During a panel at Becker’s 14th Annual Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine in Chicago June 10, Nicola Hawkinson, DNP, RN, with SpineSearch; Susan Kizirian, senior manager at Eveia Health, a division of ECG Management Consultants; and Sandra Jones, executive vice president and COO of ASD Management, discussed staffing for surgery centers.
During the discussion, panelists shared five key strategies on how ASCs can successfully recruit and retain millennials, among other topics.
1. Cater to the strengths of millennials. Millennials are particularly good at multitasking, and those qualities can transfer into their nursing or administrative capabilities, Dr. Hawkinson explained. Therefore, she urged employees and recruiters to help millennials utilize this skill set, and to cater certain elements of a job to retain millennials at their ASC. For instance, Dr. Hawkinson also noted millennials enjoy shorter projects and quicker results. “They are certain responsibilities they [millenials] will have to do in ASCs, but if you can make the tasks in shorter duration with quicker response time, quicker success rate, they’re going to do really good at those things,” she added.
2. Coach millennials. When working with milennials, Ms. Kizirian encouraged ASCs to avoid laying down a heavy hand, and strictly acting as an authoritative figure. “They want a coach, not a boss, so approach them like a coach and help them to achieve their goal,” she said.
3. Hire the right people. Surgery centers should know their staffing needs. “Do you need a full-time surgeon? Are you recruiting for a physician assistant when you can recruit another worker that will cost less?” Dr. Hawkinson said. “Identify the opening in your organization and what that looks like, so you be sure to hire the right person.”
4. Pay attention to employee morale and satisfaction. To reduce burnout and retain employees, it’s important to pay attention to employee morale and satisfaction. “People stay where they stay because they feel appreciated and they feel like they belong and they feel wanted. It’s not always about the money or the benefits,” Ms. Kizirian said. She also noted leaders overall should help staff focus on how to work together.
“There just needs to be a concentrated effort.” Ms. Jones agreed. She recommended ASCs keep some kind of record, maybe with a calendar, of how often they show appreciation to employees.
5. Do fun things in the office. Doing fun things in the office really shines through in terms of showing appreciation to employees, according to Dr. Hawkinson. Her company, for instance, does an annual retreat. “Good culture doesn’t happen overnight. If you can do a company retreat, a night out, a Christmas dinner, exchanging of gifts,” it goes a long way, Dr. Hawkinson says. “Figure out what your staff likes and engage with them. They want to enjoy being at work.”
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At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
