The OHA Absence Survey, which was launched in 1997 has become an annual initiative of the OHA. The report sets out the findings of the survey (annual collection period from April 1 to March 31). The OHA Absence Survey is an initiative of the Organizational Health Management department within the Strategic Human Resources Management Services division of the OHA.
Part of the OHA’s mission is, “To deliver high-quality products and services that assist our members and partners in providing effective, safe and efficient health care”. The Absence Survey report is just one of the ways that the OHA is working to collect and distribute information that is essential to the management and planning for member hospitals. The benchmark statistics reported can be used by organizations to project short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) and workers’ compensation costs we well as identifying the most prevalent patterns and medical causes for absences among the participants.
The report includes comparisons between the five OHA Regions, the 14 LHINs and Hospital Classification categories (Community, Teaching, Small or Specialty/Other). In order to assist organizations with absence management, this report provides benchmark data on the rates and costs of medical absence. Organizations can also compare the performance of their organization with that of other participants.
Health Promotion and Healthy Work Environment initiatives being used by Ontario hospitals are also examined in this report. These programs are vital to the functioning of a healthy workplace, and an environment that focuses on these areas assists in fostering a lower absenteeism rate among staff. The data supplied in this document will assist hospitals to better understand the types of programs that other organizations are utilizing.
Thank you to participating hospitals for commitment to this project. For further information or assistance, please contact absencesurvey@oha.com.