Patient care needs to be the prime focus of nearly all healthcare or medical organizations. Many hospitals, doctors’ offices, and urgent care facilities develop Safe Patient Handling programs (SPH) to facilitate the safe transportation of patients within a hospital or even as they are admitted and discharged. Your medical organization’s frontline workers need the right training and equipment to help ensure patient safety — as well as their own — whenever patients must be moved during their treatment.

Patient care and your own workers’ well-being benefit from a thorough safe patient handling program. With that in mind, here are a few tips for building a SPH program at your healthcare organization.

Start Off the Process with a Gap Analysis

Before determining what items need to be part of a SPH program, your organization needs to analyze the current patient handling situation compared to the ideal. This is called a Gap analysis, a widely used business planning tool, and it helps your team build a roadmap for how to develop and implement your own SPH procedures.

This Gap analysis identifies any weaknesses in your current approach, and when combined with input from your current staff, helps determine the steps to fix any issues as part of the new program.

The Right SPH Training and Equipment are a Must

Once you and your team develop the new SPH program, it is important for your staff to receive the right amount of training to ensure its proper implementation. Tailor training programs to the specific medical professionals involved with patient interaction. For example, a physical therapist has different training needs when compared to a nurse.

The right equipment needed for safe patient transportation and handling is another vital part of any SPH program. Once again, proper training programs on using this equipment need to be emphasized. Consider making a certification test on this equipment a part of your SPH program.

Proper development and implementation of a SPH program ensures patient safety remains paramount at your medical organization. Additionally, your own employees’ safety also benefits from the use of SPH procedures.

If your healthcare company needs additional insight or a supply of excellent candidates, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the nation’s top medical staffing agencies, we can help ensure your overall success. Schedule a meeting with us at your earliest convenience.

The healthcare industry is no different from any other business sector: in order to succeed in your career, professional networking is a must. A robust network makes it easier to find a new position when it comes time to look for another job. It may even offer you the chance to position yourself as a thought leader in your field.

Here are five tips for growing your own professional network in the medical industry.

A LinkedIn Account is a Professional Requirement

LinkedIn is a great place for medical professionals to network online. Create a profile if you haven’t yet, and make sure you keep it up to date — consider the profile to be an online version of your résumé. Make it a point to connect with other professionals in your area and endorse their abilities, in the hope they return the favor.

Post Industry-related Articles on LinkedIn

Staying active on LinkedIn helps you get noticed by other professionals in the medical industry. If you write well, leverage this skill to author industry-related articles on your account, as this positions yourself as a thought leader. Even if your writing skill suffers, posting other industry news also serves to grow your network.

Don’t forget to connect on Other Social Networks

While LinkedIn is the preeminent social network for professionals, don’t forget to also leverage Twitter and Facebook. Remember to use the privacy settings to segregate your professional and personal activity — especially on Facebook. Either way, use common sense when posting any material your work-related contacts may deem unprofessional.

Attend Medical Industry Seminars and Conventions

Any local healthcare industry seminars and conventions offer you a great chance to meet your colleagues in person. Make sure to bring a copious amount of business cards when attending. If you are confident in your medical industry knowledge, consider speaking at one of these events — the advantages to your career are great!

A Healthcare Recruiter is a Valuable Member of your Network

A recruiter from a leading medical staffing agency in your area needs to be an important part of your professional network. One who understands the local market and the industry as a whole definitely helps to keep your career on an upward trend.

When searching for a top notch healthcare employment agency, look no further than Pinnacle Workforce. One of the top medical staffing agencies in country, we can help take your career to the next level. Schedule some time with us today!

There comes a time in nearly every worker’s career when circumstances require looking for a new job while still employed. Maybe the pay isn’t competitive for the position and location, or perhaps a personality conflict with the boss makes the work environment a bit toxic. Whatever the reasons, embarking on a job search when currently employed takes some skill, especially considering the need to keep things discreet.

With that in mind, here are a few tips on job seeking while employed healthcare industry.

A Confidential Job Search is a must when Employed

It goes without saying — discretion is a must when searching for a new position while still employed. The worse thing you can do is talk about your plans with any of your current coworkers, as this helps get the rumor mill working overtime. Even former colleagues might be friendly with the bosses at your current job, so the best policy is to keep your plans to yourself.

Also, make sure you are careful online; for instance, don’t use your company email address to send out résumés or to contact recruiters. Any activity on LinkedIn or even Facebook hinting at a new job search or even being disgruntled with your current position might get noticed by your superiors. Once again, embarking on a quest for a new job while employed means discretion is an absolute requirement.

Keep working hard at your Current Position

Don’t slack off on your current job duties when searching for a new position. Your superiors may notice your relative lack of effort; leading them to question if something is causing your performance to suffer. Give your full effort each and every day as normal.

Work with a Trusted Staffing Agency when looking for a Job

Ultimately, working with a trusted staffing agency is a great idea should you decide to search for a new position while currently working. The best employment companies know how to keep things secret, so you can rest easy knowing your bosses won’t find out about your plans.

When searching for a trustworthy employment agency in the medical industry, look no further than Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top healthcare staffing agencies in the country, we can help you find a great new job no matter your current employment status. Make it a point to meet with us as soon as possible!

If you are looking for a new job in the healthcare industry, it is important to understand what attributes your potential employers want in their staff. Possessing these desired traits gives you a better shot at earning an interview, and hopefully a job offer down the road. Knowing what employers want gives you a chance to further develop those nursing skills currently in demand.

With that in mind, here is a look at some of the top nursing skills the healthcare industry needs.

All Nurses must be Empathic

Empathy is arguably the most important trait for any nurse — actually anyone in the healthcare industry needs to be empathic. Patient care is the raison d’être for the entire world of medicine, so being able to honestly show understanding and concern for the condition, needs, and moods of each patient is vital. Make it a point to stress your caring nature on your résum24é, cover letter, and during each interview in the hiring process.

Technical Skills are in Demand in the Healthcare Industry

The technology advancements in the healthcare industry continue unabated. Because of this, employers want nurses who fully understand computers and the advanced equipment currently used in hospitals. Additionally, the growth in electronic medical records usage in the industry also makes the need more acute for nurses possessing strong technical ability.

As Every Day in a Hospital is Different, Adaptability is a Must

Hospitals and healthcare companies want to employ nurses who are adaptable and are able to think on their feet. It is difficult to predict what may happen during any day in the healthcare industry, so nurses who are able to roll with the changes remain highly in demand. Take whatever steps you need to become a more adaptable person — in both your work life and your personal life. Flexibility is an important attribute!

If you want additional advice on the hiring process in the medical industry, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce.

We are one of the nation’s leading healthcare staffing agencies, so we can help place you in the nursing position of your dreams. Schedule some time with us as soon as you can!

The competition for the top talent in the healthcare industry sometimes gets fierce, but does that mean your company should consider hiring someone fired from another company? Dismissing a worthy candidate out of hand because they were fired or laid-off from a previous job isn’t smart without looking more closely at the situation. The person in question might have been an exemplary employee stuck working in an untenable position.

With that in mind, here is a look at three reasons you should consider hiring someone who’s previously been fired.

The Candidate offers a Skill Set needed by your Company

A skills gap at any firm operating in the medical industry doesn’t bode well for its future profitability. If a candidate with a state of the art skill set had been fired previously in their career, find out the reasons behind their dismissal. Remember that a personality conflict with management leads to many employees receiving a pink slip.

Ultimately, this candidate might become a difference maker for your company. The smart call is to give them a chance to prove it.

They’ve learned a Lesson after being Fired Early in their Career

Look at a candidate’s complete work history. Someone fired early in their career, but with a subsequent success at other firms, probably learned a lesson from being dismissed. Once again, it is important to find out the truth behind any firing or adverse event on a résumé. Checking their references in this case makes perfect sense.

Your Company boasts a Superior Corporate Culture

If your organization’s corporate culture is the envy of the other healthcare companies in your area, chances are good you’ll be able to support an employee with great skills who was fired from a previous job. If you trust your HR staff and managers along with your company’s procedures already in place, this candidate will be able to thrive and become a valuable member of your team.

If your company needs any additional insight on building a winning staff, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top staffing agencies in the American healthcare industry, we can help your organization’s ultimate success. Schedule a meeting with us at your earliest convenience.

This basic fact still holds true — the job interview gives your company the best chance of truly evaluating candidates before extending an offer to those who make the best fit for your company. The healthcare industry provides no exception to this rule; your HR staff and managers need to be well-honed on the proper interviewing techniques. Making a mistake in this part of the hiring process can cost your firm in the long run.

With the hope of hiring top candidates that grow into valuable employees, let’s take a look at a few ideas on how to interview medical assistants.

The Interview Questions must relate to the Work Performed at your Office

Work with the managerial staff at your office to create a script of interview questions that match the type of work your office performs on a daily basis. While the candidate’s résumé probably mentions whether or not they are certified as a medical assistant, it makes sense to delve deeper into their actual work experience. Certifications add a measure of trust the candidate would make a skilled addition to your team, but your interview questions need to find out more about the candidate.

What is the candidate’s comfort level with computers and technology, which are vital skills for the 21st Century medical office? Is the person experienced in working with medical records software like Medent? Have they held responsibility for medical billing or even medical transcription earlier in their career?

Check into their experience with HIPPA regulations. If there is OSHA training listed on their résumé, find out more about how they’ve used those skills at their other jobs.

Are they Empathic and a Good Cultural Fit?

Empathy is vital trait for anyone working in the medical industry. Frame a few questions to find out the candidate’s feeling towards patient care. Finally, probe into whether or not the person makes a good cultural fit at your office. This is especially important if you want to build a winning staff with minimal turnover.

Pay close attention to the candidate’s comfort level when answering these questions. Do they seem honest and forthright, or are they struggling to explain their role with any previous employers? Get the interview team together, allowing everyone to share their opinion on who deserves an offer of employment.

If you need any additional insight on interviewing medical professionals, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce.

As one of the country’s leading healthcare staffing agencies, we can help your company succeed. Schedule a meeting with us at your earliest convenience.

As the battle for the top candidates in the medical industry gets fierce, one hospital is using a unique perk to ensure their staffing needs are met. A Florida-based hospital actually sold off some of their land to a developer to build an apartment complex. The developer agreed to offer special three-month leases to employees of the hospital before opening rentals to the general public, and once all units are filled, hospital workers get placed on the top of the waiting list if desired.

Of course, not all hospitals or medical offices enjoy the luxury of extra land for a housing project, but let’s look more closely at the issue to see if your organization needs to up its game when engaged in the hiring process.

A Useful Perk for attracting Out of State Job Candidates

This Florida hospital felt that convenient housing located close to their facility offered a great perk for out of state recruits interested in relocating to the area for a new job. This makes a lot of sense for the hospital, as the central Florida area is known for poor commutes and the high cost of apartment rentals. This gives them a unique advantage when competing against the other medical establishments in the area for top candidates currently living in another region.

Smart candidates who research a location before considering a move for work are probably aware of the area’s strengths and weaknesses, so medical firms sometimes must offer innovative perks to lure the top talent.

Affordable Housing only one Piece of this Hospital’s Strategy

This new apartment complex, located five minutes away from the medical facility, is part of the hospital’s “health village” concept which hopes to include retail and dining establishments, a parking garage, and a fitness facility with a pool. The hospital’s effort to attract the top medical industry talent provides a good example for medical firms across the country.

If your healthcare organization is looking to improve its hiring efforts, then be sure to talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top medical staffing agencies in the country, we offer the business insight and quality candidates to help ensure your company’s success. Schedule some time with us today!

If you currently enjoy the lifestyle of a traveling healthcare professional, interviews tend to be a regular part of your career, considering its freelance and contract-based nature. Most assignments generally cover a few months at the most, so expect to interview for a new assignment a few times a year. Naturally, many of these interviews take place over the phone or even on video chat services like Skype.

Here are a few tips for making sure you are ready for the typical set of questions used in healthcare position phone interviews.

Employers are looking for a Cultural Fit from their Traveling Professionals

Of course, healthcare companies want to know your professional abilities are top notch and a portion of any interview will focus on your educational background — and more importantly, your work history. These firms also understand that temporary or traveling employees generally offer exemplary work skills, as one wouldn’t last long as a traveling healthcare professional if they consistently performed poorly.

Healthcare employers need to know that you will make a good cultural fit on their team and be able to hit the ground running on your first day. With that in mind, expect them to tailor questions during a phone interview to better get a feel for your personality and how you’ll fit in at their office.

Typical Questions to determine the Cultural Fit of a Healthcare Employee

Expect any interview questions to determine your personality or cultural fit to probe about your inspiration beyond a professional life — hobbies, favorite books, music, or movies, etc. Questions about any charitable work and community service you provide are also good bets. Considering the importance of empathy in the healthcare industry, there will probably a question or two on that subject.

Ultimately, make sure you take each interview seriously as far as any prep work; phone interviews are as important as the in-person version. Research the company in question and be sure to ask some meaningful questions of your own.

If you need additional advice on interview preparation for traveling healthcare professionals, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top medical staffing agencies in the country, we can make a difference for your career. Meet with us at your earliest convenience.

There’s no denying the importance of technology within the healthcare industry. It is vital that nurses and other medical professionals stay up to speed with the latest IT innovations related to their job.

If you work in the nursing profession, honing your information technology skills are an important part of a successful career. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some IT skills all nurses need to possess in their tool box.

Experience with a Variety of Records Systems is a Must

As the medical industry continues in its migration towards 100 percent usage of electronic record keeping, it is important that nurses become well-versed in the variety of record systems used in the industry. This also includes the data analysis and reporting techniques helping to derive relevant and actionable information from stored patient data.

The Growing Importance of Nursing Informatics

The added emphasis on the development of information technology skills in nursing has led to a new career specialization called nursing informatics. As hinted at in its name, nursing informatics is a hybrid discipline, combining skills from both nursing and information technology. Although the American Nursing Association first defined the term in 1992, this area of nursing has seen rapid growth over the last 10 years.

The development of IT systems related to clinical documentation, electronic medical records (EMR), and electronic health records (EHR) is a major area of responsibility of informatics nurses. If you are an experienced nurse with an affinity for computers and IT, consider moving into a nursing informatics role in the future.

Integration of Medical Records Systems remains Vital

One of the ways IT-savvy nurses can make a valuable difference in today’s healthcare industry is by helping to understand the challenges involved with integrating data records between the variety of EMR and EHR systems currently in use. Understanding how data is organized is a great skill to help with this process.

If you are interested in supercharging your nursing career by emphasizing on information technology, talk to the industry experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top healthcare staffing agencies in the country, we understand how IT makes a difference in the field and can help ensure you have the right skills to succeed. Meet with us at your earliest convenience.

Anyone in a managerial or leadership role in business needs to be constantly questioning — themselves, their direct reports, maybe even the executives that manage the manager. Any answers to the most meaningful questions offer hope to significantly transform the organization or team in a positive manner. With that in mind, here is a look at five leadership questions every manager needs to learn.

How do you analyze Both Internal and External Environments?

You need to spend time analyzing both the environment inside your office in addition to the external marketplace where your company competes. Focusing too much on either area gives short shrift to the other. A successful company fully understands the inner workings of the office as well as its business sector — local or otherwise.

Are your Employees receiving All the Training needed for Success?

After doing the appropriate internal analysis of your team’s abilities, question whether or not your company’s training programs are up to snuff. A significant investment in employee development programs remains a hallmark of the top companies, especially in the healthcare industry.

Does your Company have the Plans to achieve its Strategic Goals?

Sure, having a set of worthwhile goals for your company is one thing, but do you also place enough emphasis on planning to achieve those goals? Make sure to spend significant developing both the strategies and tactics to allow your firm reach those goals and beyond.

Do you accurately measure your Company’s Operational Efficiency?

All the planning in the world won’t help if your company can’t execute the plan. Make sure you put the right metrics in place to measure your firm’s operational efficiency, and pay attention to what those statistics tell you.

Does your Company boast a Positive Corporate Culture?

If your firm is finding it difficult to hire and retain the top medical industry talent, maybe there is an issue with your company culture? These cultural issues need to be part of any analysis of your internal office workings.

If your organization needs any additional advice on growing a top notch medical company, talk to the experts at Pinnacle Workforce. As one of the top staffing agencies in the healthcare industry, we offer the business insight and vetted candidates to help ensure your firm’s success. Schedule a meeting with us today!