As a Functional Medicine clinic, being able to attract quality staff is one of the most critical, yet often overlooked components to ensuring that you’re a thriving and successful operation. As the leading Integrative and Functional Medicine healthcare staffing firm, we believe that following certain guidelines in hiring a Functional Medicine practitioner results in not only attracting top-notch candidates but also helps to create a thriving practice overall. Just as it is important for potential job candidates to put their best foot forward during the interview process, it is essential for clinics to also consider what they are doing to draw in providers that align with their vision. Here are our top three factors to consider:
1. Culture
Creating an environment that practitioners want to come to and work in is essential. However, this is something that must be created with purpose and intention. We’ve found that there are a number of things that a Functional Medicine clinic can commit themselves to doing in order to create a thriving and attractive company culture, including creating a mission statement and a vision, as well as establishing regular employee meetings where everyone has a voice and the latest research and findings in the field are shared. All of these things foster a healthy learning environment that is collaborative and supportive. It comes down to recognizing that everyone on the team is valued, has something to offer and is actually heard. How do you show your employees that you are invested in their development and appreciate their contribution? As mentioned in a previous blog post that outlines 4 factors that candidates need to consider in an Integrative, Functional, and Lifestyle Medicine job, practitioners in this field are innately, by the nature of this field, looking for more than just a paycheck.
2. Branding
Your culture establishes your overall brand, and your brand is critical in the recruiting process. Your Integrative and Functional Medicine clinic’s reputation is essentially one of the best assets you have to market your medical practice and one of the greatest marketing tools in our field. Due to the fact that our field is still relatively small, it’s easy for a practice’s reputation to become known within a community – whether good or bad.
Creating a positive image will help you attract quality candidates and patients because you can be sure that before they consider an opportunity with your organization, candidates will indeed research your reputation. Your employer brand tells a story about who you are, how you approach personalized medicine, and what makes your practice an ideal place to work. Therefore, a strong and well-defined employer brand makes it easier to recruit. Along the same lines, a negative employer brand can be detrimental to your recruiting efforts. According to TalentNow, 84 percent of job seekers say the reputation of a company is important. It goes on to say that a clearly defined employer brand can help screen out candidates that aren’t a good fit for your practice. After a Google search and website review, the candidate may determine that they aren’t a good fit for your organization, saving you time and turnover cost.
When creating an employer brand, it’s critical to give some thought as to how you will develop your brand in attracting patients as well as candidates. Some ideas include investing in a quality website, social media marketing, and blogging. Along these same lines, it’s also advised to pay attention to your online reviews, responding quickly and authentically to all kinds of reviews both good and bad. You may also want to consider an employee referral program where current employees can be your best sales representatives.
Most of all, it’s important to realize that everything that you as an entity put out there is contributing to your brand statement, whether you want it to or not. This affects how you are being perceived by candidates and by patients. Each candidate that you contact, speak with, and interview is an important interaction that can affect not only your brand but also your overall level of success.
3. Organized Recruiting Process
The importance of an organized recruiting process is priceless when it comes to attracting quality providers. And it all starts with the job posting. Crafting a thorough and compelling Functional Medicine job board posting is of the utmost importance. Not only does the job posting need to look good, but it’s also imperative to respond in a timely manner to candidate inquiries.
Another important aspect of recruiting is the interview. The interview process is paramount to building an effective and successful Integrative and Functional Medicine practice, and employers need to approach the situation with preparation and care, just as an employee would. Check out our previous blog post regarding interview mistakes employers make in the Integrative and Functional Medicine field. Preparing for the interview, setting realistic expectations, and making the process as efficient as possible are just a few of the factors that need to be considered.
At Integrated Connections, we help you source the perfect candidate for your practice. You can meet your staffing goals by posting your new Integrative and Functional Medicine position on our job board for the field. Enroll in the HR Support Center and gain the skills and resources you need to recruit, train and retain the top talent in the field. You can inquire about our recruitment services and job board at www.integratedconnects.com/contact-us/.
