Whether you’re bringing on board a locum tenen registered nurse, or an allied health professional on a contract basis, chances are they’re new to your facility. As one of the leading medical staffing agencies in Northern California, Pacific Staffing knows that many times, healthcare organizations expect these temporary professionals to hit the ground running, with little or no training or orientation beforehand.
However, this can lead to frustration on both sides of the equation – for the provider and for the employer. To overcome this, establish a set onboarding process to ensure contract healthcare providers are well prepared for the time they spend at your facility. You’ll both be happier in the end. To help you, consider these tips:
Prepare Your Core Staff Ahead of Time
Don’t let your existing employees get caught by surprise when a contract provider starts. You’ll create tension if you do and some staff members may view the provider as a threat to their own jobs. Make sure you talk with your team ahead of time and let them know who the new provider is, when they’ll be starting, and their credentials.
Make Sure Providers Know Where to Go & What to Bring the First Day
Before the provider starts, contact them and make sure they know what time they’re expected to arrive, where to park and which building entrance to use, whom they’re supposed to report to, and any key policies and procedures that are important to know ahead of time.
Give Them a Tour of the Facility
A good way to start the day is with a tour of the facility, especially the area or department in which the provider will be working. Be sure to show them where the supplies and equipment are kept and introduce them to co-workers. Give them a list of phone numbers and emails for the rest of the medical staff.
Orient Them on the Computer System
Before the provider comes in, make sure the IT department has set them up with the proper credentials to access the computer system and medical records. Once they arrive, be sure to train them on your computer system so they can quickly access schedules, medical histories and any other pertinent information. They’ll also need to learn about the billing and coding process at your facility.
Onboarding a contract healthcare provider could take a few hours – or a few days, depending on the size and complexity of your organization. However, the tips above will at least get you started so when you bring a contractor on board, you can ensure the process goes smoothly – and you and your patients enjoy the best possible results.
Need help hiring healthcare providers on a contract or full-time basis? Call Pacific MedStaff. As of the leading medical staffing agencies in Northern California, we can be your source for top RNs, LPNs, allied health providers and other medical specialists. We can also work with you to develop a flexible staffing strategy that ensures your facility is staffed with the medical professionals you need, when you need them. Contact us today to learn more.