| Today's struggling economy continues to force | | | | back to school rush or the end of the year, selectively |
| medical practices to make tough choices concerning | | | | adding staff for just those select times keeps the core |
| one of their biggest operating expenses and one of | | | | staff fresh. |
| their greatest assets - their staff. | | | | Increase flexibility |
| Staff costs, such as healthcare, insurance, taxes and | | | | Adding extra staff as needed to smooth fluctuations in |
| benefits, are soaring at a time when practices are | | | | workload helps avoid being overstaffed during slow |
| under even greater pressure to perform. Everyone's | | | | times or understaffed during key busy times. Staff |
| being asked to do more with less. The mandate | | | | levels can be managed to be at productive levels all |
| continues to get and stay lean. | | | | year. |
| A tailored, strategic approach to temporary staffing | | | | Letting temporary employees handle routine business |
| can help reduce overhead and manage payroll costs. | | | | functions allows regular staff to concentrate on critical |
| The overall performance of the practice can be | | | | issues. For example, temporary staff can handle |
| improved by scheduling staff only when they are | | | | answering the phone and making appointments while |
| needed, reducing risk and saving time. Here's how: | | | | the manger works on insurance claims and billing. |
| Reduce costs | | | | Save time |
| Temporary staff can provide the help when it is | | | | The staffing company performs all the advertising, |
| needed. For example, additional staff and doctors can | | | | screening, interviewing and reference checking needed |
| be added to help with the end of the year rush as | | | | to attract and qualify potential employees. No need for |
| patients use up their insurance benefits and spending | | | | the doctor or manager to sift through piles of |
| accounts. | | | | unqualified candidates and hold unproductive interviews. |
| Because temporary employees work for the staffing | | | | The practice benefits by making one call and having |
| company, the practice is not responsible for paying | | | | staff sent that is ready to work. |
| their benefits or handling their unemployment claims. | | | | Because they are pre-screened for the necessary |
| For example, the rate for outside staff includes legally | | | | skills, limited training is needed before the new |
| required expenses such as social security taxes and | | | | employee becomes productive. Candidates meet the |
| discretionary costs such as medical benefits, holiday | | | | criteria selected by the practice and typically can step |
| and vacation pay. | | | | in to help right away. |
| Reduce risk | | | | The staffing company takes care of the temporary |
| Most staffing companies offer a temp-to-hire option so | | | | staff's payroll processing and benefits administration, |
| that practices may try out candidates before the | | | | which saves time and money. No need to process |
| commitment is made to add them to the team. Before | | | | payroll for the temporary staff or generate year end |
| making the final decision, candidates can work in the | | | | tax documents. |
| office for an extended period of time without making a | | | | Keep the benefits of temporary staffing in mind. Using |
| commitment to hire until you are certain the fit is right. | | | | temporary employees boosts your productivity without |
| Using temporary help during busy times relieves stress | | | | raising your payroll costs. It also allows you to keep |
| and prevents burnout among regular staff, which can | | | | your staff at levels you can afford while gaining |
| reduce absenteeism and worker's compensation | | | | flexibility to meet patient schedules and work demands |
| claims in the long run. During the crunch of the summer | | | | quickly. |