Absenteeism in healthcare : identifying gaps and resources for working families.

Abstract

The need for quality care for children is a need families face across the country regardless of social status. In today's business of child care, hours of operation and cost of services have taken precedents to the quality of care received. Of the approximate 104,216 children who need child care in the state of Oklahoma, 45% need care outside of standard business hours (Child Care Aware of America, 2012). The main focus of this study is to understand the needs of rural Oklahoma families who serve as front line workers in the healthcare industry so that programs may be developed to foster a more positive work-family culture. As an attempt to see how child care impacts the work environment of healthcare professionals, researchers used the Human Ecological Model to understand the flow of influence the individual may have on his environment and vice versa. This study looks at each of the 5 layers of this model to determine key elements that can impact the successful balance of work and family for healthcare professionals. The data for this study was collected through an on-line survey completed by employees at Fairview Regional Medical Center in northwest Oklahoma. Based on the study findings, participants felt as though they had little to no help from extended family and friends in regards to caring for their children. Only 20% of participants have regular, consistent child care for their children. The data revealed that each participant with a child under the age of 18 missed, on average, 20 days annually due to child related issues.