Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals are abandoning the industry in record numbers, with an expected 47% quitting by 2025. This has left the entire healthcare system in a lurch, and one of the emerging solutions to help manage the issue is telehealth. Opening your health system to the possibility of remote work expands the potential talent pool by a large margin, offering a forward-thinking and effective way to help combat staff shortages.
Understanding telehealth services
Telehealth involves the use of digital communication and information technologies to offer patients healthcare services remotely. Technologies can be phones, computers, and other mobile devices.
The goal is to make it easier for people to access the care they need if they live in locations that have suffered from the ongoing mass exodus of healthcare professionals.
It’s an excellent tool to provide better communication between the care team and the patient without having to schedule routine appointments that can further burden the system. With telehealth, medical professionals can offer virtual consultations as well as remote patient monitoring, all of which improve patient outcomes.
Remote patient monitoring allows patients to use mobile medical devices and technologies to gather data. It’s a crucial tool for those dealing with chronic conditions as well as for seniors who require close monitoring. It can alert healthcare providers of potential health issues while also keeping track of patient data between visits.
Physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals can offer their services in flexible and remote settings, which expands their reach and could even make their positions more fulfilling. This means they’ll be less likely to leave their jobs.
Telehealth makes it easier for healthcare providers to maintain the right work-life balance, which is vital for mental health. Even if they don’t work completely remotely, they still have the chance to spend more time at home while continuing to offer their services.
How remote medical staffing helps employers
Telehealth is also vital for employers who are dealing with talent shortages because it allows them to expand their hiring pool. Being able to offer remote positions can also help boost talent interest.
It can help with overhead expenses, as well. Relying on remote workers means potentially needing fewer offices, a smaller cleaning crew, and many other things that can make a difference to the bottom line.
In the long run, remote medical staffing helps employers the most by reducing employee burnout. Having gaps in staffing puts stress on the remaining team members, and this can lead to dissatisfaction. That could result in the kind of exhaustion that leads to even more people leaving their jobs.
Over 50% of healthcare providers experience burnout and that’s one of the driving forces behind so many of them choosing to abandon the field.
Telehealth options allow you to take some of the burden from overworked staff and divide it more evenly. This can mean higher retention levels and better overall morale.
It’s also important to note that people who work remotely are more amenable to working night hours and even longer shifts than those who don’t.
Staff turnover doesn’t just affect patient care but it makes a financial dent in any healthcare institution. Having to find and onboard new talent is expensive, so telehealth can help you avoid these expenses, too.
Making telehealth work for you
Integrating telehealth services into your existing work models isn’t always simple. The first thing you have to do is identify suitable positions. Many times, these are non-clinical ones, including medical records management, call center networks, and more. However, if you want to get the most out of telehealth, you want to identify clinical positions.
Maintaining security and privacy should be another core focus when thinking about incorporating telehealth. Phishing attacks and ransomware tend to target hospitals and other medical facilities, so turning to the right software is essential. Make sure to look for one that is HIPAA-compliant.
You also need to rely on the right talent recruiters to help you find professionals suited to telehealth services.
Prepare for the future of healthcare with Prolink
Turning to telehealth and remote staffing can help any healthcare facility find a clear path into the future. By making it easier for you to avoid staff shortages and prevent the rest of the healthcare team from experiencing burnout, telehealth is a huge boost to any facility. Not to mention all of the benefits it offers to patients who need quality care.
At Prolink, we build custom solutions that suit your hospital’s exact needs. We don’t just fill openings, we help optimize workforces by becoming a true partner to our clients. No matter what your goals are, we can help you meet them with the right strategies and the right people. Learn more about our healthcare workforce solutions by clicking the button below.
