Healthcare Recruiting: How Things Have Changed

Hospitals, private healthcare companies, and specialized clinics are using professional recruitment services more than ever before. A simple referral or job posting is no longer a strong enough guarantee that the institution will find the right candidate for the position, and some high-level jobs sit vacant for up to a year while the organization searches for the right person. Why is this? According to the Huffington Post, the healthcare industry is growing faster that the U.S. economy, adding about 300,000 of the 1.7 million jobs produced in 2012. That's one out of every six new jobs. And because of changes in the economy, technology, and the population, there are dozens of job titles that didn't exist ten years ago. Add to that a flood of applicants looking to take advantage of this enormous growth, and you can see why recruiters are embracing new and more efficient methods.

1. Mobile Technology

Mobile technology is the future for many businesses and industries, and medical recruitment is no exception. Embracing text messages and alerts allows recruiters to reach the next generation of talent - more of the recent graduates who will inevitably replace the retiring baby boomers. Some recruitment programs even use GPS to match job opportunities to your location or allow you to scan a code at a trade show to learn more about job placement. As this trend grows, more innovations will benefit clients and job candidates.

2. Skype Interviews

With how difficult it has become to find exactly the right person to fill important management positions, it's no wonder hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and other clients are starting to love doing interviews through Skype. It saves travel costs while allowing them to talk face-to-face with applicants from all over the country. It's also a great time saver and lets the hiring organization know whether they want to move the recruit on to the next level of the process. Technology has helped clients maintain a constant recruiting system, staying in touch with the best candidates for when an important job is open.

3. Minimizing Bureaucracy

Hospitals have taken it upon themselves to help improve the recruiting system, as well. In 2013 and beyond, medical organizations are trying to shorten the time between an interview and a job offer so they won't lose out on the very best candidates. More doctors and administrators are being recruited in heavily populated urban areas, which means more hospitals are competing with each other for the best applications in a large pool. Cutting through the red tape means the right candidate won't decide on another facility while they're sitting around waiting for a decision to be made. It happens way more often than clients would like.

4. Focusing on Elder Care

While primary care and emergency care remain the most in-demand specialties for doctors, everyone knows the population is rapidly aging. By 2030, nearly 20 percent of Americans will be 65 or older. This has led to a massive increase in demand for home care specialists as well as healthcare administrators who can manage nursing homes, hospices, and assisted living facilities. Over one million people live in nursing homes, and the number is only expected to increase exponentially. There's a shortage of help and expertise that must be addressed.

Healthcare recruiters put medical employers in touch with the most talented professionals in a sea of applications from people looking to take advantage of the healthcare boom. But recruiters can also be hugely beneficial for those professionals. If you're looking for the best positions as a doctor or administrator, or if your specialty is in high demand, they can put you on the right path to building the best healthcare career.

Brett Harris has researched internet colleges that offer degrees to fit into your lifestyle, such as Top Online Master of Health Administration Programs for those interested in the medical field.