Getting More Attractive in 2012

By Brian Noble, SVP, Client Solutions

January is a big time for resolutions and people hitting the gym for the first time in months, but it’s also a nice time to reflect on how attractive your organization is—at least in the eyes of current and potential employees. As healthcare organizations have increased pressure to produce high quality, highly satisfactory, and low cost healthcare, recruiting and retaining key talent is more important than ever.

Several national reports, including one by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), continue to point to a shortage of skilled healthcare workers, especially those with geriatric training for the large number of Baby Boomers hitting age 65. According to the NAS study, nursing aides’ annual turnover averages 71%, with up to 90% of home health aides quitting in the first 24 months.

In ASHHRA’s 2010 report, “Workforce 2015: Strategy Trumps Shortage,” the authors recommend a number of strategies to maintain an adequate workforce, including the introduction of new technologies to increase employee satisfaction for existing workers and to attract a new generation of workers.

How can a healthcare organization increase its attractiveness to potential employees and current employees? One suggestion is to start with an engagement strategy that values and acts on employee opinions.

Creating a culture of measurement in your healthcare organization takes a concerted effort, just like getting on the scale every day or reading food labels requires a shift in mindset. There will be temptations to fall off the wagon, but your long-term vision of a highly committed, low turnover, high quality organization is like the photograph of a more attractive you on the refrigerator that keeps you on the straight and narrow.

How is your organization working to become more attractive to potential employees? How are you keeping yourself attractive to your current staff?