According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 16 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.6 million new jobs.” With an ongoing provider shortage, a tightening labor market, and increased demand for healthcare services, healthcare systems are facing a number of challenges both in 2022 and beyond.
Almost two years after the start of the pandemic, the healthcare industry is still grappling with many of the problems it faced prior to the beginning of the pandemic. The current year will see a number of trends designed to remedy some of the current problems in the system, while also maintaining staff to provide quality patient care and maintaining profitability. Below, find three healthcare industry trends expected for the year 2022.
“Virtual care has been a gamechanger for patients, especially during the pandemic,” says the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, Xavier Beccera. During the pandemic, the use of telehealth services was at record numbers. As many areas of life return to pre-pandemic levels of operation, the healthcare industry has slowed down its use of telehealth services, but the technology has not been abandoned and remains a valuable tool for many healthcare systems.
In fact, the HHS recently awarded nearly $55 million to 29 Health Resource and Services Administration-funded centers to “Increase health care access and quality for underserved populations through virtual care such as telehealth, remote patient monitoring, digital patient tools, and health information technology platforms.”
While telehealth is a cost-effective method of providing care, particularly for areas facing severe shortages of mental health care providers, technology, in general, is necessary for the day-to-day functioning of many healthcare systems.
The use of automation and artificial intelligence software is on the rise not only among providers but also among healthcare recruiters. Healthcare recruiters are able to expand search parameters for employees when using technology and remote correspondence during the process. Additionally, sourcing, screening, scheduling, and conducting initial interviews with candidates is a more efficient process through the use of technology.
In the last two years, what candidates expect of employers has shifted significantly and workers are expecting more from healthcare organizations. While increased salaries are one of the most common expectations among potential candidates, there are a number of other benefits candidates desire. In order to attract top talent in a shrinking labor pool, healthcare organizations must listen to current employees and look at what potential candidates want.
As candidates become more educated about their market value, healthcare organizations would do well to take advantage of the opportunity to listen to employees and candidates alike about what they truly want. While increased salaries are certainly being negotiated, it is not always about more money and the traditional benefits employers offer.
The pandemic highlighted and aggravated physician, nurse, and other healthcare worker burnout. In light of this, many employees have voiced their desires for some more non-traditional benefits. Flexibility in scheduling can be a major selling point for some healthcare organizations. Employees are looking for more of a work-life balance, and providing flexible scheduling may help attract talent without raising costs significantly.
Recruiting top talent is a time-consuming venture, and in the year 2022, it is only going to be more labor-intensive. With an excessive amount of vacancies to fill and a shrinking talent pool, the time it takes to find qualified and talented professionals will only increase. A more efficient route that healthcare organizations are expected to embrace is the use of vendor management systems to fulfill staffing needs.
Using vendor management systems is an efficient way to recruit talent to your organization. At Management Solution, LLC., we can streamline the entire recruiting process and significantly reduce the amount of time your organization spends on hiring. Additionally, we take the time to thoroughly vet candidates and ensure that they are properly credentialed, experienced, and competent. With our services, you can save administrative time and leverage the efficiencies of vendor-neutral solutions. Management Solution does not compete with its vendors by hiring registry providers.
Another benefit of using vendor management systems is the ability to have contingency staff. As the pandemic highlighted, unanticipated labor needs arise from time to time. With contingency staffing, your organization will always have the workforce it needs without having to incur unnecessary costs.
Retaining and recruiting staff, using technology to maximize efficiency, and returning to pre-pandemic workflow are just some of the considerations facing the healthcare industry this year. As finding qualified professionals becomes a struggle, many organizations can benefit from the help and experience of trusted vendor management systems. For more information on vendor management and how it can improve your healthcare organization, reach out to us at 1-855-502-3600.