Is your hospital facing a shortage of physicians?
The country has been hit by massive physician shortages. Bureaucratic pressures, financial constraints and the sheer pressure of offering medical care while trying to deal with complex electronic systems, have forced physicians to retire early. Recent studies suggest that the shortage will only become more acute over the years.
Retaining physicians and providing a healthy environment to work in has quickly become the biggest worry and challenge of hospital CEOs. Physicians quitting their jobs and leave can lead to dissatisfied and confused patients.
5 ways to improve physician retention…
The magic of a shared vision!
There is nothing that works like teamwork! Explain about your hospital’s goals, aspirations and vision for the future. Let new recruits know beforehand the patient population they are most likely to handle and the volume of work per day. Being transparent can invoke trust and make physicians feel a part of a team and not well-oiled machinery.
Provide administrative support…
The deluge of admin work every single day can catch most physicians, off-guard. Delegate staff to junior staff, hire scribes or outsource tasks such as billing and transcription. This can, not just unburden physicians but also cut down on administrative expenses.
Perks matter!
To make physicians stay longer offer perks that most competitors don’t. Profit-sharing options, paid holidays, fitness and entertainment space, allowances, lesser working hours and a positive work atmosphere and culture, can stop physicians from looking for other employment opportunities.
Is there space for professional development?
Every healthcare professional likes to grow, to fledge. An environment that stifles their growth and wears them out means they are going to quit sooner rather than later. Include professional development activities such as conducting regular workshops, seminars, group discussions etc… This will not only ensures your employees are actively involved, but also, more aware of current healthcare regulations. A working environment that is conducive to growth can make physicians stay back longer at your hospitals. It is not just perks and incentives, but the fact that they can navigate tricky learning curves with your organization that will help them stay put!
Offer EMR training!
The major reason for befuddled and disgruntled physicians is complex EMR systems. Hire EMR consultants and experts to train new physicians. Manuals and discussion forums can only be of so much help. Hiring someone to offer remote or on-site EMR guidance to new recruits will prevent them from feeling lost and increase productivity at the practice.
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