Betsy Johnson, the Founder and CEO of HIMpros

By Daniel Casciato

The healthcare staffing industry has undergone significant changes post COVID-19, and one of the critical aspects affected by this transformation is attracting and retaining qualified staff.

According to data from Fitch Ratings, health care job openings reached an all-time high over 9.2% in September 2022 – more than double the average rate of 4.2% between 2010 and 2019. This trend is likely to continue, pushing organizations to find effective ways to attract and retain qualified workers.

To shed light on this topic, we had the privilege of interviewing Betsy Johnson, the Founder and CEO of HIMpros, a woman-owned niche healthcare staffing firm based in West Florida. In this interview, Johnson shares her valuable insights on the current state of healthcare staffing, emerging trends, strategies for attracting and retaining the best candidates, and her company’s commitment to continuous improvement.

Staff shortages related to burnout, turnover and rising labor cost continue to be a considerable challenge for healthcare organizations. Furthermore, Johnson highlights the financial aspect, stating, “People want to earn top dollar, and wage growth is expected to continue to increase.” She goes on to say attracting and retaining qualified talent in the post pandemic era will require a full understanding of what employees are looking for in their new employer. This means that healthcare organizations will need to put a plan in place to remove staff dissatisfiers in hopes of reducing turnover rates.

According to Johnson, one of the primary challenges in healthcare staffing is finding qualified individuals who possess the necessary skills, experience and work ethic. She emphasizes the rising expectations of employees, including the desire for remote work options, attractive benefits, flexible schedules, and competitive compensation.

Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Top Candidates

When asked, what can organizations do to improve candidate retention, Johnson stresses the significance in the feedback received through employee exit interviews and employee satisfaction scores, stating that “The reasons we most often hear are lack of support staff, unpredictable work schedule, the ability to take paid time off, not feeling valued, unmanageable workloads, and compensation.”

According to Johnson, fluctuating workloads, seasonal or unpredicted needs, can be addressed through interim staffing. If organizations used an agency they trust during peak periods or during increased patient volume to stay current, they would be able to manage workloads without increasing turnover and burnout. Rather than paying current staff overtime costs, Johnson says, “strategic staffing is an effective way to manage productivity and high overhead and labor costs.” By partnering with a staffing agency you trust, you can access their network of qualified employees who can hit the ground running and reduce burnout of your current team.

Regarding candidate retention, Johnson stresses the significance of the work environment and the importance of work life balance, stating, “Employees are turning to remote work, taking temp or flexible assignments to manage a work life balance.” This can impact employers’ ability to fill the permanent vacancies in their departments, due to rigid schedules, unpredictable workload and inability to use PTO.

Another effect of turnover is reactive versus proactive hiring. It is so important when making a new hire to ensure the candidate is qualified and the right fit for your team. Hiring too quickly may mean you don’t have the right candidate who can meet the needs of your department, which hasn’t solved your problem. Taking the time to source and screen potential candidates minimizes the possibility of a reactive hire. 

Emerging Trends

Looking ahead, HIMpros plans to sustain its steady growth by recruiting exceptional consultants and staying updated on industry trends. Johnson reiterates, the best way to successfully manage your hiring challenges is through a partnership with a strategic staffing firm like HIMpros.

In conclusion, Johnson’s emphasis on transparency, human involvement, and building relationships exemplifies HIMpros’ commitment to excellence. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, HIMpros aims to adapt, leverage technology, and prioritize the needs of both consultants and clients to deliver top talent and maintain a leading position in the staffing landscape.

For more information, visit thehimpros.com.