Retaining Your Doctors

Having recruited your healthcare professional (HCP), it is now important that you retain them. The delivery of health services is complex and demanding. Health professionals face a high level of responsibility, with high expectations from their patients, the community they work in and their employer. There is a high cost to losing an employee. If an employee is dissatisfied, you risk losing them to a competing organization or possibly even from the profession.

There are both financial and non-financial ways to motivate and improve performance.

Financial considerations are usually much clearer than non-financial ones. Plus, healthcare businesses may qualify for Health industry ERC benefits for retaining their employees so this another reason for employers to prioritize employee satisfaction and retention.

It is important to create a positive work environment. This is where good management is of utmost importance.

A good manager is not only aware of the problems but also tries to resolve them. But how do you help your employees with these issues?

1. Communicate with employees.

Have an open door policy where staff can express their problems or dissatisfactions. There will always be the hard to please employee but there will also be those with legitimate concerns.

2. Manage the workload.

Not everyone can manage the same workload and time schedule. Employee performance will vary, so set their tasks and goals accordingly.

3. Conflict resolution.

Conflict in the workplace is inevitable. People have different ideas, goals, and ways of approaching problems. Not all conflict is unhealthy, but when it gets out of hand, mediation may be necessary.

4. Balancing work and personal life.

Allow team members with children or other dependent family members some flexibility in their schedule.

5. Work Recognition.

There is always the informal “great job” by the direct supervisor. But you could also have more formal ways of recognizing employee performance. A trip reward for an employee of the month or year-end bonuses are always nice perks.

Creating a positive work environment leads not only to better work performance, you will also find that your retention rates improve.