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!

When summer hits, you may feel the temptation to slack off a bit and take a vacation from school, work, and even the job hunt. In spite of those feelings, summer can be the best time to find a perfect medical job that will carry you into the fall and even into a promising future. The summer job market is full of opportunities as companies have settled into their routine and know their staffing needs in a clear way. Current teams have identified their strengths and the gaps are obvious so the job search can be in favor of the candidates during the summer searching times. If you are on the market for a new job, consider putting in applications before the rush of summer but even if you missed that time frame, it’s never too late to send out your resume to companies or even to work with a staffing agency to find a perfect new position.

What to Look for in a New Job?

The summer may be warm but the job market in some cities is even warmer. Not only can you find a job that meets your salary expectations but also one where you can make a difference in the life of your patients. A summer medical job can have various components, making it an ideal position for those who are qualified. Here are some things to look for in a summer job:

1. Consistency. When you need steady work, a staffing firm may have just the right positions for you. You won’t need to keep applying to new jobs as you will be in their system and as summer medical jobs become available, they can present you to the potential employers.
2. Flexibility. With summer jobs often comes the ability to have a more flexible schedule. As patients take vacations, days off, and even spend time away from their homes, you may have the ability to work with other patients or to even have downtime for yourself.
3. Location. Have you ever considered taking medical jobs that require travel? A perk of the traveling medical jobs is you will have chance to see various parts of the country. It can be a fun way to sightsee while earning a living at the same time. You could have an adventure each and every summer with a new medical job that requires travel to provide care.
4. Permanent. Some of the summer jobs turn into full-time jobs after the three months and you could start the fall season with a permanent medical job. For those who may just be starting out in the medical field, a summer medical job is a smart way to learn, work with professionals, and work with real patients.

Your summer medical job can be the launching pad for a new career or even as a way to get your “foot in the door” at a new facility while still maintaining a steady job. While others are on vacation, take some time in the summer to further your education and apply for summer medical jobs that will take your career to the next level.

Working in the healthcare industry is a daily challenge for those in leadership positions, HR managers, and even for the employees. It is a high stress environment where teams are constantly on the move and regulations can change overnight so it is crucial for employees to feel support and value on a daily basis. Not only are employees pushed to their limits physically and emotionally in the course of one shift, they are sometimes forced to work overtime to compensate for facilities being short-staffed. Healthcare providers have to think clearly for hours on end and still have empathy, with every patient. Your team is responsible for the lives of their patients and that is a great deal of responsibility to put on them. It is important to keep your teams motivated and focused so they are able to perform at the high levels necessary. These boosters should become part of your routine so the valuable team members you have in place will have reason to stay and continue to create a top-notch facility.

What can you do for your Team?
Day in and day out, your team members arrive at work and give 100%. Yes, they are paid for their work but it’s no secret most healthcare workers will go above and beyond what is expected of them on a daily basis to meet the needs of their patients. This can mean staying a bit later to make sure a scared patient falls asleep or making sure a child is able to see their parents before bedtime. Each and every day, these are the people who do positive acts for the world and many times they are under high levels of stress both professionally and personally. Leadership and the HR departments of any healthcare facility can help alleviate some of the stress by creating a focus on several aspects that have proven valuable to medical staff.

• Open communication. When employees feel as though they can talk to their superiors, other team members, and lateral departments, there is a lessened chance of miscommunication and issues that develop into major problems. Good communication is the key to any and all successful relationships and an open dialogue between employer and employees will benefit everyone.
• Team building. You don’t need to force everyone to participate in an obstacle course or something extreme to build a cohesive team. Team building exercises can be something as simple as encouraging employees to eat lunch together or celebrate birthdays as a group. By making everyone on the team feel value, you are building a team.
• Strong Leadership. An important aspect of healthcare performance is maintaining the hierarchy of seniority and those in leadership staying in charge of each shift. Clear leaders within the departments will keep the status quo and that is essential for success in this industry. When there is not a clear leader for each area, chaos will ensue and nothing will get done efficiently, which can lead to even more stress for your teams.

Working in the healthcare industry can be difficult yet extremely rewarding and for those who have made it their career, a boost from the management and HR departments can be just what they need to continue providing quality care to each and every patient.

The workplace isn’t always the most kind or sympathetic place to be. In fact, some team members and co-workers can sometimes treat each other rudely, but in the medical profession, there is no place for that kind of attitude or treatment. Empathy should be the rule for every workplace but especially for those in the medical field. The foundation for every medical facility, large or small, should be one of compassion and respect, starting from the top and spreading to each and every patient who enters the building.

Positive Bed-Side Manner
Those in need of medical care are feeling vulnerable and helpless, but the right words, demeanor, and attitude can put them at ease. This is accomplished through a staff of individuals who understand this and work hard to create that environment. It is a fact that happy and calm patients will heal faster and achieve the desired results of recovery. During the course of the day, medical personnel can find themselves worn out and in need of positivity in their immediate surroundings, and this is where empathy in the workplace comes into play. Here are some simple steps you can take to show your co-workers that you care and when you give to them, they are more likely to pass it on to their patients.

1. Smile at those around you. Even if there is nothing funny or you’ve seen that person ten times in the past hour, give them a smile and see how it lifts their mood.
2. Help when you can. If you have some downtime, look around and see who could use some extra assistance with a difficult patient or in getting caught up on a task.
3. Show up early for your shift. Relieve the previous shift or at least give them time to close their logs and be on their way earlier than usual.
4. Bring in goodies. You don’t need to buy anything expensive but consider baking something and taking it to work or even take in some fruit and granola bars.
5. Pull your weight. While this may seem like more of a team building attribute, you should always do your job and help others on your team complete the tasks at hand. This demonstrates your respect and value for their work and time.

As the employer or employee in a medical facility setting, it is important to continue the circle of care and empathy. Without that, you become a facility where patients feel like a number and many will search for better options for their care. Not only will you lose patients but your reputation and job satisfaction will decrease and it can be difficult to rebuild. Avoid the unnecessary problems with simple actions of treating others how you want to be treated.