The healthcare industry is one of the largest and most impactful sectors in the world with numerous sub-sectors impacting a wide variety of businesses and patients. The healthcare service sector faces many challenges when it comes to staffing and managing a successful business, especially private practices, functional medicine practices, integrative medicine practices and other holistic health businesses. Many factors go into the current working climate and the situation continues to change as technology, employee expectations, and business trends shift. There are a few key factors to understand and consider as you think about hiring for your healthcare business.

The Healthcare Workforce Shortage

The shortage of healthcare workers is a pressing issue affecting the healthcare service industry including local practices in countries worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there’s a global shortfall of 18 million healthcare workers needed to meet the demands of the population. The rate of burnout, an aging workforce and increased demand for healthcare services are some of the biggest contributors to this shortage.

The Aging Workforce

The American Nurses Association (ANA) reports that over one million registered nurses will reach retirement age within the next decade. Not only does the aging population increase demand for healthcare services and put strain on the existing nursing workforce, many current nurses and other healthcare workers are part of the Baby Boomer generation and are now approaching retirement age, leading to a significant exodus from the profession.

Replacing experienced medical professionals with new graduates is challenging given the time and resources required for training. The gap between the supply of new healthcare providers and growing need for healthcare services increases workload and burnout among the remaining staff, leading many hospitals and clinics to turn to temporary staffing solutions like traveling nurses and providers.

Increased Demand for Healthcare Services

As chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer become more prevalent, the need for more interaction between patients and their healthcare teams increases. Chronic disease continues to rise even in younger populations according to the Institute for Functional Medicine. Additionally, the aging baby boomer generation is entering a stage of life where medical attention is frequently needed. Longer life expectancies and an increasing awareness of preventive care also add to the nation’s healthcare demand.

For business owners in healthcare, these trends underscore the importance of scalability and innovation in our operations. In addition to traditional healthcare services, there is also a growing need for specialized care such as wellness support, nutritional supplementation, and treatments for mold illness or Lyme disease. Furthermore, the integration of telehealth, advanced diagnostic tools and specialized treatments including hyperbaric oxygen and PEMF therapies necessitates additional staff with specialized training. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 15% increase in healthcare employment from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

Regulatory Compliance

In recent years, the regulatory landscape has become increasingly complex, with heightened regulations placing a strain on smaller healthcare practices.  Healthcare providers must maintain adequate and knowledgeable staff to navigate these regulations. The importance of regulatory compliance extends beyond legal ramifications. Non-compliance can result in significant financial penalties, damage to the practice’s reputation, and loss of patient trust. Having the right team in place to support your practice will enable you to remain compliant and efficient while still offering quality patient care.

Providing Continuing Education

Medical science is progressing at an unprecedented rate, with new treatments, techniques, and regulations emerging regularly. Patients are increasingly seeking out providers with a wide range of knowledge, especially in integrative and functional medicine spaces. Keeping up with these advancements and incorporating new services into your practice makes ongoing staff training more important than ever.

This emphasis on continuous learning, while beneficial, can introduce extra challenges when it comes to team management. The need for constant professional development means that healthcare workers need to balance clinical duties with educational commitments. The time and financial investment required for continuous education can strain resources – but this investment pays off for practices with an environment that supports professional growth and retains knowledgeable team members. Cross-training your staff protects your business while providing growth opportunities for more of your staff.  Additionally, the collaboration contributes to a team atmosphere that is attractive to potential recruits as well.

Hiring in a Post-COVID World

Over the past several years, the landscape of healthcare hiring and staffing has changed dramatically. With the surge in patient numbers and a need for specialized care, there has been an unprecedented demand for medical professionals. This sudden increase has led to a shift in hiring practices, with many healthcare businesses turning to temporary staffing agencies and travel nurses (and paying a premium) to fill immediate gaps. Offering wellness benefits, paid time off, professional growth opportunities and a positive work environment may help attract staff even if you are not able to pay premium salaries similar to large medical systems.

Remote work also made its way into the broader healthcare landscape, which changed how some practices recruit and manage support staff. Telehealth expanded rapidly, necessitating the hiring of tech-savvy employees who can operate digital patient care platforms.

Furthermore, there’s an increased focus on wellness and mental health support for staff to combat burnout, which has become an alarming issue in recent years. Employers and employees alike are figuring out how to prioritize manageable workloads, utilize PTO, and create enjoyable work environments during busy and high-demand times. Treating staff as a valuable team with an emphasis on collaboration and support can create not only a positive work environment, but better patient care, which is the ultimate goal.