Since COVID-19, many healthcare experts have left their jobs, and some switched fields. You ask why? Well, there are many reasons.
An estimate by the American Hospital Association has shown a shortage of 3.2 million healthcare workers by 2026.
While the reasons could be many, according to Becker’s Hospital Review, work conditions and burnout may be the leading ones.
Though staffing shortages have become a major problem for practices across America, it is still possible to overcome.
Below are 7 effective staffing shortage solutions:
Outsourcing
The best way to manage staffing shortages in healthcare is to hire remote workers or outsource services. There are a number of outsourcing agencies that handle the most tedious work for you.
Take medical billing as an example. What once required a workforce can now easily be outsourced with a lower budget. GreenSense Billing is one such example. We ensure that your medical billing processes remain efficient, and you get reimbursement on time, without any hurdles. Outsourced medical billing services decrease the workload of your in-house team, reduces the chances of mental burnout, and help you get paid on time.
Retaining Current Workers
It is always recommended to provide a positive work environment with competitive pay to your resources.
Include benefits and flexible schedules. Competitive benefits improve performance and foster employee employer relationships. Another important step would be to prioritize your staff’s training by introducing new programs and set up clear paths for career growth.
Research shows healthcare professionals stick to practices that allow better growth opportunities. You can go for in-house training programs, seminars, webinars, etc. Such sessions build a resourceful skill set in professionals, and help employers retain them.
Setting A Hiring Strategy
A transparent onboarding process when hiring is a good practice to get the best out of the candidates!
Discuss the work culture and honest expectations beforehand. These discussions allow the recruits to know what they are walking into. You can also give a field visit to new joiners as it provides a better idea of the working environment. You may also go for a trial period before every permanent hire.
A thorough hiring procedure might take some time to bring the right resource but will increase the likelihood of the professionals staying loyal to your practices.
Cross-train Staff
Staff shortage best practices also include creating a versatile workforce that can substitute for each other when needed.
This minimizes individual pressures and helps tackle problems effectively, increasing the resourcefulness of the employed resources. When all employees can serve in multiple positions, the need for new hires will decrease.
This saves hospitals from the hassle of hiring and training new staff, overcoming shortages quite effectively.
Introducing Telemedicine
Telemedicine is another best solution for staff shortages. It allows a remote and flexible work environment easing the healthcare professionals and aiding the patients.
Including telemedicine in healthcare practices decreases the need for more staff. Think about online consultations, telephonic conversations, and working from home. They all are perks to attract top talented professionals.
It allows facilities to be more flexible, resulting in increased productivity and better patient/employee satisfaction.
Self-service Portals
Self-service portals are great at encouraging patients to set up appointments and print reports themselves. This decreases the need for on-site healthcare staff.
Patients can keep track of their appointments and look up processes online. Their queries are often answered without an appointment or a consultation through these portals.
Besides, these portals have a user-friendly interface and can be navigated without much effort.
Involve The Community
Internship programs and volunteer opportunities are great to increase community engagement, but also serve one great purpose: getting access to top-notch talent!
The interns can ease the workflow by aiding with the tasks that do not require experience. Plus, the program serves all the parties involved. This opportunity sets up a pipeline from local institutes to healthcare practices and more students get the chance to serve in their field of interest.
Ending Note
It might take a while for healthcare practices to overcome a common and recurring issue like staffing shortages, but it is entirely possible. All the aforementioned strategies, if incorporated as a routine into healthcare practices, can significantly overcome workforce shortages. Moreover, these will also improve conditions for professionals and raise the standards of care throughout the country.
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