Solving Today’s Healthcare Recruitment Challenges

The talent shortage issue in healthcare isn’t as recent as it seems. It actually dates back to the 1970s, but is only becoming more apparent due to two main reasons. The first is an increase in the ageing population, which naturally triggers the demand for high-quality healthcare.

Another reason is that the healthcare workforce is itself ageing, coming ever-closer to retirement and without enough talent to replace the outgoing professionals. So, what solutions exist for this problem? How do you avoid the risk of worsening healthcare quality and patient outcomes?

1. Expand Your Search

Focusing on local candidates may seem like a harmless idea, but the fact is that it limits your options, especially for specialised roles. Your best bet here is to expand your search nationally and even internationally, as this opens the doors to a larger talent pool.

Besides, telehealth and remote healthcare roles have made it possible and easier than ever before to hire skilled professionals outside your immediate area. While at it, and if you can, consider offering more generous packages that include elements like flexible scheduling or even visa sponsorships to attract top talent willing to move.

2. Team Up With Healthcare Staffing Firms

Many healthcare companies or managers underestimate the importance of joining efforts with staffing partners, and instead go for in-house recruitment. We aren’t claiming that in-house recruitment doesn’t work, but the reality is that it often fails to deliver excellent results.

When you use top-rated healthcare recruitment services from a provider like Kinetix, on the other hand, you enjoy great benefits such as new hire satisfaction, reduced hiring times, and lots more. That’s typically because all such companies do is facilitate hiring processes, and they do it a lot! It’s all about the experience and a large pool to select from.

3. Have Partnerships With Medical Schools

Creating a steady talent pipeline sounds like a herculean task, but it’s doable if you use the right tricks. One such trick is establishing and maintaining closeness with universities, medical schools, and technical programs. This helps you compete favourably for recent, highly talented graduates who are energetic and highly enthusiastic about their new career.

Besides being a great addition to your team, such candidates come with greater cost efficiency, thus it’s a smart strategy on so many levels. Consider establishing internships, residency programs, and tuition reimbursements to attract students early. For them internship will be a head start, and for you, a crucial trial period before employment.

4. Offer Smart Benefits

Healthcare professionals work in one of the most incredibly demanding fields. Most of them don’t even get far in their careers before work takes its toll and burnout sets in. What most healthcare employers don’t understand is that higher pay, while attractive at first, eventually tapers off as a motivator.

That’s why you should leverage more unique strategies to take your recruiting to the next level. Some of the benefits you should offer are:

• Adequate leave to boost productivity, morale, and your retention rate
• Relocation assistance, where applicable
• Continuing education or ongoing training
• Adequate staffing levels to avoid stressing workers
• Flexible working environments to facilitate balanced lives

You don’t even have to offer all of the above benefits or implement them at the same time. Consider adding them one after the other, and you’ll reach your ultimate goal over time.

5. Optimise Your Strategy for Retention

Many employers are overly focused on building the perfect recruiting strategy that they completely overlook the value of employee retention. The truth, however, is that employee retention should be at the core of every successful medical recruitment strategy. This is because retention leverages supportive and growth-oriented work environments, thus it is more attractive to both new and existing employees.

And even though you feel like a rockstar when you finally create a functioning recruiting strategy, you will have succeeded more if you can keep top talent. Remember, healthcare workers have plenty of choices when it comes to looking for work. So, if you are able to retain your carefully cultivated talent, then it means your organisation is so appealing.

Start Streamlining Your Recruiting Efforts Today

Healthcare recruiting is full of challenges and pitfalls, and so it’s the best in hiring who actually attract top candidates. That sounds like harsh news, but there is hope. Whether you are just getting started or you want to optimise your recruiting system, combining efforts with a top-class staffing partner like Kinetix is the way to go.

You not only get the chance to learn from the best, but we can assure you that you will even drop any idea you’ve had of going solo in recruiting. That’s just how good they are!