Clinical care ratios: differences in allied health roles in New Zealand.

ObjectiveAllied health workforce planning is difficult and needs to be informed by data. Clinical care ratios (CCR) are commonly used to differentiate between clinical and non-clinical demands. This study aimed to identify trends within and across allied health disciplines and determine if the CCR differed by allied health discipline within one New Zealand district.MethodsMeans of CCR data across six allied health roles over 1year were compared using a one-way ANOVA. Post hoc analysis was conducted to determine role differences.ResultsThere were statistically significant differences between the CCR of the six allied health disciplines. Both occupational therapy and physiotherapy had bimodal distributions of CCR. Allied health assistants had the lowest mean and median CCR.ConclusionsNon-clinical activity represents a significant proportion of allied health activity within the New Zealand hospital system. Insights into the CCR of allied health disciplines may support more effective workforce planning and enable service leaders to match the right task to the right profession.