The Impact of Telehealth on Healthcare Staffing and Recruitment Strategies
Healthcare organizations face unique challenges and opportunities amidst the rise of telehealth.
And telehealth's rapid expansion is reshaping recruitment strategies across the industry.
If you're navigating these changes, you've come to the right place. This article will explore:
The rise and growth of telehealth
5 key ways telehealth impacts healthcare staffing and recruitment strategies
Challenges and considerations for healthcare staffing and recruitment in the telehealth era
Follow along as we analyze how to adapt and thrive in the evolving healthcare niche.
Understanding the Rise of Telehealth
Initially, telehealth was a niche service, but it has become mainstream, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics show that up to 74% of 18-24-year-olds are willing to use telehealth. The 65+ age group is more reluctant, but still, a majority of them – 53% – are willing or already using telehealth medicine.
Several key factors underpin this transformation:
Technological Advancements
The proliferation of high-speed internet and communication technologies such as mobile devices has made telehealth services more accessible. In 2021, 37% of adults in the United States used telemedicine in the past 12 months, highlighting its widespread adoption.
Innovations in data encryption and security have also addressed privacy concerns, making online consultations safer. Wearable health devices and health apps have further facilitated remote monitoring, enabling continuous care outside traditional settings, particularly benefiting chronic disease management and underserved communities.
Regulatory Changes
Governments and healthcare systems worldwide have relaxed regulations around telehealth to accommodate the growing need for remote care. In the United States, telehealth utilization for office visits and outpatient care was 78 times higher in April 2020 than in February 2020, reflecting significant regulatory adaptations.
These changes include reimbursement policies by insurance companies and adjustments in licensing requirements, allowing medical professionals and healthcare leaders to offer services across state lines or national borders, aiding rural communities and remote locations in accessing care.
Shifting Patient Preferences
Modern patients prioritize convenience and speed of access to healthcare services. Telehealth meets these demands by reducing travel time and waiting periods and enabling virtual consultations with specialists who may not be available locally.
A survey indicated that 63% of physicians feel most of the telehealth visits they provide replace care delivered in person, underscoring the shift in patient and provider preferences.The pandemic accelerated this shift, as patients and providers sought to minimize exposure to the virus, making telehealth a necessity rather than a luxury.
Clinical Acceptance
Initially met with skepticism, the clinical effectiveness of telehealth has been increasingly recognized. Studies have shown that telehealth can be as effective as in-person visits for certain conditions, leading to its acceptance among healthcare leaders and medical professionals.
“This study is really important for providing Congress with the evidence that they need to support the concept of extending waivers.” - Lee Schwamm, MD
Another study found that telehealth users experienced a 36% net reduction in emergency department use per 1,000 people compared to non-virtual care users, demonstrating its clinical efficacy. This acceptance is crucial for its integration into healthcare systems and standard healthcare protocols.
Cost-Effectiveness
Telehealth has demonstrated potential cost savings for both providers and patients by reducing the need for physical space, minimizing no-shows, and optimizing resource allocation, all contributing to lower healthcare costs. An economic evaluation estimated mean total cost savings of $147.4 per telehealth visit, highlighting its financial benefits.
The combination of these factors has facilitated the adoption of telehealth and ensured its persistence as a staple in the future of healthcare, promising to redefine how healthcare services are delivered in the healthcare sector.
5 Key Ways Telehealth Impacts Healthcare Staffing and Recruitment Strategies
1) Expands the Healthcare Talent Pool
Telehealth has revolutionized healthcare delivery, making it more accessible and efficient. This transformation extends to how healthcare organizations approach staffing and recruitment. There are telehealth and telemedicine recruiters that also assist in expanding the pool of healthcare professionals who can work remotely across various regions. Here are several reasons why telehealth expands the healthcare recruitment talent pool:
"Telehealth expands access to expertise, connecting specialists with a wider geographic reach. This not only optimizes healthcare staffing for specialized care in remote areas but also diversifies the candidate pool, enhancing the patient experience for healthcare service providers." - GHR Healthcare
Here are several reasons why telehealth expands the healthcare recruitment talent pool:
Geographical flexibility: Telehealth removes the geographical barriers that traditionally limited where healthcare professionals could work. Providers can offer care from virtually any location, enabling organizations to recruit talent from a broader geographic area. For instance, in 2021, 85.9% of office-based physicians used telemedicine technology, indicating widespread adoption that facilitates remote work opportunities.
Attracts diverse specialties: With telehealth, there's a growing demand for specialists who can provide virtual care. This opens opportunities for recruiting professionals with niche specialties that might not have been feasible for in-person settings due to geographic and patient population limitations.
Work-life balance: Telehealth's flexibility is attractive to many healthcare professionals seeking better work-life balance. This can draw candidates who might prioritize flexibility over other factors, such as those with family commitments or who prefer working from home.
Access to a global talent pool: Telehealth expands recruitment within national borders and opens the possibility of recruiting internationally, as long as regulatory and licensing requirements are met. This can be particularly valuable in filling shortages in certain specialties.
Lowering barriers for entry: For new graduates and those transitioning from other sectors, telehealth roles may present fewer barriers to entry than traditional healthcare roles. The digital nature of telehealth can be less intimidating and more in line with the skill sets of younger generations who are digital natives.
Encourages career development and specialization: Telehealth promotes ongoing education and specialization, as professionals must stay abreast of technological advancements and telehealth best practices. This creates a dynamic environment that attracts individuals interested in continuous learning and development.
2) Necessitates New Skills and Training
The new telehealth paradigm requires healthcare staff to adapt and develop new competencies. Technical proficiency is essential, as telehealth services rely heavily on technology, from video conferencing tools to electronic health records (EHRs). Healthcare professionals must be proficient in these technologies to deliver care effectively.
Digital communication skills are also crucial; healthcare providers need to be trained in conveying empathy, making clear assessments, and providing instructions through a screen, which can differ significantly from in-person interactions.
In addition, remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a key component of telehealth and managing chronic conditions. It often involves monitoring patients' health data remotely. Staff must be trained in setting up, interpreting, and responding to data from remote monitoring devices.
"38% of healthcare organizations reported reduced admissions, 25% reported improved patient satisfaction, and 25% reported cost reductions since implementing an RPM program." - Gitnux, August 2023
With the increased digitization of health data comes an increased risk of cyber threats, making cybersecurity awareness vital. Healthcare staff must understand cybersecurity best practices to protect patient information. Telehealth is also governed by various regulatory compliance requirements, including privacy laws and cross-border healthcare delivery regulations, necessitating staff awareness to ensure compliance.
Given that telehealth can connect providers with patients from diverse backgrounds, cultural competency training is essential. It allows staff to communicate effectively and empathize with a wider range of patients.
Lastly, adaptability and problem-solving are critical, as technical issues may arise during telehealth sessions. Healthcare professionals must be adaptable and possess problem-solving skills to address any challenges promptly and ensure patient care is not compromised.
Ongoing training and support are critical for staff to feel confident and competent in delivering virtual care. That’s why it's important to establish a continuous learning culture that includes regular updates on technology, best practices in virtual care, and forums for sharing experiences and challenges. We've found that peer-led training sessions are particularly effective, as they allow staff to learn from each other's real-world experiences.
A great example of this comes from Stoney Brook Medicine. Check out their approach to telehealth education below:
3) Changes the Demand for Various Healthcare Roles
Telehealth has significantly reshaped the demand for various healthcare roles due to its unique delivery model. The pivot to telehealth requires robust IT infrastructure and ongoing technical support, resulting in an increased need for IT professionals skilled in healthcare technologies, cybersecurity, and data management.
Additionally, telehealth has expanded access to mental health services, which has led to a surge in demand for psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors comfortable with providing care remotely.
This shift extends to nursing roles as well, creating opportunities for nurses with specialties in telehealth coordination, remote patient monitoring, and digital health education, thus moving away from traditional bedside nursing toward virtual care roles.
As telehealth generates vast amounts of data, there is also a heightened demand for data analysts and health informaticians who can interpret and utilize this information to improve patient care. Moreover, with telehealth’s reliance on digital interfaces, there is a growing need for roles focused on patient education, digital literacy, and engagement to ensure patients can effectively use telehealth services.
Bridging the gap between clinical staff and technical teams has become essential as well, driving the demand for telehealth liaisons or coordinators who understand both clinical and technical aspects of telehealth.
Finally, the rapid expansion of telehealth services has complicated the legal and regulatory landscape, leading to a demand for professionals who specialize in telehealth regulations, patient privacy laws, and cross-border healthcare provision. Together, these changes reflect the broad impact telehealth has had on the healthcare workforce, shaping new and specialized roles to support its integration.
Insider Tip: Recognize the importance of flexibility and cross-training in meeting the changing demands for healthcare roles. It's important to invest in training programs that focus on the specific skills required for telehealth and encourage adaptability among staff. This includes cross-training employees in different aspects of telehealth, from technical support to patient engagement strategies.
4) Enables More Flexible Staffing Models
Telehealth has introduced more flexibility in how staffing is managed. Here are some reasons why this is the case, along with the advantages this model brings:
Remote work capabilities: Telehealth allows healthcare providers to work from anywhere with an internet connection, reducing the need for all staff to be on-site. This flexibility can lead to more varied and accommodating work schedules.
Extended hours of service: With telehealth, healthcare facilities can offer services beyond traditional office hours without requiring staff to be physically present at the clinic or hospital, allowing for extended service hours to meet patient needs.
Efficient resource allocation: Telehealth can help match the demand for healthcare services with available staffing more efficiently. Providers can be dynamically allocated based on patient volume and specialty needs, optimizing the use of human resources.
Part-time and freelance work opportunities: The digital nature of telehealth supports part-time and freelance work arrangements, attracting a broader pool of healthcare professionals who may prefer or require non-traditional work schedules.
Specialization and consultation: Telehealth enables specialists to consult more easily across distances, allowing for more targeted use of specialist time and expertise. This can lead to a model where generalists and specialists collaborate more fluidly, depending on patient needs.
Reduced burnout and increased retention: The flexibility offered by telehealth can contribute to reduced burnout by allowing healthcare workers to have greater control over their work-life balance. This can lead to higher job satisfaction and retention rates.
Scalability: Telehealth platforms can be scaled up or down with relative ease, allowing healthcare organizations to adjust staffing levels based on real-time demand without the constraints of physical space and geographic location.
The key to leveraging flexible staffing models is effective communication and scheduling tools. That's why it's vital to invest in a robust digital platform that supports seamless scheduling, communication, and collaboration among staff, regardless of their physical location.
Tools like Amion (Amion), a scheduling tool tailored specifically for healthcare providers, enable staff to manage shifts and on-call scheduling efficiently. TigerConnect (TigerConnect) offers secure, HIPAA-compliant messaging to facilitate real-time communication among healthcare teams, while Doxy.me (Doxy.me) provides a healthcare-specific video conferencing platform designed for telehealth consultations.
5) Alters the Criteria for Hiring and Evaluation
Telehealth's rise has transformed healthcare delivery and reshaped the criteria for hiring and evaluating healthcare staff. Let’s review the hiring criteria that have become more important following the emergence of telehealth.
Technical competence is now essential, as candidates must demonstrate proficiency in using telehealth technologies and platforms due to the reliance on digital systems.
“The average number of digital health tools used by physicians increased from 2.2 in 2016 to 3.8 in 2022” - AMA
Additionally, advanced communication skills have taken on greater importance, as effective communication through video or messaging platforms is crucial. Candidates must be able to convey empathy, clarity, and professionalism over these mediums.
With the fast-evolving nature of telehealth services, adaptability to change has also become a vital quality. Staff must show flexibility and a willingness to learn and adjust to new technologies and protocols. Furthermore, self-management and discipline are increasingly critical for telehealth roles, which often involve greater autonomy and less direct supervision. Candidates need strong self-management skills to maintain productivity and ensure high-quality care.
Despite the physical distance in telehealth settings, team collaboration remains crucial. Candidates must be able to work effectively in a virtual team environment, coordinating care seamlessly with other healthcare professionals and support staff.
To ensure candidates meet these standards, incorporating scenario-based assessments into the hiring process has proven valuable. By designing interview and evaluation processes that simulate real telehealth interactions and challenges, employers can better assess how candidates handle specific scenarios they will face in their roles, from technical troubleshooting to managing sensitive patient interactions online.
Applied Scenario:
A large healthcare provider in the United States recognized the challenges associated with delivering care via telehealth platforms, especially concerning provider-patient interactions and technical competencies. To address this, they integrated scenario-based assessments into their hiring process for telehealth roles.
Implementation:
Simulation exercises: Candidates participated in mock telehealth consultations that simulated real-world scenarios, such as managing a patient's anxiety remotely, dealing with technical disruptions during a session, and ensuring patient privacy and confidentiality online.
Technical troubleshooting: Assessments included tasks where candidates had to navigate common technical issues, demonstrating their ability to assist patients with connectivity problems or software navigation during a consultation.
Feedback and evaluation: A multidisciplinary team evaluated candidates based on their communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability to the virtual environment.
Outcomes:
Improved hiring decisions: The organization reported more effective hiring decisions, selecting candidates who were better prepared for the nuances of telehealth delivery.
Enhanced patient satisfaction: There was a noticeable improvement in patient satisfaction scores attributed to providers' adeptness at handling telehealth-specific challenges.
Reduced technical issues: Providers hired through this process demonstrated higher proficiency in managing technical aspects, leading to fewer disruptions during patient sessions.
Challenges and Considerations for Healthcare staffing and recruitment in the Telehealth Era
The transition to telehealth has transformed healthcare delivery, offering unprecedented access to medical services. However, it introduces significant challenges and considerations for healthcare staffing and recruitment. Let's explore these below:
Licensing and Regulatory Challenges
The practice of telehealth across different regions comes with licensing and regulatory complexities. Healthcare professionals are typically licensed to practice in specific states or countries, and telehealth services often cross these jurisdictional boundaries. For instance, as of 2023, 39 states, along with the District of Columbia and Guam, have joined the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), which streamlines the process for physicians to obtain licenses in multiple states, facilitating interstate telehealth practice.
This discrepancy necessitates a nuanced approach to staffing, as practitioners must navigate varying state and international laws to provide telehealth services legally. These regulatory challenges require healthcare organizations to invest in comprehensive legal and administrative support to ensure compliance, significantly affecting staffing decisions and workflows.
The Digital Divide
The digital divide impacts staffing in telehealth, particularly in rural or underserved areas. Access to reliable internet and digital technology is unevenly distributed, with rural areas often facing significant disadvantages. Approximately 24 million American households lack access to high-speed internet, hindering their ability to engage in telehealth services.
This disparity limits patient access to telehealth services and affects the recruitment and retention of healthcare staff in these regions. Professionals may be deterred from working in areas where technological barriers hinder effective telehealth delivery. Consequently, healthcare providers must consider technological infrastructure support and training as critical components of their staffing strategy to bridge this divide.
Quality of Care and Patient Safety
Ensuring the quality of care and patient safety in a telehealth-driven environment is crucial. Training and continuous professional development play essential roles in preparing healthcare staff for the unique challenges of telehealth, including managing patient data securely and maintaining patient-provider relationships in a virtual setting.
Moreover, organizations must implement robust telehealth protocols and quality assurance measures to monitor and uphold high standards of care, demanding a strategic alignment of staffing practices with these quality objectives.
Addressing these challenges requires innovative strategies, significant investment in technology and training, and a commitment to adapt to the evolving healthcare environment.
Leveraging and Adapting to the Age of Telehealth
We’ve explored the significant changes telehealth introduces to the healthcare industry, particularly how it has reshaped staffing and the recruitment process. By moving many services online, telehealth has expanded access to care and created new opportunities and challenges for healthcare providers in hiring and managing their teams.
Telehealth's rise demands a shift in how healthcare facilities staff their teams, requiring a mix of traditional clinical skills and new technological proficiencies. This evolution in healthcare delivery means that recruitment strategies must now prioritize digital literacy and the ability to deliver care in a virtual setting alongside the usual qualifications.
As we move forward, it's clear that telehealth programs will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the healthcare industry.
Leverage the insights we discussed here and consider how you can adapt your staffing and recruitment strategies to thrive in this new era of telehealth.
