In recent years, healthcare organizations have struggled with employee turnover rates, which can have a significant impact on productivity, morale, and financial stability. To address this challenge, healthcare leaders are forced to focus on hiring the right people, retaining those employees, and engaging them in their work. This article includes highlights from our recent webinar entitled “Smart Staffing: A Conversation on Techniques and Technology to Help Attract and Retain the Right Talent for Your Practice.”
Featuring contributions from:
- Sarah Clarke, Partner Healthcare, RS&F
- Mary Knotts, COO, PEAKE Technology Partners
- Tim Hilton, Director of Practice Advising, PEAKE Technology Partners
Hiring the Right People
To ensure that you are hiring the right people for your medical practice, it is vital to go beyond traditional interview techniques. Implementing skills and personality tests during the interview process can provide valuable insights into a candidate's fit for the organization. Personality tests (Myers-Briggs, Working Genius, Enneagram, etc.) can be especially helpful in determining how the candidate will complement the team or the role. While not the deciding factor, they can provide information on the support and coaching that may be necessary for the new employee.
To further improve the accuracy of the interview process, consider implementing a rating system to score candidates. This can help each interviewer evaluate candidates based on the criteria required for the position and facilitate discussion amongst the hiring team. Leveraging assessment tools such as the Wonderlic and Predictive Index can help identify the most suitable candidates for the job by aligning their skills and traits with the job requirements. An applicant tracking system (ATS) can also be used to efficiently manage job postings, applications, and candidate evaluations, saving time and ensuring a structured approach to the hiring process. Finally, arranging asynchronous video interviews can streamline the hiring process and provide valuable insights into candidates' personalities and communication skills. By incorporating these into your hiring process, you can ensure that you are selecting the right candidates for your medical practice.
Retaining the Right People
Once you have hired the right people, it is important to keep them engaged and motivated to stay with your organization. One of the most effective ways to do this is by providing a supportive work environment, offering opportunities for professional growth and development, and recognizing and rewarding employees for their hard work.
To create a supportive work environment, foster open communication, and encourage feedback from your employees. Additionally, ensure that your employees have access to the resources they need to do their jobs effectively, including the necessary training and technology. Retaining the right people in a medical practice is just as important as hiring them. By implementing certain tactics, medical practices can create an environment that encourages employees to stay, grow, and engage with the organization.
Clearly Defined Roles
Firstly, clearly defining roles, expectations, and processes is essential. This creates clarity, direction, and accountability, allowing employees to understand their role in the organization and feel like they are making a meaningful contribution. Managers should also provide coaching on areas that need improvement and give timely feedback.
Cross-Train Staff
Cross-training staff is another important tactic. By training employees to work in different areas of the practice, staff can develop a better understanding and appreciation for each other’s roles and responsibilities. This fosters respect and creates a sense of responsibility and accountability across divisions, improving job satisfaction and reducing friction in the workplace.
Recognition
Recognition and rewards are also essential for retaining the right people. Medical practices should implement a recognition and reward program that allows both managers and team members to recognize each other. Software like Nectar can be used to issue rewards and points to team members who perform exceptionally well. Such rewards motivate staff to stay engaged and work
Using HR management software such as Zenefits, Freshteam, Rippling, ADP, etc. can benefit both staff and management by providing inexpensive and wide-ranging capabilities that improve employees' quality of life. They also provide access to historical data, two-way feedback, automation, and improved visibility. Additionally, using a People Management Application like Lattice can help with career pathing, growth plans, and training opportunities, and integrate with performance reviews, 1:1s, and goals, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of employees' contributions.
Engaging Your Employees
Employee engagement is critical to the success of your medical practice. In the healthcare industry, where high-stress levels are common, it's crucial to get creative in promoting team cohesion. Engaged employees are more likely to be productive, innovative, and committed to their work. It is highly recommended to monitor and measure engagement using specialized tools like Lattice and foster engagement through dedicated chat channels (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams) for shared interests.
Consider incorporating mindfulness and wellness activities, such as meditation sessions, yoga classes, or even team outings like axe-throwing or glass-breaking experiences. These activities can help team members bond and relieve stress. Virtual team-building activities, such as murder mystery events or game nights, have been highlighted as effective ways to connect geographically dispersed teams.
Technology offers numerous tools to support employee engagement. Platforms like thnks.com allow you to send gift cards or rewards to employees, showing appreciation for their hard work. Employee wellness apps like Calm can provide mental relaxation and stress management resources. Additionally, utilizing online learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning can facilitate professional development, allowing employees to acquire new skills and further their growth within the organization.
Remember that your employees are the backbone of your medical practice, and investing in their success will ultimately lead to the success of your organization. By hiring the right people, retaining them, and engaging them in their work, you can create a positive work environment that benefits both your employees and your patients.
As healthcare continues to evolve and become more complex, it's important to adapt to changing circumstances and challenges. By utilizing technology and innovative approaches to employee management, you can stay ahead of the curve and ensure that your practice is well-equipped to handle demand.
If you're interested in learning more, we encourage you to check out our recent webinar or schedule a session with a PEAKE Practice Advisor to discuss how you can leverage technology to grow your practice.
Credit to Sarah Clarke from RS&F for her contribution to this article:
Sarah Clarke is the Partner of Healthcare Services with Rosen, Sapperstein & Friedlander (RS&F), a Maryland-based business consulting, accounting and healthcare firm. She leads many of RS&F’s healthcare consulting engagements, helping a broad range of independent medical practices, hospital-affiliated practices, community-based clinics, FQHCs, and public health departments reorganize, strengthen, and streamline their business infrastructures and operational practices. Ms. Clarke improves healthcare clients’ bottom-line results through strategic planning, analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial statements, streamlining patient and revenue workflows, and evaluating human capital and revenue cycle performance. Additionally, Ms. Clarke works in transitioning medical practices for recognition with NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and other value-based healthcare models.
About PEAKE Technology Partners
Helping healthcare leaders achieve more through technology. Technology is often a liability for medical practices working to offer quality care and grow their organization. PEAKE’s proven methodology for healthcare IT turns technology from a liability into an asset, creating a pathway for growing medical practices to achieve operational efficiency, expand their business and care for more patients.
