Gearing up to take on the holidays is stressful for everyone. However, there are few who have it harder than medical professionals as they strive to find a balance between increased patient demands and managing their own personal holiday time. Read on to discover the best holiday staffing tips for medical facilities and learn about how a locum tenens provider, such as Barton Associates, can help you take control of your holiday scheduling problems before they happen.
Schedule Ahead of Time
The holidays are one of the busiest times of the year for all kinds of employees, especially healthcare workers. Cold and flu season alone is more than enough to drive up the demand for staff in offices and hospitals alike. Add in hectic holiday injuries, weather-related accidents, and mental health crises, and you’re bound to be coming up short-staffed in no time.
One of the best ways to prepare for the holiday season is to start notifying your employees and staff members of their schedules ahead of time if you don’t already. We’re not talking just a few days before a shift – the more advanced notice, the better. Such an increased demand calls for preparations to be made weeks or even months in advance, just in case any personal problems or emergencies should arise for your employees.
Meet with your staff as the year starts winding down to begin figuring out who will be available to cover holiday work shifts and who won’t be. By notifying everyone early and communicating your expectations, you give your workers plenty of time to plan ahead and adjust their own personal schedules as needed. That way, those who want holiday shifts can snag them, and you can ensure you won’t be left high and dry during some of the busiest months of the year.
Work with a Locum Tenens Provider Staffing Agency
When it comes to filling peak holiday healthcare staffing gaps, locum tenens providers are an essential resource. At Barton Associates, we work with skilled clinical professionals from nearly every healthcare field, including doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, dentists, CRNAS, and more. Our goal is to match you with qualified individuals who are ready to hit the ground running and mesh perfectly into your existing work environment.
Patients and existing staff alike will benefit from hiring locums. You can trust that your patients will receive the same high-quality treatment and friendly service they enjoy from your regular staff. It also helps ensure that your permanent employees can take the time off they deserve during the holiday season to rest, rejuvenate, and spend time with their loved ones, coming back refreshed and stronger in the new year.
With Barton Associates at your side, you can rest easy knowing your holiday staffing crisis is already handled. Call up one of our friendly consultants today to learn more about how we can help you find the perfect fit to meet your staffing needs this season. For more information about all things medicine, visit our blog and get involved with our ever-growing community of skilled clinicians.