Mastering Holiday Psychiatric Staffing: Strategies for Success

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Maintaining proper psychiatric staffing in your facility is a crucial yet difficult task year-round. But as the holidays approach, an anticipated growing demand for services will only make staying fully staffed more difficult. PsychStaffing has over 30 years of experience in solving staffing solutions by matching practices with board-certified psychiatrists and nurse practitioners. Join our experts below as we dig into the realities of holiday staffing and share some solutions to your hiring challenges!

Understanding The Psychiatric Holiday Rush

For most retailers, the “holiday rush” starts the day after Thanksgiving, commonly referred to as Black Friday. But in the mental health world, we see a different trend. Holiday mental health struggles start as early as the beginning of November and continue into the new year. As November begins, many families begin planning for holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year. And thus begins a season of emotional and mental strain for many individuals.

Why do people face mental health challenges during the holidays?

The holidays are often met with strained mental and emotional health struggles. In fact, a study performed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that 64% of individuals living with a mental illness felt that their conditions worsened around the holidays. Not only that, but an additional study performed by the American Psychological Association found that 38% of people experience more general stress during the holidays. There are many reasons that mental health challenges are exacerbated by holidays – including grief, financial stress, familial conflict, loneliness, decreased sunlight, and so much more. When what is supposed to feel like the happiest time of the year turns out to be the most difficult time of the year, many turn to psychiatric support to stay afloat.

This presents holiday staffing difficulties for many practices, as this increased demand in services is met by practitioners seeking time off to be with family. Preparing for more patients by hiring for the holidays can alleviate stress from your staff and provide the coverage you need.

Navigating Psychiatric Staffing During the Holiday Season

This time of year presents unique challenges for behavioral health facilities. With more people seeking help, facilities face gaps in care as practitioners take time off for the holidays. So how can practices ensure patients get the care they need? Below, we share a few solutions to help meet a growing demand for services.

Take Advantage of Telepsychiatry Solutions

One tool you can introduce to your practice is a telehealth option. As millions of people travel throughout the holiday season, you may find telehealth services meet the needs of your patients better than in-person services. Telepsychiatry solutions not only give more patients access to care but also allow your facility to expand the number of practitioners they work with.

PsychStaffing specializes in making high-quality and affordable placements for telepsychiatry services in hospitals, outpatient centers and college campuses. Our experts will even help you set up the technology you need to get started! Get matched with well-vetted telepsychiatry providers today.

Leverage Staffing Agencies For Scheduling Gaps

Hiring during the holidays is not for the faint of heart. Facilities need additional coverage just as already in-demand practitioners are ready to slow down until the new year. This is when working with a psychiatric staffing agency can be a game changer. Rather than losing time to hiring for the holidays, allow experts to match you with full-time or part-time providers for schedule gaps. An agency such as PsychStaffing will present qualified providers who are pre-screened and also handle benefits issues, and pay for insurance premiums, FICA, and CME expenses.

Prioritize Staff Well-Being

The holidays are stressful for providers too. It is a vital time to focus on staff retention by ensuring your current employees are well-rested and cared for. Show your appreciation for them by providing adequate time off, celebrating their accomplishments, or creating team bonding opportunities. Many employees will forgo time with family in order to staff your facility, so make sure you recognize their sacrifices and find ways to brighten their shifts around the holidays.

Analyze Potential Needs Early

Our final tip: don’t wait too long to get started. The fall is an ideal time to look ahead at your calendar to see what your needs will be by November. Start early by connecting with a staffing agency, setting up telehealth services, or planning staff care – your patients and employees with thank you.

How PsychStaffing Can Help!

PsychStaffing helps Hospital ERs, Hospital Inpatient Units, Outpatient Centers, Detox Centers and College Campuses fill important gaps in their patient care with qualified, well-vetted psychiatrists and nurse practitioners. Prepare for holiday staffing today by connecting with our team of psychiatric hiring experts!

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