AHCA's New Podcast Discusses Workforce Development

• By: Ben Hawkins
• On: 07/20/2023 12:13:05
• In: Legislative/Government Affairs

AHCA published the first episode of its new podcast, Perspectives in Long Term Care. Episode 1 dives into ways to combat workforce challenges with Christopher Schmidt, president and CEO of Schmidt Wallace Healthcare in Alabama. 

Below is a summary of the key points Christopher Schmidt made about how his company is improving its workforce during the nationwide labor shortage. 

• Recruiting and Hiring
  • They now have a full-time recruiter
    • Job offers have to be instantaneous
    • Following up on applications has to be nearly immediate, and his staff follow up by 1) text, 2) call, and 3) email
  • They have less red tape and fewer supervisors are involved in the interview process, further expediting the job offer process
  • The team meets the job market where they are
    • Food markets and pickup soccer matches are two targets 
    • Working only with community colleges is not enough
  • Special job titles
    • For example "concierge" instead of a "customer service representative"
      • In the past, a job post for the title of CNA received zero to two applicants
      • Now they use titles like “Hospitality Aid,” which receives 100+ applications
        • While this type of title receives applicants who cannot be CNAs, they still try to find value in those other applicants for other positions
• Perks
  • Wages are important, but that is not all that matters
  • The environment, culture, and how people are treated make a big difference 
    • Respect from supervisors 
    • All of the managers are also CNA credentialed 
  • Weekly retention brainstorming meetings with management and other staff
  • They host a weekly retention event 
    • Always aiming for meaningful and memorable events
      • Theme
      • Music
      • Contest with a prize 
    • Pizza parties are overdone
    • Take the events to the units; the break room is sometimes overly relied upon
• Training and education
  • Broadening the workforce pipeline
  • Make a clear career path and promotion ladder 
    • Clear pay increases can be earned over time

Staff contact: bhawkins@mehca.org