Regionalization of human resources. SCHCS healthcare facilities collaborate to head off labor shortages.

Shortages of healthcare personnel become more pronounced each year. Effective human resource strategies are therefore important to facilities' success. The Sisters of Charity Health Care Systems (SCHCS), Cincinnati, is meeting the labor shortage head-on through collaborative regionalization among its facilities. Regionalization develops an integrated continuum of care on local and regional bases, helps SCHCS members avoid duplication of services, and ensures communities' future access to care by spreading financial risk among partners. SCHCS human resource personnel encourage employees to stay within the organization if they must relocate or are looking for career advancement. Members use a systemswide brochure to recruit nurses and allied health professionals. To attract employees from outside SCHCS, human resource personnel join forces at trade association conferences, job fairs, and school career days. SCHCS human resource personnel recruit and select values-oriented employees. Values-based human resource guidelines provide a framework for SCHCS members to assess how effectively the core values and mission are demonstrated in policies, programs, procedures, behaviors, and culture.