28 Feb Looking for Talented Psychiatrists? A Healthcare Staffing Partner Can Help
As we kick off 2024, the United States continues to have a shortage of mental health professionals to treat everyone in need.
According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, the current workforce of about 45,580 psychiatrists must increase by 2,800 to meet today’s demands for psychiatric care. By 2025, that shortage could be as high as 6,090 psychiatrists.
An insufficient number of psychiatrists causes problems for the country’s healthcare system. Not only is it frustrating for patients, but it’s potentially harmful to them since untreated issues can lead to larger problems.
Why the Shortage?
An aging workforce and physician burnout are helping to create a shortage. The U.S. had too few psychiatrists before COVID-19 increased rates of anxiety and depression among practitioners, and the result for many has been to retire or change careers.
In addition, most psychiatrists are concentrated in specific areas, leaving 55% of counties in the U.S. without a psychiatrist at all. Lastly, many practitioners are reluctant to join the psychiatry field due to lower rates of reimbursement and the burden of the documentation requirements that psychiatry entails.
So clearly, the need for more psychiatrists is there – but how do you find them?
Recruiting Psychiatrists in a Shortage
A Forbes article has noted that psychiatrists are now the second most highly recruited physicians after family physicians. Attracting and retaining psychiatrists is a challenge, so here are a few tips for healthcare facilities and practices:
- To attract the right professionals, highlight what makes your facility stand out. Think about why the open position, community, facility, and team are attractive, so you can spread your recruiting message to the right people.
- Are there financial and lifestyle benefits you can offer to sway a candidate into joining your team? Covering relocation costs is a popular offer. The supply crunch for talent has also pushed companies to offer signing or retention bonuses that can extend to a $100,000 for specialty jobs. For areas without psychiatry, a higher salary or more intensive bonuses and benefits package are also excellent enticements.
- You can make your facility as attractive as possible through a strong sales pitch. If you have a psychiatrist on staff, ask them to take part in the applicant process. Your practice is just one of many vying for a small number of psychiatrists available, so this extra recruiting touch can help.
Partner with a Proven Healthcare Staffing Service
In a tight market where finding the right candidate can seem daunting, working with a reputable healthcare staffing firm can make the recruiting process a lot less stressful and time-consuming.
A good staffing agency will have access to an extensive network – including hard-to-find, yet qualified professionals accessible only through a recruiter.
In addition, the staffing firm should have expertise in the world of psychiatry to ensure you’re presented with the best possible candidates.
For example, Annashae Staffing – a leader in providing highly-trained psychiatric professionals– has access to a varied network of vetted candidates that can fit a hiring organization’s specific requirements. Depending on need, the agency can provide fulltime and locum psychiatrist and psychologist practitioners with the right professional qualifications.
Contact Annashae Today
At Annashae we’re dedicated to the placement of highly-skilled clinical practitioners in short and long-term positions. As a nationwide medical staffing and consulting firm, we provide a range of services that enable our candidates to quickly find the career opportunity that fits their needs. For information on how you can further your clinical career, contact us today.