How to Solve Your Medical Hiring Problems this 2022

Fernando Barranta • Mar 21, 2022

Health workers worldwide have quit their jobs because of the persistent problems brought upon by the COVID-19 virus. More and more healthcare facilities struggle to hire employees each day. Resignations are not the only reason the healthcare system are struggling. Some practices had to cut back on staffing due to the financial burden caused by the pandemic.

Health facilities now face another challenge - staff shortage. Reports say that 18% of health workers resigned during the pandemic, while another 12% got laid-off. The sad thing is that the COVID-19 situation is far from over. Despite the production of highly-effective vaccines, people are still going to get infected. In medical practice, that means hiring challenges will still be a problem in 2022.

Reasons for Staff Shortage

Here's a quick look at the most common factors why the healthcare system is struggling with staff shortage

COVID-19 - 54%
Wants Higher Salary and More Benefits - 50%
Overworked/ Burned Out - 49%
Lack of Safety Measures - 38%

On the brighter side of things, modern technology has given healthcare providers a fighting chance, and a good one at that. The answer is virtual staffing. This post will highlight the benefits of remote staffing for your medical practice. We'll also provide you with tips on choosing the right virtual medical staff. So, without further ado, let's jump right in.

Hiring Virtual Medical Assistants

Let's go over the hiring of virtual med ical assista nts first. Since our focus is acquiring remote workers, we should know how to choose the right ones. Remote workers function the same as in-house admin workers. They can schedule appointments, process billing statements, and answer general inquiries.

Tips on Hiring Virtual Medical Staff

Here's a list of the essential skills you should look for when hiring remote medical workers.

Customer S ervice S kills. Look for a virtual medical assistant that knows how to handle phone calls, emails, and chats. They should know their way around the multiple communication platforms you use in your medical practice.

Medical Background. Hiring someone with a medical background could make a difference to your practice. Nurses, for example, require minimal training in managing patient records. What's more, work-from-home setups are appealing to healthcare professionals worldwide.

Technical Background. Another skill you should look for in a virtual medical assistant is technical prowess. A remote setup means dealing with computers and the internet. Your virtual assistant should at least be capable of basic troubleshooting.

Communication Skills. Language plays a significant role in remote staffing. Look for someone fluent in your preferred dialect. On the contrary, many remote workers nowadays are multilingual. All you have to do is train your recruiters to find the right person for the job.

Tips on Retaining Your Medical Staff

Now that we know the essentials of hiring the right virtual medical staff for your practice let's talk about keeping them. Maintaining an employee costs so much less than getting new ones. It would be best if you learned how to increase their loyalty. Here's how

Increase Their Compensation. A salary increase is a top driver that you can use to keep your current employees. After all, their efforts should have a reward, especially during the pandemic. Giving them a little extra will not hurt your overall budget in the long run.

Offer Incentives. Additional perks and benefits make your employees feel valued. Even something small can be of great value, especially during these trying times. You would also increase employee loyalty, which is needed nowadays. Paying for their lunch or transportation works like magic.

Add Shift Flexibility. Flexibility is desirable to remote workers. Having the ability to work at their preferred time encourages them to work better. Also, consider the differences in time zones. Some virtual medical assistants might reside on the other side of the globe, so flexibility is a plus.

Conduct Regular Meetings. Regular meetings keep you on track. You will gain the advantage of being one step ahead of your competitors. Another factor to consider is giving your employees a chance to voice their concerns during meetings. Your employees will appreciate the time you put in listening to what they have to say.

Provide Cross-Training. Cross-training is highly achievable in a virtual setup. You can add skills to your remote workers with relative ease. You have to give them access to a shared drive, which they can access anytime. Also, you can personally train them without leaving your home or clinic. Video calls are efficient in training people worldwide.

Why Remote Staffing is The Solution for Hiring Problems

Remote staffing optimizes your chances of hiring the right candidate for the job. You'll soon realize that there's no shortage of talent when it comes to hiring virtual medical assistants. You'll have an easier time finding the skill set you're looking for in no time. The bottom line is applicants feel safer working from home, especially during the global pandemic. Bank on this idea, and we guarantee that your hiring problems in 2022 are as good as fixed. Keep in mind that the post-pandemic job crisis is manageable if you focus on the right approach.

Hiring Quick Tips

Here are a few tips on how to optimize your hiring process

Create a talent pipeline for qualified candidates
Standardize your interview and evaluation process
Offer a referral program to current employees
Gather feedback from applicants and hiring managers
Set a plausible timeframe for the entire hiring process

We hope that this article provided you with insights into the importance of remote staffing. Feel free to try the tips we provided and experience the benefits of hiring virtual medical assistants.

Partner with DrCatalyst

Solve your hiring problems by partnering with the most reliable remote staffing provider, DrCatalyst. We, at DrCatalyst, specialize in identifying your staffing needs. Our goal is to provide you with an efficient remote staffing solution to boost your medical practice's reliability.

Here's a quick look at the services we offer