At the recent AOHP conference, Page Thompson, director of Employee Health and Safety at Propelus, led an engaging panel discussion called Optimizing Healthcare Onboarding: Strategies for Boosting Productivity, Enhancing Retention, and Streamlining Processes. Industry experts Lynda Grant from Adventist Health and Tami Wilcoxson from SSM Health shared their expertise, providing actionable insights for attendees. Ready to enhance your onboarding process? Here are three key takeaways to supercharge your strategy.
1. Onboarding is the Secret Sauce for Retention
Picture this: your new hires are like freshly planted seeds. The right onboarding process is the water and sunlight that helps them grow into flourishing employees. “Onboarding is the front door to your organization,” Thompson said. So, why not make it a welcoming and easy experience for candidates to walk through? The panel highlighted a staggering fact: Employees who experience a top-notch onboarding process are 18 times more likely to stay committed to their organization. And here’s the kicker: 86% of new hires decide whether they’ll stick with an organization their first few months. So, a smooth onboarding can save you from a revolving door of talent and keep your team growing strong!
2. Communication and Automation are the Keys to Streamlining Onboarding
Imagine if every onboarding task felt like a breeze. Grant and Wilcoxson shared how effective communication and automation tools can make this a reality. Think of it like having a virtual assistant who sends reminder texts and emails, so your team doesn’t have to chase down new hires. Clear communication from the start sets the right tone, while automation handles the mundane. It’s like having your onboarding process on autopilot—without losing the personal touch!
For example, with Immuware by Propelus, new hires can easily supply their vaccination and titer documentation, medical exemptions, and declinations via the employee health records software portal from any device before coming in for their pre-placement appointment. Immuware can also pull from and push to state immunization registries for clients.
Wilcoxson shared a recent quote from a new hire at SSM Health, “this was the most efficient on-boarding process I have been to. I have worked for others in the region and 35 minutes I was in and out … I feel confident on Monday that I am going to the right place.”
3. Onboarding Should be Aligned with Organizational Objectives
Onboarding isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about driving your organization’s big-picture goals. Wilcoxson talked about tackling workforce shortages and regulatory hurdles with smart onboarding strategies, like integrating with systems such as WorkDay. Grant shared her secret to cutting onboarding time while maximizing impact—finding ways to streamline those lengthy processes and make every second count. Grant says that they were able to process 1,400 new hires in two weeks with their updated employee health processes, which include using Immuware. It’s all about ensuring your onboarding efforts align with your broader goals, helping you hit targets and keep things running smoothly.
Turning Onboarding into a Launchpad for Success
Incorporating these insights into your onboarding strategy can make a world of difference. By blending effective communication, leveraging the power of automation, and aligning your onboarding practices with organizational goals, you’re not just filling positions—you’re investing in your team’s long-term success. As the panel discussion revealed, a thoughtfully designed onboarding process can set the stage for new hires to thrive, drive retention, and contribute meaningfully to your organization.
Immuware by Propelus can help streamline your onboarding process seamlessly by merging pre-hire and new hire records from external hiring software, application tracking software, or, once hired, the payroll system.
So, take these lessons to heart and transform your onboarding process into a dynamic launchpad for your employees’ success.