Navigating the Front Desk Staff Shortage: 6 Practical Tips and Strategies for Success

The COVID-19 pandemic has put an enormous strain on the healthcare industry, and one of the most pressing issues that healthcare providers face today is a shortage of front office staff.

The healthcare industry has been struggling to fill administrative roles. According to a poll from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), the median turnover rate for front office support is at 20%, which is higher than other primary care single specialties positions like clinical support (15.83%) and business operations support staff (9.92%).

With a lot of empty desks in healthcare facilities to date, the shortage is causing longer wait times, increased patient dissatisfaction, and higher staff burnout rates.

However, there are practical strategies that healthcare providers can use to manage the front desk staff shortage and ensure that their patients receive the best care possible. Let’s dive in and discover practical tips and tricks to help your company navigate this challenge successfully.

6 Tips and Strategies to Navigate the Front Desk Staff Shortage

1. Consider cross-training staff

In the face of staffing shortages, cross-training is a valuable tool that can help mitigate the impact of labor scarcity and fill gaps in the workforce. This can involve training staff members to handle multiple tasks and responsibilities, such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and checking in patients.

This approach can also help staff members gain a broader understanding of the organization and increase their job satisfaction, ultimately improving the visitor experience and reducing the need to hire additional manpower.

2. Look into outsourcing

Consider outsourcing some tasks, such as appointment scheduling or insurance verification, to third-party providers to alleviate the workload of your front desk staff. This can allow your employees to focus on other responsibilities, such as patient care and administrative tasks.

Additionally, outsourcing can potentially save operational expenses that are otherwise tied to hiring full-time staff.

3. Offer flexible work arrangements

Providing front office staff with the option to work remotely can expand your talent pool and increase your employees’ job satisfaction. By allowing team members to work from home with flexible scheduling, your organization can tap into a wider network of candidates and reduce turnover.

This approach can also help staff members achieve a better work-life balance, leading to greater job satisfaction and improved productivity. After all, 72% of Americans consider work-life balance during their job search—and workers in the healthcare sector are no exception to this arrangement.

4. Prioritize communication and collaboration

Effective communication and collaboration are essential in healthcare organizations, especially when dealing with staffing shortages. Front desk staff members must work together with other departments, such as clinical and administrative staff, to ensure that patient care is seamless and efficient.

With this, encourage open communication and collaboration to reduce miscommunication and ensure everyone is on the same page. By working collaboratively, staff members can support one another in completing tasks and achieving common goals. This can also build a sense of camaraderie, which can improve morale and job fulfillment.

Moreover, motivating front office staff to share their ideas and feedback can improve processes and identify areas for improvement within the facility. By doing this, healthcare organizations can better manage staffing shortages and improve the overall customer experience.

5. Leverage the latest technologies

Consider using automated messaging or chatbots to handle routine inquiries and tasks, including setting appointment reminders, patient check-ins, and insurance verification. Incorporating these tools in your organization can reduce the workload for your front desk staff, freeing them up for more complex tasks that require human interaction.

You can also consider offering advancements like telehealth to limit the need for in-person visits and lessen the burden on front office staff. By allowing patients to consult with their providers remotely, telehealth can reduce wait times and improve the efficiency of the front office staff. Plus, this can give patients greater flexibility and convenience in scheduling appointments.

6. Implement a virtual front desk receptionist platform and kiosk

A Gartner study reveals that 91% of businesses are engaged in some form of digital initiative, with some even saying that digitalization is a priority in their organization.

Apart from launching automated solutions for your team members to use in their day-to-day activities, you can take your facility up a notch by integrating a virtual front desk receptionist platform and kiosk.

This technology can streamline the check-in process, allowing visitors to sign in, receive directions, and fill out forms electronically without having to wait in line or interact with in-person front office staff. This improves the visitor experience and lets front desk staff focus on other critical tasks.

Manage Front Office Staff Shortage with the New Normal

Remember, managing healthcare’s front office staffing shortage requires a combination of strategies tailored to the unique needs of each organization. By implementing some of these strategies and exploring new approaches, your company can mitigate the impact of labor scarcity and still maintain high levels of patient care.

As the business landscape becomes more digital by the day, embracing technologies to scale your operations to greater heights is only fitting. If you’re thinking of upgrading your functions in the facility, consider adding a virtual front desk receptionist platform and kiosk.

As a comprehensive solution, check out WelcomeWare for an integrated platform that harnesses people, software, and hardware to deliver an all-in-one check-in, reception, and customer service solution.

To learn more about how WelcomeWare can help your business navigate the front desk staff shortage and transform your operations into a modern and dynamic space, contact us and request a demo today!