Retraining Existing Employees Can Help Mitigate the Effects of Healthcare’s Workforce Shortage

The healthcare job market is pretty tight at the moment. This is due in part to ongoing nurse and physician shortages. Healthcare professionals have been exiting the workforce faster than they’re joining it. That has posed a challenge for healthcare providers as they seek to fill in the gaps.

One possible solution, thought, might be right under their noses.

Perhaps there’s a receptionist in the organization who’s interested in becoming a medical scribe (Develop your own team(s) of Certified Medical Scribe Professionals) or a licensed practical nurse. Maybe a registered nurse wants to move into an operating room setting rather than working in the maternity ward.

In cases such as those, a healthcare organization with a bit of capital can invest in the workforce it already has. Paying for additional training and certifications for existing staff members who are looking to take a step up in their careers can benefit your workforce and build loyalty. If modern workforces are meant to be versatile, healthcare can take advantage of that versatility by offering training in the areas for which fresh applicants are scarce.

“We’ve heard, ‘Hey, this is great, we can fill or own pipeline a little bit,'” said Matt Wolf, director and healthcare senior analyst at RSM. RSM provides auditing and tax consulting services. “It makes for happier, more engaged employees. This translates to better care.

“If you can invest a little money to train and upscale your employees, it raises their commitment and can reduce turnover costs,” he said.

Click here to see the complete article as published on HealthcareFinanceNews.com on 8/27/2019.