When you’re busy, it can be tempting to stick to familiar routines. You’ve used paper schedules and booked last-minute shifts by phone for years, so why stop now?
In short, because the right technology could make your life easier and help you save time, stay under budget and feel less stressed.
Switching from a traditional agency to a digital staffing solution, for example, can make it easier to tap into Canada’s growing freelance healthcare workforce. Non-traditional staff appreciate flexible shifts and control over where they work, and easy-to-use technology makes that possible.
Here are five good reasons to make technology part of your healthcare staffing strategy in 2023.
1. Reduce agency fees
Traditional healthcare staffing agencies charge a lot of money for temporary staff, then seal the deal with eye-watering agency fees. One agency in Ontario recently raised nursing rates to $150 per hour – 249% above the typical rate for long-term care homes in the province.
It doesn’t have to be that way. With Florence, you can save 30% or more on average traditional agency rates (and a lot more if you’re using the agency we mentioned above). Here’s why:
- You fill shifts with your own staff first.
- You can set your own rates.
- There are no hidden fees or extra charges.
If you cut your agency spend, you can dedicate extra funds to other projects.
2. More time for care
All-in-one staffing solutions can save you a lot of time. Scheduling tools are easy to use, whether you’re on your smartphone or computer. Instead of spending hours phoning around, trying to fill shifts at the last minute, you can focus on managing your team and caring for patients.
Take Florence, for example. When you have a gap in your schedule, you can easily send a request out to permanent staff. With one click in a text message, your staff can pick that shift up.
If you still have openings, post directly to Florence where our pool of vetted nurses and personal support workers will cover any remaining slots. Reminders go out automatically and seamlessly.
The result? You spend less time chasing people and more time on providing care.
3. Cut overtime costs
From a financial standpoint, it makes sense to reduce overtime as much as possible because overtime hours are expensive.
But there’s another good reason to steer staff away from excessive overtime: burnout. According to numerous reports published in recent years, healthcare professionals routinely switch careers after getting exhausted.
With a tech-based staffing solution, you can save your favourite healthcare professionals and invite them back again and again, relieving pressure on your permanent workers.
4. Improve engagement
The right tech gives freelance nurses and PSWs control of their own schedules so that they can enjoy a better work-life balance. When staff are empowered like this, they often engage and contribute more at your facility.
People who feel engaged and enthusiastic tend to go above and beyond, sometimes picking up extra shifts or additional responsibilities. That means you can make the most of your permanent team before opting for temporary staff.
The upshot? Better continuity of care, and a better patient experience.
5. Retain more staff
Let’s dive a little deeper into retention. We know that burnout can force healthcare professionals into big career decisions. On the flip side, less stress and more control can make it easier for nurses and PSWs to do what they love.
Tech can help – again. If you’re monitoring overtime, you can make sure all team members get enough rest and feel less exhausted. And filling shift gaps with fully vetted Florence professionals can take the pressure off your permanent staff because they’ll no longer be obligated to take open shifts at the last minute.
Reduced stress = improved morale = better staff retention. Everyone wins.
Cut your agency costs for good
With Florence, you can fill open gaps with our highly skilled nurses and personal support workers. We handle all of the onboarding and credentialing, and provide dedicated account management, which means less administrative time for you to manage shifts. 96% of the facilities we work with say our system is easy to use and saves them time and money.
If you’re ready to cut costs, improve engagement and boost retention, now’s the time to swap paper for a tech-based staffing solution.
Want to save money and be a part of the tech staffing revolution? Find out more about Florence and book a demo here.
