An Exclusive Look at the WISN Initiative H.E. Governor Susan has adopted to Advance in Healthcare Workforce Planning

Written by Ruth Magak

Nakuru County has taken significant strides in optimizing its healthcare workforce through the implementation of the Workload Indicators of Staffing Needs (WISN) methodology. The initiative is a cornerstone of H.E. Governor Susan Kihika’s administration to enhance Human Resources for Health (HRH) planning and ensure effective health service provision in alignment with Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals.

Governor Susan Kihika’s administration inherited a healthcare system burdened by staffing challenges, with many facilities struggling to meet patient demands due to inadequate and inefficiently allocated staff. The problem was compounded by a lack of data-driven approaches to HRH planning, leading to suboptimal utilization of available human resources.

To address these gaps, Governor Kihika launched a series of strategic initiatives. One notable effort was confirming 189 healthcare workers on permanent and pensionable terms, providing job security and boosting morale. Additionally, the recent recruitment of a new cohort of healthcare workers aimed to bridge the staffing gaps and enhance service delivery across the county.

Nakuru County’s journey with WISN began with comprehensive training for the County Health Management Teams on the methodology, a key phase in the WISN implementation process that aimed at improving staffing decisions and ensuring the efficient use of human resources across all health facilities.

The WISN methodology is a facility-based scientific method from the WHO that uses health workers’ workload and activity standards to determine staff requirements. The County then officially commenced the WISN implementation with a sensitization session for the leadership of health and the County Public Service Board. The objective was to mobilize support and gain buy-in for the WISN implementation, ensuring a smooth rollout and effective utilization of valuable human resources.

County Executive Committee Member for Health, Roselyn Mungai, commissioned the full rollout of the WISN implementation, stating that this strategic initiative will revolutionize staffing decisions, optimize healthcare workforce management, and enhance productivity to meet the needs of Nakuru residents.

The methodology accounts for differences in services provided and the complexity of care in different facilities to ensures a fair and consistent method of allocating staff where they are most needed.

Nakuru County aims to create a data-driven framework that will inform HRH planning by developing specific service activity standards for WISN studies and calculating the workload for each health cadre and facility. This helps identify and address components of the health system that hinder optimal utilization of the available workforce.

Health Records Information Officers (HRIOs) and representatives from various health cadres are actively collecting data through the WISN methodology. The team is tasked with implementing the WISN strategy and producing a comprehensive report within the next 10 days to inform decisions on staff optimization and redistribution going forward.

County Director for Medical Services, Dr. Daniel Wainaina, emphasized, “This initiative will ensure Nakuru’s healthcare system meets the needs of its residents more efficiently and effectively.”

Governor Susan Kihika’s administration has shown a strong commitment to creating a motivated and productive workforce with a collaborative approach that has involved working with various development partners to mobilize resources and ensure the successful implementation of the WISN methodology.

USAID Tujenge Jamii, USAID Misingi Imara, and Thinkwell have particularly been complementing these efforts in Nakuru County. This initiative is part of the ongoing efforts spearheaded by H.E. Governor Kihika to optimize performance and utilize human resources to their fullest potential.

Nakuru is set to lead the way in innovative healthcare workforce management, ensuring that every resident has access to the quality care they deserve.