The healthcare industry is in a state of constant flux, with new technologies and treatments changing what care looks like every few months. For healthcare administrators, that means finding ways of preparing an organization and workforce to meet those changes. By taking proactive measures, health systems can get the right people in the door to tackle whatever new technology and trends await.
Putting technology first
Significant changes in the healthcare industry, involving an increasing reliance on technology, have already occurred. With tools like electronic health records, AI, and telehealth services, you need to make certain that everyone you hire is on the same digital page and ready to keep up with these technological advances.
You must train and retrain your employees (of all ages) to meet the growing demands for technology-savvy healthcare. One way to do so is to make the use of technology a daily necessity and an integral part of the workplace. Although it may create challenges at first, the more experience your staff has with technology, the more comfortable they will feel. Introducing your workforce to tech-based solutions on a regular basis will demystify them and increase their confidence.
The rise of non-traditional roles
The healthcare industry is no longer just about physicians and nurses. New roles are appearing all the time, including patient advocates and wellness coaches. These roles help to bridge the gap between traditional healthcare and patients’ evolving needs.
By embracing these new roles and offering cross-training opportunities, it’s possible to expand some existing roles and enhance the level of care your organization already provides.
The importance of soft skills in healthcare
Providing care means more than offering medical assistance. These days, the focus must also be placed on empathy, teamwork, and communication. In all aspects of healthcare, finding people who can navigate the emotional aspect of treating patients is essential.
Therefore, hiring those who can offer these skills and then adding them to performance evaluations helps create a more holistic and compassionate approach to all types of healthcare.
Bringing inclusivity and diversity front and center
Patients come from all backgrounds, so the best way to offer them sensitivity and appropriate care is to have staff that understands their needs. However, that can only happen if your staff is as diverse and inclusive as the people they treat.
The benefits that inclusivity offers will also affect your workers themselves, allowing them to feel safer and more respected. That translates into increased job loyalty and employee retention.
Having people from all backgrounds working in your organization also brings a plethora of ideas and innovative ways of looking at any situation. An inclusive and diverse team can come up with answers that are more creative and more efficient, and that’s a win-win for everyone involved.
Travel nursing and other temporary positions
With staffing issues not dwindling anytime soon, one of the options that more organizations are turning to is travel healthcare, specifically travel nursing. That strategy can be crucial, as it is estimated that by 2025 there will be a shortage ranging between 200,000 and 450,000 nurses in the United States.
Travel nurses move from location to location every few weeks, supporting areas that may not have the staff. Although it’s not a permanent solution, travel nursing does bring relief to overwhelmed facilities, which means it is something that you‘ll want to consider as you start moving your workforce toward the future.
Making care easier and faster with telehealth
Telehealth has already made a huge impact on the healthcare industry in recent years. Its popularity and usage are only going to increase, especially if there are gaps in the workforce.
Promoting telehealth services can make a world of difference in your organization, widening your reach and allowing patients who would otherwise not be able to get help to do so. It also assists in reducing the workload on some of your staff. As such, when choosing new staff, it can help if they have experience with telehealth services.
Focus on elder care
A large portion of the American population consists of people who are over the age of 65, an age group that requires more care more often. That poses a serious concern given the current staffing crisis. As such, it is essential that you look ahead and start making hiring decisions that can help prevent gaps in the care that older adults need.
Finding the right workforce solutions partner
Being able to find the right people for every position in your organization requires expertise on the cutting edge of the workforce solutions space. A good workforce solutions partner goes beyond just putting the right people in the right positions, looking at an organization’s needs from every angle to find every possible advantage.
At Prolink, we’re constantly looking toward the future and staying up-to-date on the latest trends in the healthcare industry. We take that expertise and combine it with your specific needs to create a customized workforce solution just for your hospital.
The future’s always a day away, so don’t wait to get your workforce ready. Contact Prolink to learn all about our staffing options today.
