8. Staffing problems in long-term care

The deficiencies in services of the wide range of health personnel involved in long-term care are well known. Physician involvement at all stages of the long-term care process is necessary as well as that of trained nurses, medical specialists, therapists, dentists, pharmacists, and others, and a team approach is essential to evaluate patient needs and to determine staffing requirements to meet them. Basic to the improvement in the education of health care personnel and the staffing of all types of long-term care services are 1) the development and regular recording of information on the needs for health services of chronically ill and aged patients, emphasixing functional status and the nature of disabilities requiring assistance; 2) comprehensive medical-nursing-social evaluation of patients to determine appropriate placement and treatment; and 3) methods of classifying patient data to establish staffing requirements.