Did you know that the average hospital turnover rate in the US is 22.7%? That means nearly a quarter of your staff could walk out the door in 2025. This constant hire and fire of employees disrupts operations, increases pressure on remaining staff, and carries a big-time price tag.
Think about the costs of recruiting, onboarding, and training new hires. It all adds up, impacting your hospital’s financial stability and potentially hindering patient care. In the heat of the ramp-up for the ‘war for talent,’ hospitals compete fiercely for skilled professionals and physicians. Major healthcare systems are taking bold steps to secure top talent, including partnerships with specialty med providers that allow them to tap into a broader candidate pool. This strategy disadvantages smaller hospitals, as they lack the financial muscle to compete effectively.
The past few years have presented a unique situation. The economic downturn or recession and the abundance of available talent made it relatively easy to fill positions (for example, a recruiter posts a position and, in one hour, receives hours of resumes), even with some gaps in recruitment strategy and technology. In the face of a challenging economy, hospitals were forced into corner-cutting measures, laying off staff in critical areas such as HR, talent acquisition, senior management, and IT. Although this cost-saving move seemed like a savvy short-term win, it’s turning out to be a set of edgy tactics that might not hold up in the long run. As the economy rebounds and the demand for skilled professionals soars, these hospitals might struggle to attract the best and brightest in the talent pool.
Don’t despair, little fighter. There is hope. By understanding the current trends in hospital talent acquisition, you can implement strategies to attract and retain top-tier professionals.
Here’s a sneak peek of a series of articles I am writing for Beckers:
Flexibility is Key:
- Healthcare systems are dialing up the cool factor, laying down tracks for remote gigs and flex schedules that groove with today’s vibe. Leaders might be itching to have the crew back in the house, but let’s face it, you can’t stuff that genie back in its bottle. The rock stars of your staff? They’re going to demand that freedom to work from anywhere, anytime. It’s the new rock anthem of the workplace. Just ask your Talent acquisition team, and they will tell.
Invest in Your People:
- Prioritize internal mobility programs and upskilling initiatives to foster career growth and show your employees you value their contributions.
Build a Strong Team:
- Cultivate a workplace that values diverse skill sets, experiences, and perspectives to foster a dynamic, high-performing team.
Embrace AI:
- Explore how AI-powered tools can streamline your recruitment process, improve candidate matching, and enhance the candidate experience.
- AI can also help optimize scheduling, automate documentation, and even assist with clinical decision support, freeing your staff to focus on what they do best: providing exceptional patient care.
Crank up these game-changers and watch your hospital’s vibe shift into overdrive, pulling in the heavy hitters and keeping them for the long haul. It’s not just about upping the beat; it’s about rocking steady patient care and boosting the cash flow like a chart-topping hit.
Want to keep your hospital leading the pack in this dynamic scene? Don’t touch that dial. The next drop in our series is where the future gets real. We’re diving deep into the crystal ball of hospital management for 2025, and trust me, you won’t want to miss the encore.
