The calls just don't stop. RadTechs, CT Techs, Sonographers and the certifications they ride in on. Concerned, confused and just down right mad!

For everyone's sake, I hope the job market improves before someone gets hurt. So, where are all the jobs. I believe they are trapped under a big rock and can't get out. Full Article

Dale Hannegan

Recently we sent a very experienced candidate out for an interview. His qualifications were exceptional, his attitude jovial and his availability immediate. But there was one thing... he would not shut up! Does he not know he talks too much? Hasn't anyone ever told him this? Can he not help it? Is he just excited? All of these things came to mind. He was undeniably nice and almost over-qualified for the job, so we hoped these positive traits would outweigh his tendency to blabber about things unrelated to the task at hand - getting the job.

We finally decided to do what was needed. The dreaded intervention. We were going to tell him that he needed stop talking so much. But as a recruiter, this is a sensitive thing to do. After all, telling someone they tend to talk too much takes poise, etiquit and sensitivity. So we did it, and he was appreciative and professional about it. But.... you guessed it. Old habits are just hard to break, I guess. After hours of preparation and coaching before the interview, the talker came out during the interview.

As we suspected, he did not get the job because of this. The client stated "we felt as if the candidate might have a hard time following instructions. He didn't seem to listen very well". Here are some tips.

Dale Hannegan
www.radsciences.com
www.mymedport.com

Location, location, location! Or should I say relocation, relocation, relocation!! Sure, the healthcare job sector has not been as affected as many industries. But make no bones about it, hospitals are feeling the affects of the lagging economy. The fact is, hospitals have to relocate many of their new employees and in the current economic state, that is not always an option for many top candidates.

Much of the good news relating to job growth comes out of healthcare, but it’s just the nature of the industry. As a hospital recruiter, you may be experiencing some challenges getting candidates to move. Sure you have more applicants than ever before, but can you get them started?

Dale Hannegan
www.radsciences.com
www.mymedport.com

I spoke to several Administrators this week and by far the biggest concern they have is reimbursement. A recent AHA report also confirmed payment shortfalls from both private payers and government relative to operating costs. Individuals are also reportedly paying more premiums than ever before, and employers are looking for ways to offset the extra inflation. My own personal insurance premiums increased 26% this year. 26%!!! That's just not right. So, I was also forced to find yet another "new" health plan. Can't wait till next year so I can do it again.

One recent reimbursement trend, pay for performance, is thought by many to be an effort to reward providers for performance. I believe we've been down this road before, but never has this issue been more serious than it is currently. At least politically anyway. While many are skeptical that it will end up overlooked, a few of my colleagues are optimistic that the current situation in Washington will push more providers and payers to come together in order to battle "big brother".

I'm just glad there are people much smarter than me trying to work all this out.

Hey doc, can you prescribe me a Prozac?

Dale Hannegan
www.radsciences.com
www.mymedport.com

It never ceases to amaze me that a hospital will not pay someone $2.00 per hour more in order to fill a vacancy that is costing them $80 per hour in contract labor. If the hospital CFO was making this decision, would this be the one he/she would make? Unfortunately, many times the person making the decision on what to pay has no skin in the game. Meaning, if HR does not agree to pay a Physical Therapist $35/hr instead of $33/hr, who's production does it affect? My guess is that the Physical Therapy Department will suffer from the decision. Therefore, shouldn't the Director of Physical Therapy or Rehab make the final call?

This frustration stems from countless examples of HR Departments not paying (or being unable to pay) the market rate for a candidate. Some positions remain vacant for months because many hospitals are not keeping pace with competing markets that drive up healthcare wages. By the way, when you look at adjusting wages, look at pay rates in ALL MARKETS, not just your state.

As a recruiter, we are faced with this situation daily. Human Resources tells us that they can only pay a certified healthcare professional $30/hr, even though the person has the experience to expect $35/hr. Yes, internal equity matters. But so does filling a position that's been vacant for 6 months and where you have a temp that's charging you twice the rate. Furthermore, what is it costing you NOT to fill the position? Please give me a straight answer. We all know $2.00 per hour annualized is $4,160 per year. But what is it costing you NOT to pay it? Funny, it seems no one wants to answer that question.

Now that I've gone on my rant, let me be clear. This should not be done when you have 15 qualified candidates applying for a job. However, some types of candidates are just hard to find. If you lose a Specialty RN, Physical Therapist or a triple modality Sonographer over 2 bucks an hour, your organization is on the wrong track. You may ruffle a feather or two by doing it, but that's only if someone finds out. If you're like me, you don't run around telling everyone in your department what you make in the first place.

It's simple economics... a calculator, pen and paper. If it makes sense, do it! And apologize later if necessary.

Dale Hannegan
www.radsciences.com
www.mymedport.com

Okay, I guess common sense is really just not that common. As tight as the healthcare job market is, you would think that job seekers would do everything possible to prepare for an interview. Or, maybe they'll just go out and party the night before and get thrown in jail. Maybe they'll just show up in tank top.

If you need a little humor in your hectic day, well take a look at our "10 Things You Should Never Do On An Interview". Oh yeah, it really happened.

Dale Hannegan
www.radsciences.com
www.mymedport.com

I'd be curious to know how many organizations actually use behavioral assessments when hiring and evaluating talent. More importantly, the organizations that DO use them; how efficiently? I was surprised to learn how Group Culture Reports (a report that combines individual behavioral reports) can be used to create a dynamic and engaged group of people who were once at each others throats. I've seen it first hand.

Read more on the uses here.

Dale Hannegan
www.radsciences.com
www.mymedport.com

I have many friends who own and operate small businesses, and it seems that all of them are struggling to keep them alive in the current recession. Some have already gone under and my best friend may be losing his business after 10 years of working 12 hour days to establish himself in a competitive industry. But for some reason, they all think healthcare is the place to be when the economy turns soft. They ask me about my business and seem surprised when I tell them that hospitals are struggling too. I guess it's just ignorance.

I work with dozens of hospitals across the country and most of them are singing the same tune. Postponed equipment upgrades, delayed projects, layoffs and a whole list of internal problems related to the current economy. My job is to work with healthcare leaders to identify and develop top talent for their organizations. Do you think my business is affected? Well sure. While people (actually the right people) are a companies number one asset, budgets for training, leadership development and recruitment planning seem to be the first to be cut. At least that's what many HR leaders tell me. Advertising budgets are reduced, training is postponed and positions are eliminated.

While I tend to agree with many of these cuts (sorry HR), I believe that budgets for organizational development (OD) should be spared at all cost. Studies show that a well-structured OD plan helps with patient satisfaction and employee engagement during tough times.

The bottom line is, you cannot make a sick patient who lost his employer paid insurance during a layoff come to your hospital. But you can work to create a positive, engaged workforce through regular training and direct interaction. Leaders, please do not separate yourself during these tough times. Get out on the floor and work with your teams at the staff level. Show them you care, ask for their ideas and listen.

Dale Hannegan
www.radsciences.com
www.mymedport.com

I've been reading up on Social Media Marketing and the planning surrounding this "monster". I've discovered that this plan will involve more than just surfing the web and adding friends on Facebook. It's a true science. Keywords, SEO, Blogging, and Tweeting are all a part of it, but so is having someone who knows how to do it consistently and regularly to make it all work. You need rules, guidelines, policies and a written plan. Holy Cow! I'll have to hire someone to do all this stuff, and study nights and weekends to stay on top of it all. I guess that's what it takes to stay competitive in today's market.

I also recently found out that one of our clients in Dallas has two full-time healthcare recruiters dedicated to Social Media recruiting. They will be exploring our new site (www.mymedport.com) later this week to see how it might fit in to their recruitment initiatives.

Man, I was faxing stuff just a couple of years ago. Do we still have fax machines??

Dale