5 Talent Management Best Practices Every Healthcare Organization Should Focus on Now!

After more than two years of the worst economicmore options.
climate most of us have ever experienced, 2010 couldTalent management can help with a holistic focus on
be the year where healthcare organizations see abuilding an environment where employees feel
reduced negative effect from the economy.engaged, rewarded, and in control over their own
But this could have a hidden downside - a return tocareers. Together, recruiting and performance
challenges in recruitment and retention - challenges thatmanagement solutions can improve communications
were temporarily masked because of the economicwith candidates and employees, identify high-potential
situation. Now is the time for HR to address theseemployees, offer employee development and training
coming challenges using talent managementprograms, and uncover the competencies required for
technology.success in key roles.
The following are five tips and best practices everyBest Practice #4: Develop the Next Generation of
organization should focus on in 2010. Not only will theseLeaders... Today
efforts help maximize recovery efforts, but theseAs baby boomers continue to leave the workforce,
talent management strategies will help healthcarehospitals and healthcare organizations must identify the
organizations achieve better short-term businessnext generation of employees able to step in and fill
results: improved quality of care, high patientthe "leadership gap."
satisfaction, and increased revenue.Talent management technology can help HR build a
Top 5 best practices every healthcare organizationtrue leadership pipeline, assess bench strength of
should focus on in 2010:employees, and create talent pools of high-performing
Best Practice #1: Quickly Fill Critical Positions with Topemployees ready and willing to step in. All of this helps
Talent to Improve the Quality of CareHR remain one step ahead of recruiting demand.
As hiring restrictions ease up and organizations canBest Practice #5: Drive Performance Improvement
hire more in 2010, they need to make sure they'reInitiatives through the Organization
doing everything they can to hire top talent and meetAnother effective talent management practice is for
staffing needs. Recruiting tools and assessmenthealthcare organizations to identify a particular initiative
solutions can improve the efficiency and speed ofthat can have a real - and significant - impact.
recruiting, but more importantly, they help recruitersOne example of a healthcare-specific initiative that has
improve the quality of hire, which can lead to apaid off is hourly patient rounding. Hospitals that have
long-term competitive advantage.nursing staff conduct hourly rounds with patients - as
Best Practice #2: Improve Visibility of Talent in theopposed to reacting to emergency call lights -
Organizationdramatically reduced the amount of patient calls to
The need to find the right employee is paramount innurses, enabling nurses to focus on higher value
healthcare, but the question remains: where to find topinitiatives.
talent?Talent management solutions, especially those with
Talent management technology, particularly recruitinglearning management capabilities, can help the
and performance solutions, can be the answer. Withorganization set department and individual goals around
fast and easy access to critical information on allsuch programs, and manage the training and
candidates and employees - including resumes,communication required to implement change.
performance reviews, competencies, training andSummary
development history, and more - HR truly gains visibilityFocusing on the right recruiting and performance
of all talent across the entire organization.initiatives now - those capable of actually delivering
Best Practice #3: Focus on Employee Engagementsignificant business results now - will be an extremely
and Retentioneffective way for healthcare organizations to
Healthcare has long suffered from employee turnoverdifferentiate themselves from the competition,
and staff shortages. While the current recession hasmaximize their recovery efforts, and better position
somewhat lessened this challenge, it is certain tothemselves for growth as the recovery occurs.
resurface as hiring restrictions are lifted and they have