Impact of school closings on hospital staff absenteeism: A case study

Nathan Timm, MD; Jacqueline Grupp-Phelan, MD, MPH; Joseph S. Kroner, MSN, RN

doi:10.5055/jem.2007.0035

Authors

Nathan Timm, MD
Jacqueline Grupp-Phelan, MD, MPH
Joseph S. Kroner, MSN, RN

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2007.0035

Keywords:

nursing, absenteeism, schools

Abstract

Objective: Determine the impact school closings during snow emergencies have on hospital nursing absenteeism.
Design: Retrospective case-control study.
Setting: Large urban tertiary-care children’s hospital.
Participants: Inpatient nursing staff.
Main outcomes measured: Absenteeism rates due to lack of child care during snow emergency dates.
Results: There is a statistically significant difference between nursing absenteeism due school closings compared with control dates (p = 0.01); however, the overall impact on hospital nursing staff availability is minimal (0.4 percent).
Conclusions: Short-term school closings during snow emergencies do not result in significant rates of nursing absenteeism due to lack of child care.

Author Biographies

Nathan Timm, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.

Jacqueline Grupp-Phelan, MD, MPH

Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.

Joseph S. Kroner, MSN, RN

Assistant Vice President, Operations, Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.

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