the Peloponnese, Corinth,
2Department of Nursing, University of the Peloponnese, Sparti,
3Department of Economics, University of Pireus, Athens,
4Department of Public Administration, Panteion University, Athens, Greece

The Workload Indicators of Staffing Needs (WISN) method, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a human resources' management tool that estimates the number of health workers required and necessary per cadre, based on the workload of the health care provider. This tool was developed in an effort to reduce the complexity and drawbacks of traditional methods for determining staffing needs, as a rational method for optimal distribution of staff between health facilities at local and national levels. The WISN method, through the application of activity (time) standards for each workload component (main work activity) of each staff category, takes into account the real demand for health services. The original users' manual for the WISN method, as developed by WHO, consists of five sections that analyze in detail the process of estimating staffing needs in health facilities based on workload. We translated the methodology section of the WISN into Greek, which analyzes step-by-step how to calculate the required number of staff, based on workload. The Greek version of the WISN users' manual is now available, displaying in detail the whole process of calculating the required staff of the selected priority cadres(s) and health facility type(s) and it is ready to be used in assessing the needs of each staff category in Greek health care units at both regional and national levels.

Key words: Health workforce planning, Staffing, Translation, WISN, Workload.


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