There are over 20,000 staffing and recruiting companies in the U.S. With so many options, HR teams need more than a colleague’s positive referral to find the most promising specialty medical staffing service. Choosing the wrong service could lead to underqualified and/or understaffed health care teams that poorly represent the facility. Here’s what to look for to find a compliant staffing service that delivers when and where you need it to.
A Reputable Recruitment Process
It’s also wise to review the agency’s accreditation and other certifications. Professional groups like the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), as well as State and Federal certifications, reveal much about an agency’s standards for hiring and training.
You’ll also find a reputable recruitment process in health facility staffing firms that employ a team of compliance experts who understand Title 22 entities and speak the language of care plans, recertifications and 485s. If after a few conversations, you can tell they don’t understand the industry (not to mention its accompanying paperwork) chances are their recruit won’t line up with the position you need filled.
Efficient Timelines to Fill Positions
Specialty medical staffing requires robust recruiting pipelines. Without them, you’ll be stuck in staffing ratio limbo waiting for candidates. Avoid this scenario by asking prospective agencies these and other key questions:
- How many placements do they fill each year?
- What’s the average turnaround time for those placements?
- Do they offer 24-hour on-call services?
- How many organizations do they serve?
This information reveals a lot about a staffing firm. It tells you how quickly they can solve your staffing challenges, and helps you assess whether or not they have a deep pool from which to recruit.
Additional Company Resources / Benefits
How else can a partnership with a recruiting firm benefit your organization? See if they offer other resources that distinguish them from competitor staffing services. Look for benefits like:
- Event management. Sometimes staffing companies (or their parent organizations) offer supplemental services that benefit both the recruits and the recruiter. For example, Discovery Health coordinates corporate wellness events that require regular staffing. It shows our clients that we have a healthy pipeline of candidates because we simultaneously offer these events and recruit. Plus, it gives them a trusted source for wellness events should they choose to implement them at their own facility.
- Niche recruitment. Choose a firm that focuses mostly on certain facilities and/or specialty recruiting (hospice caregivers, allied staff, etc.) that match your needs. General recruiters often take more time and can’t provide temporary staff with the same level of expertise as niche recruiters.
- Compliance. Prominent staffing agencies employ a compliance support team that handles the messy paperwork — and sometimes billing — for you. These extra resources take that much more off your plate so you can focus on patient care.
Discovery Health Services
When you want top candidates, you need the top recruiter. Discovery Medical Staffing has the depth and diligence to find the right people to work when and where you need them. Contact our team today to get started.