Healthcare Recruiting

Nestor Healthcare Group Plc

Guide to Healthcare Recruiting

Fill healthcare positions with quality staff when you use recruiting services for the healthcare industry
By KB Gibson

Shortages in nursing, medical technicians and other medical careers continue to challenge healthcare providers. High turnover affects continuity of care and licensing regulations resulting in a giant headache for administrators and human resources who must focus on healthcare recruiting.

Hiring qualified healthcare providers is a doable plan, with recruiting efforts and healthcare placement firms focused on finding the best employee for the job. With healthcare as one of the fastest growing fields, more people will enter into medical careers.

Enjoy these benefits with healthcare recruiting services:

1. Save time by targeting your efforts to the right audience.

2. Healthcare employee recruiting saves money by targeting jobs to the best candidate and limiting job turnover and related training costs.

3. Keep patients satisfied with quality healthcare providers.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Recruit healthcare professionals online Recruiters for physicians often locate likely candidates from tips on the Internet. Post job ads on generic job sites like Monster or Vault or, even better, visit industry-specific websites.

I recommend:  HEALTHeCAREERS Network represents more than 70 healthcare associations. When you contract with this network, see your job opening posted on hundreds of healthcare websites. One of the most comprehensive databases is MedZilla, reaching healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotechnical professionals.

Find your audience Place ads in trade magazines read by medical professionals or contact professional organizations about healthcare recruiting.

I recommend:  Gannett Healthcare Group publishes clinical specialist and regional magazines like NurseWeek and CriticalCare. Try an eye-catching display ad in one or more of their print magazines. Professional organizations like the American College of Radiology include career sections on their websites.

Consider using trained healthcare recruiters If you just don't have the time or desire to do your own recruiting, consider hiring specific recruiting services for the healthcare industry to do the job for you. Some healthcare recruiting agencies receive a monthly retainer until they find the perfect candidate for the job.

I recommend:  Join the National Association for Health Care Recruitment and network with other recruiters from the more-than-1000-member organization. HospitalJobs.com will do the searching for candidates for hospital positions for you, and Healthcare Recruiters International focuses on healthcare executive positions. The MD Firm specializes in staffing clients with talented and top physicians in their field throughout the nation.

Hire from healthcare placement firms A good way to try out potential healthcare providers is by going through a staffing agency. If you see potential in a temp, see if he or she is interested in something more permanent.

I recommend:  Many local agencies provide healthcare coverage. Some, like D&Y Staffing and Onward Healthcare, fill staffing needs for larger regions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Check references on job candidates from healthcare recruiting agencies. Pay particular attention to a criminal record and reports from past employers.
• Don't forget the tried and true means of hiring. Some employers have had success with newspaper classifieds and radio advertising. Networking is another method of finding the right person for the job.
• Offer a decent hiring package. Many recruiting services for healthcare professionals recommend incentives like relocation expenses, paying off school loans, sign-on bonuses and more.