EVENT ENCORE
The Great Resignation: Shortages and Best Practices February 1, 2022 By: Kean Villarta On February 1, 2022, ACHE of North Texas held its “The Great Resignation: Shortages and Best Practices” panel discussion to address this timely issue in healthcare. Moderated by John P. Carter, this event had over 50 attendees and featured the following panelists: Stacey Dorsey, VP and Chief Workforce Officer, Parkland Health; Irina Plumlee, Shareholder, Munsch Hardt; Courtney Rottman, Chief of Staff, UT Southwestern Medical Center; and Jacob Simon, COO, The Medicus Firm. As expected, our panelists’ respective organizations were hit hard by staffing challenges, especially at the beginning of the pandemic. At Parkland Health, Stacey shared that the pandemic highlighted the gaps in current processes and staffing. Although, by the time of the Great Resignation, the focus was more about the long-term sustainability, such as supplying travel nursing staff, instead of disaster planning where staff were volunteering for other areas and working remotely. Courtney shared that UT’s culture had to adapt and there is now more transparency; in addition, partner institutions and community stakeholders continue to collaborate in delivering care. UT had to learn to be more efficient and double the pace of hiring.
The panelists also discussed the changes they saw in candidates’ preferences when it came to finding a job. Jacob noted that for the first time in his firm’s annual survey, physicians are choosing quality of life and work/ life balance over compensation when looking for new jobs - highlighting the importance of flexibility and an organizations’ need to adapt. In the immigration and legal world, Irina shared that organizations must think of ways to support, attract, and retain highly skilled immigrants, such as offering a personalized approach that addresses a myriad of issues from visa challenges to children aging out of dependency. The panelists also addressed the importance of strengthening a company’s culture and wellness by focusing on diversity and inclusion, continuing collaboration with the local Dallas community, allowing opportunities for growth and recognition, leveraging technology, and identifying and addressing burnout. As the industry continues to monitor the short- and long-term effects of the Great Resignation, organizations must continue to adapt to deliver the best care not only for their patients but also for those who take care of them.
