Healthcare leaders must find innovative ways to address workforce shortages while increasing operational efficiency. These challenges remain complex because they must also manage financial constraints and balance budgets. To accomplish these goals, many leaders are moving away from contract labor.
They are finding that the recruitment and retention messages used in the past aren’t beneficial today. Bringing in top talent has become more complex as competition increases. Organizations often benefit from adopting healthcare office staffing solutions to address nursing shortages and other common issues.
Nursing Shortages
Nursing shortages continue to plague the industry. The problem is so bad that it has become a nationwide crisis that is only expected to worsen in the coming years. America could need 3.2 million nurses by 2026. Without these individuals in place, the healthcare industry will suffer. To overcome this, healthcare leaders must find innovative ways to recruit and retain these professionals. Alternative labor models are one idea that many institutions adopt. Workers have flexibility regarding their scheduling, and healthcare systems can have the needed employees without decimating their budgets.
Changing Demographics
America lost over 200,000 experienced registered nurses following the global pandemic. Nurses choose to enter the workforce later in life and may need help with burnout. Recruitment and retention strategies must address the preferences of different generations. Some people want to engage in meaningful work, while others emphasize the need for clear expectations regarding their duties. Nurses may want to know that they have career growth opportunities, and many individuals need scheduling flexibility today. They want to prioritize a work-life balance, and this flexibility will allow them to do so.
Alternative Labor Models
On-demand staffing is one way healthcare organizations offer flexibility. With this staffing model, nurses work when and where they want. Healthcare organizations use on-demand labor platforms to address staffing gaps and manage peak demand. These platforms, many of which use AI technology, help organizations find the right balance between patient needs and the workforce. Organizations that adopt on-demand staffing often need fewer locum tenens because staff recruitment and retention improve, leading to enhanced patient care.
The Role of Technology
Technology can be used to do more than recruit and retain employees. AI-driven solutions can schedule workers, streamline onboarding, and improve workflow efficiency. Organizations that embrace technology find they can optimize costs. For example, an organization may use technology to have internal workers fill gaps in staffing before turning to outside sources, saving the organization time and money.
AI-driven systems can also help identify early signs of burnout or disengagement. When these signs are spotted, the organization can help affected employees. Targeted training and upskilling opportunities are two ways an organization may do so.
Virtual nursing is another way technology can help overburdened healthcare systems. Virtual visits can provide acute care, chronic care management, mental health support, and more. Healthcare organizations using technology for virtual nursing benefit from valuable clinical experience that may otherwise not be accessible to their patients. Nurses participating in virtual nursing services are less likely to experience burnout because they can balance their time between traditional care and remote nursing.
The healthcare industry faces numerous challenges. To overcome these challenges, it must embrace innovation and technology. Leaders willing to do so will better meet the needs of their stakeholders, employees, and patients. Everyone wins when high-quality patient-centered care becomes the focus of the organization.