The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have focused greatly on the challenges of mental health ...
Healthcare professionals drawn to best practice
The healthcare industry is expected to generate 250,000 new jobs over the next five years.1 Skill shortages are already problematic so healthcare practices will want to put their best foot forward to attract the best workers. Healthcare fit-out company Evoke Projects looks at the increasing importance of the physical workspace in attracting and retaining top talent.
What are the top priorities for healthcare professionals?
Studies have consistently shown that people are motivated by more than just money. Common sense also tells us that in an era of skill shortages, the best talent will migrate towards an environment in which they enjoy working.
Young people are the future of our workforce and, interestingly, CBRE Research found that 69% of millennials said they would be willing to give up other benefits to work in a well-designed space.2 Looking specifically at healthcare, Allocate Software writes that workplace culture (97%) and work-life balance (94%) are the top two priorities when Australia’s younger healthcare professionals choose a place to work.3 The physical space and healthcare design impacts both culture and work-life balance.
Healthcare design drives a positive culture
Once you have attracted a clinician or an administrator to your practice, retention is vital. It can cost as much as 50 to 60 percent of an employee’s annual salary to replace them and that’s not to mention the training costs and productivity losses while new staff get up to speed.4
Staff in healthcare practices and medical centres deal with stressful situations and often work long hours including shift work. Employers can reduce stress levels by streamlining administration and providing a healthy and attractive healthcare fit-out environment.
For patient care, experienced staff who are happy at work will have better performance and more empathy than a new hire. Healthcare fit-outs that improve patient flow are not only for the benefit of patients. An efficient practice is a better place to work and contributes to a positive workplace culture. On the grapevine, health professionals hear about the best places to work, and this makes it easier to recruit new staff, relieving pressure and improving everybody’s work-life balance.
Healthcare design and fit-out tips
- Involve every member of the healthcare practice in identifying ideas for ‘Lean’ workplace methodologies that improve patient flow and minimise waste in processes and procedures.
- Air quality in medical centres is an understandable concern. Improve air filtration systems as part of a new healthcare fit-out, while smaller scale healthcare refurbishments can incorporate plants that naturally filter the air (see https://www.bhg.com.au/best-air-cleaning-plants for ideas).
- Healthcare design and fit-outs that conform to WELL Building StandardTM guidelines are something to shout about when advertising for new staff. The WELL Standard is based around ten concepts: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community. Please visit their website for more information or talk to the healthcare design team at Evoke Projects.
- People are social animals and need human connection. Social distancing has affected the workplace community as workers are encouraged to stay apart. Installing plastic screens between staff workstations will enable them to communicate more easily.
- Encourage staff to take some time out by providing breakout spaces within the healthcare design and fit-out. Adapting your healthcare design to utilise outdoor spaces such as courtyards, rooftops and balconies for coffee breaks will also give staff a safer way to mingle and connect at work.
- In the busy world of healthcare, staff are used to being on their feet and available at all times. They will need management encouragement towards a cultural change that recognises carers need some downtime to function at their best.
Please call the healthcare design and fit-out experts at Evoke Projects on 1300 720 692 for medical designs and fit-outs to attract and retain top talent.
4. http://www.confessionsoftheprofessions.com/keeping-employees-infographic/