The shortage of skilled workers has reached the healthcare sector: The demand for medical and dental professionals has long exceeded supply. The result: Practice managers across Germany are desperately looking for competent personnel. Competition is fierce not only in rural areas, but also in cities. Physician assistants are “spoilt for choice” and can choose their preferred practice.
Recruiting as a challenge for practice managers
No medical practice can do without them: MFA and ZFA. They form the backbone of the practice and ensure a smooth flow of patient care. Many practice managers currently see this at risk: In a study, two thirds of the contract doctors surveyed stated that they expect massive difficulties in recruiting this year.
One possible cause: Due to work overload as a result of the pandemic, many MFA are considering not only changing employers but also leaving the healthcare sector. What steps can you take so that qualified medical assistants choose your practice — and Stay in the long term?
How to find qualified practice staff
When looking for competent MFA or ZFA, it is important to first attract their attention and then convince them of your practice. You can do this, for example, by advertising vacant positions — including for trainees — and by offering an uncomplicated application process.
Place targeted job advertisements for MFA or ZFA
Today, there are many ways to post a job ad. You can choose from various digital and classic analog media:
They all have their own advantages: For example, you can reach young talent particularly well via social media channels. Older, experienced medical assistants looking for jobs are more likely to look at the daily newspaper. Largely regardless of age, online job boards, in particular subject-specific job portals for MFA and ZFA (for example Medi career or MFA-Mal-Anders), used. A notice on the bulletin board or a reference to vacancies in the practice newsletter can also draw the attention of qualified applicants to your practice.
Make the application process simple and transparent
In addition to posting vacancies, the application process also plays a major role in recruiting. Here you can set the decisive course to position your practice as an attractive employer. A transparent and uncomplicated application process leaves a positive first impression on your potential employees.
You should keep these basic tips in mind during the application process:
- Take time to thoroughly review the application documents.
- Conduct job interviews on equal terms: As an employer, you too “apply” to your potential future employee.
- Always inform your applicants in good time about the current status of your application and don't let yourself be in the dark for too long.
Only by following these tips will you be able to assess whether you and your applicant are a good match. A well-managed application process can also ensure that “incorrect settings” are avoided.
Tip: Train MFA or ZFA yourself with a takeover offer
Anyone who, despite sophisticated job advertisements and the application process, cannot find qualified medical assistants, simply train them themselves! In a study, around half of the surveyed medical practices said they employ trainees. In order to be attractive to medical assistants “in spe” in the long term, you can offer them the prospect of a takeover with the appropriate benefit from the start.
After recruiting: 3 tips for employee retention
The long-term commitment of your staff to practice is even more important than any recruiting measure. Because high employee turnover not only damages your reputation in the long run, but also costs you a lot of time and money. Because bringing in new practice staff over and over again is very complex and expensive.
It is therefore all the more important that you make your employees happy! These three measures ensure that your employees retain their loyalty to your practice in the long term:
1. Create a positive practice atmosphere
According to a study by personnel service provider Hays, a pleasant working environment is the decisive factor in employee retention — even before salary. If you want to retain your qualified medical assistants in the long term, you should therefore take measures that are based on the appreciation and collegial cooperation within the team. These include:
- Respectful communication
- Constructive error and conflict culture
- Mutual assistance
- Recognition of achievement
2. Provide continuing education opportunities for your physician assistants
Qualified medical assistants in particular have a great interest in continuing education and expanding their skills. If you fulfill this wish for them, you too will benefit!
Your MFA or ZFA can contribute the new knowledge when dealing with patients or in practice administration. If necessary, you can even expand your range of services and thus realize potential for increasing sales.
3. Digitize your practice
By digitizing your practice, you increase the attractiveness of your practice for qualified personnel who enjoy working at the cutting edge. Younger medical assistants in particular have a high affinity for digital technologies. After all, they grew up with computers and smartphones and therefore quickly familiarise themselves with new programs. Digital practice management — for example with the signature and billing tool Nelly — also helps you simplify administrative processes.
Digitize your practice easily with Nelly
Part of a competent appearance is just like qualified personnel: efficient practice management without paper chaos. With Nelly, you can Have some documents signed by your patients in accordance with the law and save it in the Nelly Cloud in compliance with data protection regulations. From there, they are automatically transferred to the practice software for further processing. Your advantage? Direct access to all information — anytime, anywhere. Now you too can create a digital workflow in your practice. We advise you non-binding and free to your individual case!
The personal names used in this article always refer equally to all persons. Dual naming and alternate names are omitted in order to improve readability.
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