4 Urgent Healthcare Staffing Challenges and Solutions

There has been a recent surge in the number of people who are seeking urgent healthcare services. This has led to a corresponding increase in the healthcare industry’s staffing demand. However, several challenges have arisen as a result of this increased demand. The current staffing shortage has created many challenges for urgent healthcare providers, and it’s only expected to worsen in the coming years. This article will discuss six of these challenges and provide solutions for each.

Difficulty Recruiting Qualified Candidates

One of the most pressing issues facing the healthcare industry is the difficulty in recruiting qualified candidates. With the current staffing shortage, there are simply not enough people with the necessary skills and experience to fill all open positions. This is a crucial problem because there are specific sets of skills required for each position, and without the right staff in place, patient care suffers.

For instance, an urgent care pediatric clinic must have providers who are trained in pediatrics to care for their young patients. However, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is a shortage of over 4,000 pediatricians in the United States, which can be a big problem. However, despite the shortage, many urgent care pediatric clinics still manage to provide quality care by partnering with locum tenens agencies.

High Turnover Rate

Another challenge that healthcare staffing faces is the high turnover rate. This is especially true for nurses in high demand who often leave their positions for other opportunities. The nurse turnover rate is currently at an all-time high, and it’s only expected to worsen in the coming years. This is a big problem because it costs a lot of money to train new staff, and when they leave, it can be very disruptive to patient care.

Most nurses switch to new careers primarily because of the long hours and high-stress levels common in the healthcare industry. Many leave the industry altogether because they simply can’t handle the stress anymore.

Lack of Training Opportunities

The lack of training opportunities is another challenge that healthcare staffing faces. With the current staff shortage, many healthcare facilities are simply unable to provide the training their employees need. Healthcare facilities can no longer offer training programs due to the lack of funds or staff. This can be a significant problem because many employees won’t be able to keep up with the latest changes in the healthcare industry.

This is especially true for nurses, who need to be constantly updated on new treatments and procedures. Without the proper training, they risk making errors that could jeopardize patient care.

Inadequate Compensation

Working in the healthcare industry can be a gratifying experience, but it doesn’t come without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the inadequate compensation many healthcare workers receive. This problem causes them to leave the industry in search of better-paying opportunities.

For instance, according to National Nurses United, the average nurse makes about $31 per hour. This is significantly less than what nurses could make in other industries. In some cases, they are even paid less than minimum wage. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that many healthcare workers are required to work long hours, often with little to no overtime pay.

Solutions

Now that you know why some urgent healthcare facilities struggle to find staffing, what can be done about it? Here are some solutions to the challenges that were discussed:

Increase compensation

One way to solve the problem of inadequate compensation is to simply increase healthcare workers’ pay. This will help to attract more qualified candidates and retain the ones who are already employed.

Offer more training opportunities

Healthcare facilities must offer more training opportunities. This will help to keep employees up-to-date on the latest changes in the healthcare industry and make them more valuable to their employers.

Improve working conditions

Another way to solve the staffing problems in healthcare is to improve the working conditions. This can be done by reducing the number of hours employees are required to work, providing more breaks, and offering better benefits.

Hire locum tenens

When all else fails, healthcare facilities can always hire locum tenens. This is a great way to fill staffing gaps on a short-term basis.

Use technology

Technology can also be used to solve some of the staffing problems in healthcare. For instance, many online platforms now match healthcare facilities with qualified candidates.

Work with staffing agencies

Staffing agencies can be an excellent resource for finding qualified candidates. They can also help to screen applicants and provide them with the necessary training.

Final thoughts

The challenges facing urgent healthcare staffing are significant, but these issues shouldn’t be insurmountable. By taking the proper steps, healthcare facilities can attract and retain the top talent to provide quality patient care.