Tony Barlow | tbarlow@barlowmccarthy.com
The challenges keep mounting in healthcare. While it certainly feels like the worst of the COVID crisis is behind us, consumers are still on edge and the much-anticipated rush back of patients hasn’t solved the financial impact. The best prediction is for a slow trickle of patients (and revenue) as people’s confidence and comfort level returns to normal. So, where does that leave the physician recruitment department?
Many health systems have stopped hiring entirely, others have suspended many searches while only leaving open their highest priority searches. I imagine there isn’t a recruitment office in the country that hasn’t been affected. Our hearts are with the recruiters who have been furloughed or laid off. Many of our best recruiters are now searching for jobs themselves. So where do we go from here? We assume that as time marches on we will see more cash flow and more opportunities open back up, but it certainly looks like it will be a gradual process.
For now, and the near future many recruitment departments are working to work smart and get lean. Have you started formulating plans for sourcing physicians on a budget? As opportunities begin to open again, and you get back into the flow of recruiting how are you going to do more with less? Here are a few ideas.
- Analyze your business relationships: It is a great time to closely examine your spending on outside firms and software. Look at cost-benefit for the last year. It might be time to research options if you need outside support at all. There are certainly more budget friendly options of outside support- maybe choosing personalized sourcing instead of a recruitment firm. (Note: This is something we offer at Barlow/McCarthy. Learn More). It is a great budget-oriented way to fill the pipeline.
- Make sure you’re doing the right jobs: As the most knowledgeable recruitment person, make sure you parse out those jobs that may not need your brainpower. Hire for those things that maximize your dollars and allow you to bring the internal knowledge to the process. Your duties shift from managing subcontractors and firms to now needing to get back to sourcing and managing the leads. What have you outsourced in the past that you can bring in-house? What can you outsource that is more cost-effective?
- Re-use data: Most teams have a database full of old contacts. These contacts are only deemed old by us! If you invest in good lists, then you have a whole library of solid data on past residency classes and practicing physicians. It might be time to dust off some of those old lists and see if they might still have some value. (Note: If you are reusing old lists I would recommend running them through a tool like Neverbounce, to remove old emails that will bounce.)
- Re-engage with old leads: Now is the time to re-engage with those old leads that seemed strong for a time but gradually faded away. Dig them out and reconnect. The healthcare world is completely upside down, it is a great time to reconnect with physicians.
- Keep adding value: Finally, as a recruiter continue to show your value. It’s easy to slack off on internal reports and meetings when there is so much to do, but it’s not the right time to not be visible internally. Find creative ways to do more with less, pushing the envelope to develop the leads you have and just generally being productive will be a help to you. You are a valuable part of the team and you need to continue to prove that… so that you can remain a part of the team!
The world of healthcare and recruitment specifically has taken a huge hit. Nobody could have seen this coming and no one can predict what the future will hold. Keep fighting for your department and work to be creative on how you source for your opportunities. As health systems work to figure out what’s next, be there with them injecting your thoughts and ideas. It is not the time to pout and complain, it is the time to show up and be the answer your team needs.
Sourcing on a budget is what we do at Barlow/McCarthy, and we would love to help your team! Please let us know if there is anyway we can help, even if it is just a call to look at options and help walk you through what is coming next. You can reach me at tbarlow@barlowmccarthy.com.