Dental staff shortages are a significant concern for many clinics. These shortages can lead to rescheduled appointments, rushed consultations, and inconsistent patient care.
The cause of these shortages is complex. From evolving workforce expectations to economic realities, it’s essential to understand the underlying causes.
Staffing platforms connect independent contractors with dental offices for temporary assignments. These services don’t offer benefits like a W-2 employment status.
Cost-Effective
When dental practices are short-staffed, it negatively impacts patient services. Appointments are rescheduled, and patients might experience rushed consultations and longer turnaround times for treatments and procedures. Fortunately, there are several ways that dental practices can overcome staffing challenges and ensure their patients receive top-tier care.
One way is to partner with a dental staffing agency. Staffing agencies act as intermediaries between job seekers and companies with open positions. They recruit candidates through professional networks, educational institutions, and online platforms and screen them for fit. They also assist with the hiring process by conducting interviews and coordinating offers.
In addition, many dental staffing agencies and platforms, such as Dental Dynamic Staffing, offer safeguards to protect job-seekers from last-minute cancellations. For example, a temporary dental hygienist staffing company allows hygienists to see the name of the dental office before booking and provides protection in case an appointment is canceled at the last minute.
Time-Saving
A dental staffing agency saves the dentist and the temporary employee time by providing a single point of contact to handle all administrative tasks. Dental practices can focus solely on patients and practice growth with a dedicated account manager managing all staffing requests.
Recruiting and screening candidates can take a lot of time, especially for busy practice managers. A professional recruiting firm can help by conducting interviews, evaluating resumes, and verifying credentials. A recruiting agency can also provide the tools and resources to create compelling job posts that resonate with dental professionals.
While many dental professionals are willing to work for various offices, they often prefer an agency that pays benefits, provides W2 classification, and doesn’t charge permanent placement fees—an example of a temp agency that offers these perks to its employees. Staffing agencies also allow dental professionals to set hourly rates and choose the office where they want to work.
Flexibility
In a time when flexibility is valued in the workforce, flex staffing allows dental practices to hire temporary clinical team members to fill open shifts due to maternity leave, vacation, or last-minute sick leave. The ability to tap into the talents of talented temporary team members helps a practice keep patients scheduled and happy.
Whether working full-time or part-time, temporary dental professionals are hired as employees and pay taxes by state and federal regulations. Many platforms and agencies offer safeguards that ensure compensation for bookings canceled at the last minute or not filled.
The right staffing solutions can help a dental practice overcome the current staffing crisis and ensure that patient appointments are kept, which is critical to the overall success of any course. Dental procedures can see relief from their staffing woes by fostering a positive work environment, engaging with educational institutions, and lobbying for policy revisions to attract and retain more talent. This is especially important if they want to be competitive in a new market.
Access to Qualified Candidates
Many dental practices need help with staffing shortages. These shortages impact the practice’s efficiency and patients’ ability to receive timely care. However, these shortages are not insurmountable. The right strategies, tools, and partnerships can help to address the issue.
Staffing agencies and platforms offer various opportunities for dental professionals to find temporary work. Some of these opportunities include nonclinical positions, such as those that provide marketing and administrative support. Others may also involve tele-dentistry, which can expand a practice’s reach and reduce the need for physical staff.
Recruiting methods vary depending on the type of position, but some examples include employee referrals, online professional networking networks, and job boards. Additionally, partnering with local colleges and universities can be an effective way to locate candidates.
Depending on your location, the cost of living and other factors could significantly affect your salary. It would help to consider these perks and benefits when evaluating job offers to make the most of your money.
Personalized Service
Dental hygienists and assistants are the backbone of any practice, but staffing shortages have caused many to cut their hours, reduce their roles, or leave the industry altogether. This has impacted patients nationwide with a ripple effect on office operations. Patient wait times have elongated, with some appointments being rescheduled or canceled.
Staffing agencies are a great way for practices to fill in these gaps with high-quality professionals. A staffing agency can help with hiring processes, interviewing, and training to ensure the best fit. They can also provide support during peak hours to help reduce rescheduling and missed appointments.
This helps job seekers make better decisions about where to work.
Staffing companies provide a variety of dental positions, including dental assistants, dental hygienists, EFDA, and dentists. Many also offer payroll services and have nationwide staffing coverage. Some firms even have ambassador programs to reward and promote their employees. This can help them attract new talent and improve their bottom line.
