Action Steps
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Visit blogs for and about healthcare recruiting services

Blogs are informal resources of information, but they can provide valuable information to employees and employers in the healthcare field. The best thing about blogs is that most bloggers research information from all over the Internet and other sources and post the findings on the blog.

I recommend: Check out the blogs hosted by the Electronic Recruiting Exchange, one of which is a blog titled the A to Z of Healthcare Recruiting. Recruiting Blogs.com is a blog network created for all things healthcare recruiting, including jobs.

Subscribe to healthcare recruiting news and news feeds

There are subscription and free services available to healthcare professionals. Subscription services let you search archives and download specific articles. Some services are specific for a healthcare recruiting agency, while others focus on the whole healthcare field.

I recommend: The Healthcare Intelligence Network offers some free resources along with a subscription for all-access to the their network. Health Career Agents report all the industry news and trends currently happening with healthcare and healthcare recruitment.

Read healthcare employee recruitment publications

The healthcare industry publishes a variety of publications. Some are industry specific, but others encompass all aspects of healthcare. It's hard to pinpoint which magazines will publish articles aimed at recruiters for nurses or recruiters for physicians, but subscribing to a few industry magazines helps you stay on top of current news.

I recommend: Gale offers access to healthcare articles through the use of a library card or free registration with their website. The website of Pam Pohly Associates offers a thorough listing of healthcare publications, including subscription information.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While larger healthcare facilities will have a coordinator that stays abreast of healthcare recruiting issues, a smaller medical office should designate an employee to coordinate relevant information useful to the doctor when working with a healthcare placement firm.

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Recruit healthcare professionals online

Recruiters for physicians often locate likely candidates from tips on the Internet. Post job ads on generic job sites like Monster or Vault or, even better, visit industry-specific websites.

I recommend: HEALTHeCAREERS Network represents more than 70 healthcare associations. When you contract with this network, see your job opening posted on hundreds of healthcare websites. One of the most comprehensive databases is MedZilla, reaching healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotechnical professionals.

Find your audience

Place ads in trade magazines read by medical professionals or contact professional organizations about healthcare recruiting.

I recommend: Gannett Healthcare Group publishes clinical specialist and regional magazines like NurseWeek and CriticalCare. Try an eye-catching display ad in one or more of their print magazines. Professional organizations like the American College of Radiology include career sections on their websites.

Consider using trained healthcare recruiters

If you just don't have the time or desire to do your own recruiting, consider hiring specific recruiting services for the healthcare industry to do the job for you. Some healthcare recruiting agencies receive a monthly retainer until they find the perfect candidate for the job.

I recommend: Join the National Association for Health Care Recruitment and network with other recruiters from the more-than-1000-member organization. HospitalJobs.com will do the searching for candidates for hospital positions for you, and Healthcare Recruiters International focuses on healthcare executive positions. The MD Firm specializes in staffing clients with talented and top physicians in their field throughout the nation.

Hire from healthcare placement firms

A good way to try out potential healthcare providers is by going through a staffing agency. If you see potential in a temp, see if he or she is interested in something more permanent.

I recommend: Many local agencies provide healthcare coverage. Some, like D&Y Staffing and Onward Healthcare, fill staffing needs for larger regions.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check references on job candidates from healthcare recruiting agencies. Pay particular attention to a criminal record and reports from past employers.
• •  Don't forget the tried and true means of hiring. Some employers have had success with newspaper classifieds and radio advertising. Networking is another method of finding the right person for the job.
• •  Offer a decent hiring package. Many recruiting services for healthcare professionals recommend incentives like relocation expenses, paying off school loans, sign-on bonuses and more.

Action Steps
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Review the healthcare employee recruitment marketing plan

Marketing is one area that you will be charged for or will be included in your fee. While the healthcare recruitment firm will have their own marketing ideas, feel free to suggest any marketing strategies or decline a suggested marketing strategy.

I recommend: Look at the options offered by the Bernard Hodes Group, which specializes in recruitment advertising. Go over different ideas for healthcare recruitment marketing by looking at the options posted by U.S. Media.

Discuss all costs for healthcare employee recruiting

There are three types of payment options healthcare recruiters use when charging for their services. These options include a flat rate fee, a retained search service fee and a contingency search service fee. Some companies offer one or all of these payment options.

I recommend: Check out The Recruiting Advantage, which offers either retained or contingency search services. American Healthcare Recruiting charges a flat fee for administrative costs and a mailer fee.

Work with international healthcare placement firms

There are some healthcare recruiting programs that specialize in hiring doctors and nurses from countries other than the U.S. They help the hirees obtain legal papers and get situated in both their job and home life.

I recommend: Kennedy Healthcare Recruiting advertises its services as healthcare recruiting and immigration services. AQUENT is another healthcare recruiting company that specializes in recruiting nurses from the United Kingdom.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The most important aspect to remember when working with healthcare recruitment agencies is that you need to give them thorough information. A recruiter can't offer you highly qualified candidates without knowing exactly what you're looking for in a potential hire.

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Travel health care staffing

The need for qualified health care professionals knows no boundaries, and nurses and doctors can take advantage of this to experience life abroad or in another part of the US while earning a paycheck.

I recommend: The Medical Staffing Network lists the benefits it provides its recruits, including housing, bonuses and health care.

Per diem health care staffing

Any facility that provides health care, be it a hospital, clinic, school or correctional facility, needs health care staff to fill in at some point. Per diem staffing places a health care professional for a day, though just as often temps are hired on a weekly or monthly basis.

I recommend: Interim HealthCare offers per diem staffing.

Allied health care

Allied health care refers to an array of health care professions outside those of nurse and physician. Allied health professionals include dental hygienists, dietitians and respiratory therapists. Some agencies specialize in filling allied health jobs.

I recommend: Check out the Association of Schools of Allied Heath Professionals for more information on allied health careers.

Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows nurses to work in participating states on one license, rather than reapply at each location. Nurses who want to participate in a travel nursing program should consider whether their license is valid in the state where they plan to seek work.

I recommend: Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators explains the program in detail.

Interim and permanent executive placement

When it comes to filling executive positions, health care organizations do not have the luxury of time to carry out a leisurely search. Many executive recruiting firms provide interim placement services, to make sure day-to-day operations are handled competently while hospital management looks for the right permanent candidate.

I recommend: B.E. Smith places qualified health care executives in both interim and permanent positions.

National Association of Physician Recruiters (NAPR)

Physicians who need help searching for the right position should turn to a recruiter that belongs to the National Association of Physician Recruiters (NAPR). This organization requires agencies to adhere to its code of ethics, which includes standards of fairness and confidentiality.

I recommend: Visit the NAPR to find out more about the organization's admittance policies and code of ethics.