Publication

Ask anyone in health care about their greatest challenge and they'll have the same answer—staffing shortages. Arbor Health has experienced the same issue across the organization. As of this writing, we are searching for nurse practitioners, registered nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, medical laboratory technologists, certified nursing assistants, billing clerks, dietary professionals and more.

Teamwork and Ingenuity

What does a small, rural health system like Arbor Health do in this situation? We pull together, sharpen our teamwork skills and use a little creativity. One common—but costly—avenue is contracted labor, known as "travelers." Rather than working for one organization long-term, these medical professionals work for a placement organization that contracts with the health systems for temporary help. This is definitely costly for the health system; however, using contract labor allows us to provide vital medical care to our communities.

And then there's the aforementioned creativity aspect. Our Human Resources Department tried a couple new avenues in 2022. First, they met with Morton, White Pass and Mossyrock high school seniors to tell about the many careers available at Arbor Health as well as the employee scholarships available through the Arbor Health Foundation.

They also held two open-interview events. The first was for nonclinical roles, ranging from Maintenance Department to clinic receptionist positions. The various managers were on-site to provide information on the positions and give tours of their departments. The second such event was limited to clinical positions and ran much the same way. By the end of the endeavor, they had made several job offers and brought on four new employees.

Finally, we are looking for ways to "grow our own," when possible. We had nine employee students enroll in the Medical Assistant Apprenticeship program. With this, they are employed throughout the yearlong on-the-job training program.

The Arbor Health team is at its strongest when it pulls together as one team with one mission. This team prides itself in working together to nurture a healthy community.

Categories: Community