Here are three creative approaches to recruiting and retaining top talent in today’s job market.
- Connect with local learning institutions.
- Consider alternative work schedules.
- Stand up a bonus program aligned with practice goals.
According to Evan Saulino, MD, PhD, a family physician and regional medical director at Aledade, the key is aligning value-based care work with your practice’s payment structure so staff members realize how their daily activities support quality care goals. “This also keeps the team focused on what they can do and not frustrated by what they can’t do,” Dr. Saulino said.
Some organizations award annual bonuses using a simple percentage, while others take a more nuanced approach. Dr. Saulino recommends incentivizing team members who are involved in value-based care work and who have completed a minimum tenure at the practice (e.g. a year of service). At the Walker Clinic, the bonus program unites clinical and nonclinical team members in tackling a given quality measure (e.g., mammograms), which is assigned a biannual bonus payment value. According to Walker, it’s this cross-functional alignment that’s been key to the clinic achieving shared savings.
“We all have to be on the same page and moving in a fluid motion, or we’re just not going to get there,” Walker said.