Keeping the team at your medical office focused on providing quality patient care becomes a challenge when they are unhappy. Absenteeism and tardiness begins to increase which puts extra strain on your other employees just trying to put in a good day’s work. Additionally, it’s hard for a dissatisfied staff member to show the empathy necessary in the healthcare industry.

Knowing the signs that your staff is growing frustrated as soon as possible is important so you can deal with any issues before they become contagious. Here are three things to watch for to ensure your medical office continues to run smoothly.

Arriving Late and Leaving Early

If you are noticing more employees arriving a little late for their shift in addition to leaving a bit early, this is a possible sign of their unhappiness. Make it point to hold a private chat with the person to find out if their problem is in their personal life or possibly at the office. If the tardiness issue is office-wide, a meeting with the entire team is likely a good idea at this point.

Survey your staff to see if there are any things you and your management can do if the chronic lateness is due to office-related issues. Stress the importance of providing quality patient care when encouraging your team to be sure to arrive on time.

A Lack of Cooperation and Teamwork

Working together as a team is vital in any industry, but it is especially important in the world of healthcare. Be on the lookout for incidents where your employees display a lack of teamwork or conflict. Emphasize the importance of communication and collaboration to ensure your office operates on an efficient basis.

Failure to show Empathy

Empathy is arguably the most important trait for anyone working in the healthcare industry. When you see your staff not giving the right attention to their patients’ needs, it is a potential sign of professional unhappiness. Pay particular attention to any examples of your staff disparaging or making fun of those under their care.

Ultimately, keeping the communication channels open between you and your staff is vital when handling unhappiness at your medical office. Don’t let any problems evolve into something worse.

When you need additional insights on how to keep your medical office running efficiently, talk to the knowledgeable professionals at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the country’s top healthcare staffing agencies, we also provide a robust supply of great candidates able to make a difference for your company. Meet with us at your earliest convenience.

When it comes time to look for a new job in the medical industry, working with a talented and experienced recruiter familiar with the world of healthcare is a smart call. The best recruiters know who is hiring as well as the hot skills currently in demand. Assisting you in putting together a résumé and helping prepare you for interviews are two other ways they make your job search a successful one.

Partnering with a great medical recruiter can be an important part of your career growth. Here are three attributes worth noting when in the market for someone to help with your job search efforts.

They Are Connected with the Local and Regional Medical Industry

The best medical recruiters maintain connections with those in the field on both a local and regional basis. This ensures they understand the cultures of the medical offices and hospitals in your area. Once they get to know you better, they will be able to place you at an establishment where you’d make a good fit.

At the same time, they also know what skills and abilities are currently in demand in the medical industry. This helps you decide on where to focus your training to ensure your career prospects stay bright in the future.

Following-Up is Important

Recruiters must regularly follow-up with both the candidates they are presenting and the medical companies looking for new talent. When you are waiting to hear back about a potential interview with the healthcare company of your dreams, it helps to be working with a recruiter who keeps you in the loop. You need to be aware of the current status of your recruiter’s efforts throughout the job search process.

Takes the Time to Understand you as a Medical Professional

When first meeting with a medical recruiter, pay attention to how closely they interview you. They need to fully understand your professional and educational background as well as what skills and abilities you bring to the table for a potential employer. You should treat this meeting as essentially a two-way interview.

Ensure the recruiter takes detailed notes during your discussion. Hopefully, their staffing agency has you fill out an application so all your skills and other professional abilities are searchable in a database. This makes it easier to match you with an employer looking for someone with your skill set.

When you are in the market for a medical recruiter, be sure to talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top healthcare staffing agencies in the country, we can help take your career to its highest level yet. Make it a point to contact us as soon as possible.

Managers walk a fine line when it comes to giving their medical staff enough direction to keep the office running smoothly without stifling their own ideas and insights. Micromanaging your team could lead to a lowering of employee morale, with patient care possibly suffering as a result. It is important to realize your management tendencies as soon as possible to prevent any adverse impacts.

With an efficient healthcare office in mind, here are some ideas for noticing when you are micromanaging your medical staff.

An Inability to delegate Responsibility to your Team

If you find it hard to delegate tasks to your medical staff, this is an obvious sign you are micromanaging them. Remember, you employ talented and trained medical workers typically with significant professional experience. Make it a point to let them carry the weight at times, as it helps them grow in confidence while making your whole team better as a result.

When making out task lists for your office, don’t merely assign the boring duties to your direct reports. Give meaningful tasks to your senior staff members so their own managerial abilities begin to develop.

Not Letting your Team make their own Decisions

Delegating some decision-making duties to your team, while still requiring your approval before implementing their ideas is another sign of micromanagement. Sometimes, this fleeting amount of authority does more harm than good, as a disgruntled, talented medical professional may look elsewhere for a chance to grow their career. Give your employees the freedom to make their own decisions — with no final approval from you required.

Your Criticism is too Granular

Spending an inordinate amount of time each day going over your employees’ reports with a fine-tooth comb is another sign of too much management. Keep your criticisms from becoming too granular, like when worrying too much about spelling and grammar instead of the actual medical content on the reports.

Additionally, don’t hover over their workstations keeping an eye on their activities as it keeps them from staying focused on doing a good job. In many cases, they are too worried about making a mistake in front of you.

Knowing the signs of micromanagement is the first step in correcting them before they lead to a retention problem at your medical establishment. Hopefully these ideas offered some insight into your own managerial style.

When you need additional advice on building and managing a top-notch medical team, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the nation’s leading healthcare staffing agencies, we offer the great candidates and business insight to help your company’s prospects. Schedule some time with us as soon as possible.

Developing a professional network is vital for your career prospects. This rings true in nearly all industries, and the world of healthcare is no exception. Maintaining this list of professional contacts is one of the many reasons to stay connected with your old bosses and other managers.

You never know when it comes time to look for a new position, and being able to call on a robust professional network definitely helps during a job search. Here are some additional ideas for keeping in contact with a former manager.

Ways to keep Connected with a Former Superior

Thankfully, social networks like LinkedIn and Facebook make staying in contact with former bosses and coworkers a breeze. Try to focus your online professional networking efforts on LinkedIn, as it is the website’s main purpose. Remember, Facebook makes it too easy to share content better kept between personal friends instead of professional contacts.

Make it a point to stay up to date with your former bosses’ current online contact information — most importantly their email address. If you are announcing your availability for work, send personal emails to your contact list instead of a group email. Any extra effort spent in this fashion will probably result in more people willing to help you out.

If you keep home addresses for your old managers, consider sending Holiday and birthday cards for a nice personal touch. You can also send these cards to your former medical office or hospital provided they still work there. Once again, concentrate on the professional side of networking, but staying in touch outside of your work life can also help your future job prospects.

Getting a Great Reference might make all the Difference

In addition to finding out about a new job opening, former bosses are arguably the most important references you can use when applying for a medical position. They’ve worked with you closely and understand your strengths as well as the positive differences you can make for an employer. Be sure to contact the former boss in question before using them as a reference to ensure they are okay with it.

Whenever you need advice on any part of the job search process in the healthcare industry, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top medical staffing agencies in the country, we can help take your career to the next level. Connect with us at your earliest convenience.

Productive employees are engaged employees, which leads to a happier and more efficient workplace. In the medical industry, this typically results in patients receiving better care, which is ultimately your organization’s most overriding concern. Keeping your staff from becoming overworked and stressed out helps ensure the overall productivity of your medical office.

In short, making your employees’ lives easier is a good thing for your company and the patients you serve. Here are three tips towards fostering a productive atmosphere in your medical establishment.

Leverage Temporary Medical Workers to keep Stress Levels Low

Bringing in temporary medical workers to help out during busy times at your office is a smart tactic aimed at preventing your permanent employees from working too many hours.  Stress isn’t good for your staff’s well-being or the care of your patients. Temp workers offer other benefits; including closing any skills gap on your team, or allowing you to test the temp’s abilities before potentially offering them a permanent position.

Work closely with your medical staffing agency partner for access to quality candidates willing to work on a temporary basis. Your regular employees will thank you.

Schedule Staff Strategically based on their Sleep Schedules

It is important not to switch your employees between different shifts on a frequent basis. Take into consideration their regular sleeping patterns when making your work schedules. Try to match shifts with your team member’s preference, and stick to these schedules once they are established. Happier workers and better patient care will be the result.

Be Open to Employee Insights for Operational Improvement

Allowing your staff to contribute their own insights and ideas on your medical office operations is a great way to keep them engaged. Experienced medical professionals working on the frontlines of the industry offer a unique perspective that sometimes gets missed by management. Employees feel they have a stake in the game and their own performance will likely improve as a result.

Maintaining an open door policy welcoming employee opinions helps to start this process. Consider a more formal setup, like holding regular staff brainstorm sessions or an online message board where everyone is encouraged to contribute.

When you need additional insights on building and maintaining a top-notch medical office, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. One of the top staffing agencies in healthcare industry, we offer great the candidates perfect for both temporary and permanent assignments. Meet with us at your earliest convenience.

While a summer season filled with vacations and other leisurely activities makes it difficult to think about professional networking, it isn’t good for your career to slack off during these three months. You never know when an opportunity for additional responsibility and salary might arrive on your doorstep. The summertime offers a great choice for both relaxation AND developing your healthcare industry career.

With taking your medical professional future to its highest level as the goal, here are a few tips for networking during the summer. Let’s check them out.

Don’t let the Good Weather stop your Networking Efforts

It is important to stay networking throughout the entire year. While it may be tempting to slack off a bit during the summer, be sure to keep a steady effort level. Sure, take a few days off if you are going on vacation or prefer your weekends to be work free, but make sure to re-engage when you return.

Try to attend a medical professionals conference during the summer as these are great events for meeting people who could help your career. If the conference is located in a part of the country known for vacationing, you will be able to kill two birds with one stone!

Volunteer in your Community

Consider volunteering your services to other medical establishments either in your own area or in another region. This is another great way to meet a variety of people in the industry. The Red Cross definitely has a need for medical professional volunteers to help with any summer weather-related disasters like hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes.

Making a regular deposit in your professional karma bank never hurts as well!

Online Networking is still Important

Even during the summer, there are times where you can’t be outside on a 24×7 basis. Redouble your online medical networking efforts over this time, especially by staying active on LinkedIn. Add new industry connections both locally and across the country, while recommending and endorsing the abilities of those with whom you’ve previously worked — in many cases, they will return the favor.

If you have any writing ability, consider publishing your own healthcare or nursing blog. This is a great way to become a thought leader in the industry; putting yourself on the fast track to career success.

Whenever you need additional insights on medical career development, talk to the knowledgeable recruiters at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the country’s top healthcare staffing agencies, we can help take your career to new heights. Meet with us soon!

While definitely rewarding at times, working in the medical industry can also be stressful, especially if the stress outweighs your sense of professional accomplishment. Maybe you are being overworked or just don’t get along with many of your coworkers? Whatever the reason for your unhappiness, finding a different position in the healthcare industry could be the key to putting your career back on track.

It is important to take stock of your current satisfaction level and, if warranted, make the jump to another position. Here are three signs you are unhappy and need to start looking for something new.

Your Professional Development is Stifled

If you feel your current employer isn’t providing a proper opportunity for professional development, you need to find a new job to truly get that chance. Maybe your company doesn’t invest in a training program or tuition reimbursement for acquiring an advanced degree. This is a short-sighted policy, as employee training is vital in an industry where patient care remains the prime directive.

When looking for another position, pay attention to any opportunities for professional development offered by a potential new employer. Medical companies need to invest in their staff for their own long-term health.

A Salary and Benefits Package lower than the Industry Standard

In addition to investing in their employees training and education, healthcare companies also need to ensure they compensate their staff at competitive levels for their region. This includes both salary and a benefits package. If you feel you aren’t being paid what your worth, research the average salaries for your position and location.

If you feel you are underpaid, give your medical recruiter a call as soon as possible!

You are Overworked and your Company is Understaffed

Consistently having to work extra shifts because your medical office is chronically understaffed definitely leads to personal unhappiness. This could be a sign your current company’s financial prospects are bleak, or perhaps they just don’t want to invest in a proper staffing level. Stress is bad for your overall health and well-being, so don’t hesitate to look for a new position when this situation arises.

Remember, a partnership with a great healthcare staffing agency definitely helps when it comes time to look for a new job in the medical industry.

When searching for a great medical staffing agency, look no further than Pinnacle Workforce. As employers of the top healthcare industry recruiters in the nation, we can help take your career to its highest level. Reach out to us when you need to make a change!

In any industry — the healthcare world is no exception — you can feel trapped in your current position. With no hope for promotion and raises few and far between, it is easy to lose inspiration and simply go through the motions each day. When working in a field where patient care is the overriding concern, empowering yourself to take charge of your career is a must for a variety of reasons.

You need to stay proactive to ensure steady career growth throughout your professional life. What follows are a few ideas to help keep you on the right path, whether with your current employer or possibly in a new position.

Educational Growth is a Must

When employed as a medical professional, your continuing education must be the main focus. This includes taking classes to keep up to speed with the latest healthcare technology innovations as well as possibly going back to school to earn an advanced degree related to your field. Additionally, make it a point to acquire as many relevant certifications as possible, since they add valuable heft to your résumé.

The best healthcare companies care about their employees’ career growth and professional development; offering tuition reimbursement and training programs aimed at achieving these goals. If your current employer doesn’t provide these benefits, consider looking for a new position with a medical company that does.

Search for a New Opportunity if Necessary for Career Growth

If you are stuck in your current position, it’s likely you need to look elsewhere for a better opportunity. It is important to prepare for the job search process. Keep your résumé updated and create a cover letter template and collection of potential references.

Partner with a Recruiter specializing in the Medical Industry

A partnership with a top notch recruiter familiar with the healthcare world offers you the best chance at steady career growth. They can help you put together a job search package, including your résumé, cover letter, and more. Interview preparation is another skill held by the top recruiters.

They also know the best companies currently looking for the hottest skills in the medical industry. In short, it is the smart call to keep your professional outlook on the upswing.

When searching for a great recruiter with whom to partner, look no further than Pinnacle Workforce. One of the top medical staffing agencies in the country, we can help take your career to its highest level to date. Speak with us at your earliest convenience.

It is important to keep your staff in the loop regarding their performance and progress towards reaching any personal goals as well as those of your medical office. Giving employee reviews only on an annual basis isn’t sufficient for this purpose. Mid-year reviews provide another chance to give valuable feedback to ensure your team stays on the right track throughout the year.

Here are three tips for conducting mid-year reviews. Hopefully, they help your team meet or exceed your hopes for a top notch healthcare establishment. Let’s check them out.

Keep your Top Performers Engaged for the Entire Year

The shining stars in your office need to be constantly challenged to maintain their high-performance levels. When a mid-year review identifies someone who exceeded the goals you set for them, up the ante by giving them a variety of new stretch assignments to put them on a path to career advancement.

This helps keeps the employee in question properly engaged, so they won’t become bored and lose interest in their daily duties. When uninspired, they may look elsewhere for a more challenging position. This is a case where mid-year reviews help in employee retention.

Tailor Improvement Plans for any Problem Employees

On the other hand, mid-year performance reviews help to single out any staff members struggling to pull their weight in the office. This gives you a chance to develop a plan of action to get that employee on the right track before the end of the year. Try to set reachable goals for the next six months, so the worker gains confidence.

If you wait until an end of year review to help get workers back on track, it allows too much time for problems to fester, which may adversely impact employee morale in the office.

Use the Opportunity for a Meaningful Manager-Employee Conversation

Mid-year reviews provide a great opportunity to meet one-on-one with your entire staff. Encourage your employees to speak frankly about their own performance in addition to giving their opinions on the office as a whole. Make it a point to listen attentively to any new ideas to improve the efficiency of your operations.

In short, leverage the mid-year review to keep your medical office on a path towards continuous improvement.

When you need additional insights on teambuilding in the healthcare industry, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the nation’s leading medical staffing agencies, we offer the great candidates able to make valued contribution to your staff. Contact our staffing experts today.

Developing teamwork at the office plays a big role in optimizing your operational efficiency. This is especially important in the healthcare industry where patient care is the prime directive. Trying to keep a group of disparate personalities focused on a common goal can be difficult at times.

Summertime gives managers the chance to leverage the good weather for a variety of teambuilding exercises. With a smooth running medical office staff in mind, here are three activities to help your employees truly become a team.

Spend a Day Outdoors doing Activities requiring Teamwork

The summer season allows for a variety of outdoor tasks sure to help build camaraderie amongst your staff. If a body of water is convenient to your office, a lesson in operating a sailboat is one example of a fun activity requiring everyone to work together. Simply spending some time in the woods on a hiking trip lets everyone get a chance to recharge in a natural setting.

A variety of corporate or business retreats typically offers more formal team building exercises suitable for a medical office staff. Research any options nearby to see if something makes sense for your team. At the minimum, a picnic with everyone’s families is something simple to generate goodwill between your team members.

A Volunteer Outing is a Great Idea

A group outing spent volunteering at a local soup kitchen or even Habitat for Humanity is worthy of consideration. Empathy is vital in the medical industry, and an exercise like this develops teamwork while also helping individual employees build their empathic character. A little extra publicity for your medical office never hurts as well.

Professional Development Seminars and Motivational Speakers

Holding a professional development seminar for your medical office staff makes sense at any time of the year, and summertime is no exception. Scheduling a motivational speaker specializing in building teamwork is another great idea. Consider hosting the speaker at an outdoor event in a local park to combine team building with a day spent in nature.

Holding teambuilding exercises based on any one (or even all three!) of these suggestions will help get your staff working together better than ever before. Don’t let the summer pass without giving these ideas a shot!

When you need additional insight on developing a top-notch medical team, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the country’s leading healthcare staffing agencies, we offer great candidates able to add value to your staff. Schedule a meeting with us at your earliest convenience.