A health workforce classification framework for decision support in employment relations

This research was motivated by a desire to move decision making about health workforce planning from an anecdotal basis to a more evidence-based process. The principal outcome of this study is a framework for the classification and prioritization of health workforces within the New Zealand health sector. The framework was developed and validated using the Delphi Method, a decision-making methodology that uses the expert opinion of healthcare professionals. Findings suggest that five key factors - service need, public profile, supply factors, operational flexibility, and operational capacity - are central to a prioritization framework.