With vacations underway and children out of school, your healthcare workforce can face unique challenges during the warmer months. Here are five tips for streamlining your summer scheduling.
1. Plan ahead for vacations
Summer is peak time for vacations as many people look to spend time traveling or relaxing with their families. Encouraging your internal team to submit vacation plans early ensures you have sufficient time to cover all shifts, including using the ShiftKey marketplace to find extra support. Maintain operational continuity without stress by planning ahead and having contingency plans — for example, outline how you will engage independent professionals on short notice via ShiftKey or how you’ll use it to find coverage for longer time-off requests.
2. Embrace flexibility for parents
With school out for summer, parents might need to juggle childcare and activities like sports or summer camp. Offering flexibility can help accommodate these needs. This flexibility not only supports your team members with children in managing their summer commitments but also aids in retention and minimizing turnover by aligning work schedules more closely with personal preferences and responsibilities.
3. Stay proactive
During the active summer months, it's crucial for schedulers to monitor and manage all shifts meticulously. Regularly review and promptly confirm shifts requested by independent professionals to ensure your facility stays well-equipped for patient care and operational demands. Combine ShiftKey’s expansive marketplace with OnShift’s scheduling and workforce management software for seamless visibility. This proactive management helps maintain a high level of care and operational efficiency.
4. Build a trusted network
You can use ShiftKey to create a network of reliable independent professionals who help meet your facility's unique needs. Our platform not only allows you to select preferred professionals for future engagements but also gives you access to a group of qualified, local independent professionals. With ShiftKey, you’re empowered to connect with the right professionals at the right times, building a network that supports operational success. And, with our app, you can do that from anywhere
5. Utilize support resources
ShiftKey Account Managers are available to offer tailored guidance and support anytime. Your Account Manager will work with you to uncover your challenges and show you how to use our technology to meet those challenges.
It’s easy to streamline your summer operations with ShiftKey. By planning ahead, accommodating your team’s personal preferences and responsibilities and staying on top of your scheduling, you ensure seamless continuity of care. Use ShiftKey's marketplace to take the lead in your seasonal strategy, and get time back to focus on what matters most—delivering outstanding care.
Ready for a stress-free summer?
Contact your account manager to discover how we can support your seasonal workforce strategy. Or, If you don’t use ShiftKey yet, schedule a demo today and see how our technology helps you meet your care delivery goals all year long.
