The Utilisation of Workload Indicators Staffing Need Method in Determining Staffing Requirements and Workload in JAAFH Hospital

Introduction: Adequate staffing and workload management are essential to sustaining quality healthcare services. This study assessed workload and staffing needs of the radiology department at Jaber Al-Ahmad Armed Forces Hospital (JAAFH) in Kuwait. Methods: This study used the Workload Indicators of Staffing Needs (WISN) method for the current and future workloads. Available working times (AWT), workload components, and activity standards were used to calculate required staff, establish the WISN ratio, and estimate workload pressures in current and future working conditions, and after including the impact of adding mammography services. Results: The study demonstrates that the radiology department of JAAFH has shortages of junior and senior radiologists (WISN: 0.4 and 0.7 respectively); however, radiographers showed a surplus (WISN: 3.2). Furthermore, the addition of a new service (mammogram) would increase the demand for junior and senior radiologists by 250% and 75%, respectively. Conclusion: This study shows that JAAFH is facing a shortage of radiologists, and adding a new service would further worsen workload on the department. Therefore, immediate intervention by recruitment or workload redistribution is advisable.