Staffing shortages are unfortunately common today, and they can impact everything from current staff stress and burnout to patient care and safety. Facilities that have staffing issies will want to look into innovative approaches to staffing that can help reduce physician staffing challenges and ensure the facility always has the number of physicians they need for the number of patients. Some of the innovative approaches healthcare facilities may want to consider include the following.
Changes in Recruitment and Staffing
It may be beneficial to look into how recruitment and staffing are handled to ensure that those who are hired to work at the facility are a good fit. A staffing agency can help with both recruitment and hiring, and has the resources needed to find talented individuals who would be a good fit more easily. It is a good idea for facilities to look into simplified physician staffing through an agency to see what help is available and how it can help reduce shortages or other staffing challenges. This can save the facility a significant amount of time and can help make sure shortages and gaps are filled much faster.
Temporary Staffing Solutions
Staffing shortages are increasing everywhere, and this is expected to continue in the coming years. However, not all staffing issues are related to people leaving the job. Many times, there are temporary openings because a physician is on leave or has to take time off for another reason. It’s a good idea to look into temporary staffing solutions to make sure all gaps in coverage are filled and to help reduce staff stress and burnout when a physician does need to take time off from work.
Using Telehealth for Coverage Gaps
An innovative way to handle patient care without sacrificing quality when there is a shortage is to take advantage of telehealth options. These have significantly increased in availability since the pandemic and are still a great way to ensure patients can receive the care they need. Healthcare facilities can use telehealth when they have fewer staff members than needed to reduce the workload for their staff without sacrificing patient care or safety, and many minor issues can be solved through telehealth without patients having to visit the facility to get care.
Building Internal Teams Based on Demand
Depending on the size of the facility, it may be a good idea to consider building internal teams of physicians who are cross-trained to be able to handle different jobs. When there is a temporary shortage, the physician can switch to that position to help out until there is coverage again. A floating physician can help to make sure all small gaps in coverage are handled without having to hire outside the facility or search for temporary workers to handle the position. This also helps to ensure they are already familiar with what to do, so there is no need to worry about onboarding.
If your healthcare facility is facing physician staffing shortages, it may be time to look into innovative ways to address the shortages and ensure patients always receive the care they need. Look into the solutions provided here to see which ones may be a good fit for your facility and which ones may be perfect to try out today. They could offer what you need to address and solve staffing challenges for your facility.
