When you start your own urgent care franchise, it doesn’t really seem real until you’ve hired your staff and started welcoming patients. As experienced or business-minded as you might be,  hiring the right staff is often the deciding factor in whether or not your business gets off to a roaring or bumpy start. Particularly in the medical field, where communication, transparency, and relationships are incredibly important, you want to make sure your staff understands the importance of the urgent care mission and embodies the values and professionalism you’re looking for. Here are a few tips on how to find the perfect staff for your urgent care franchise.

Networking

One of the best ways to find good employees is by exploring your professional network. Take advantage of career fairs, conferences, or open interviews, but also tap friends and family for help filling certain personnel positions in your clinic. Many employees who work in urgent care are former emergency room staff or have been family practice doctors looking for a change. Before hiring, always make sure candidates are interested in (and enthusiastic about!) the faster pace of urgent care. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others in the urgent care industry for referrals, or to check with appropriate physician associations and groups.

Consider Every Role

While hiring nurse practitioners and patient care providers might be at the forefront of your mind, don’t forget about other important roles as well. Front desk reception, for example, sets the tone for your urgent care franchise, as this is the first person patients will interact with. A good strategy might be to conduct interviews where candidates work a mock shift, so you can really get a sense of how they will perform in their role.

Supporting staff, like MAs and med techs, are equally important hires and deserve a great deal of time and consideration when selecting the right candidate. Also, decide whether or not you are willing to hire a new graduate—who will require training and a steeper learning curve—or if you’d rather have someone more experienced, who can hit the ground running. 

Establish Clarity

As with any business, it’s important to give your new hires a clear understanding of their role. How can they meet patient’s needs if they don’t know exactly what is required of them? You should be sure to create clear job descriptions, and then upon hiring, hold staff responsible for fulfilling their duties as described. It is also important to conduct background checks and contact references for all candidates, to ensure the safety, professionalism, and reputability of your urgent care franchise.

Continue Motivating

Once you’ve made your hiring decisions, and staffed your urgent care franchise with the perfect team, you still need to keep that team happy and motivated. Always offer frequent evaluations of performance, so your employees always know where they stand, and what they could be improving on. Encourage teamwork and collaboration through incentives and rewards, and always foster a compassionate, transparent work environment.

If you’re eager to get started, and own your own urgent care franchise with American Family Care, reach out to us today for more information or to take the first step.