Powering the Next Generation: Streamlining Onboarding for Healthcare’s New Graduates
It’s that time of year when the healthcare field experiences a vital influx of new talent, fresh from recent graduations. This wave of emerging professionals is indispensable for addressing persistent staffing shortages and upholding the highest standards of patient care for the future. Consequently, delivering an optimized onboarding experience is not merely beneficial—it is critical for both your organization’s operational continuity and the successful integration of these new healthcare professionals. As your team prepares to welcome these graduates, the sheer volume can pose significant challenges, even for the most seasoned onboarding teams. To facilitate a seamless and efficient transition during this period, consider these 6 tips for your onboarding processes. Tip #1: Proactive Planning Commence preparations well in advance to create a frictionless experience for both your existing team and the new graduates, many of whom are navigating a hospital or health system’s onboarding processes for the first time. Leverage the pre-surge period to meticulously review internal processes for new graduates, making certain every team member involved in onboarding is proficient in your systems and protocols. Address anticipated frequently asked questions proactively to minimize errors and standardize information delivery. This foresight in identifying and mitigating common roadblocks will yield substantial time savings and reduce potential frustrations for all stakeholders. Tip #2: Assign Dedicated Onboarding Coordinators Navigating the complexities of onboarding in any new role, particularly within a healthcare organization, presents inherent challenges. Where feasible, assign a dedicated onboarding coordinator to new graduates at the outset of their journey. This individual will serve as a consistent point of contact throughout their onboarding experience. A singular point of contact not only alleviates new hire anxiety but also cultivates a more personalized integration into your organization. Furthermore, it promotes a more equitable distribution of workload among your team, enhancing overall efficiency. Tip #3: Communicate Expectations & Timelines Clearly with New Grads From the outset, establish clear guidelines regarding required documentation, critical deadlines, and the paramount importance of maintaining compliance and a clear-to-work status. Tailor onboarding materials to this new audience, making sure all instructions are unequivocally clear and comprehensive, supported by readily accessible points of contact and support channels at each stage. This is an opportune moment to critically evaluate your existing processes and identify areas prone to confusion. Utilize automated reminders and secure portals to facilitate the effortless upload and tracking of documents by new hires. Transparently communicate all deadlines to prevent last-minute complications. Tip #4: Leverage Temporary Permits and Provisional Credentials Wisely Many new graduates will commence their roles with temporary licenses or provisional credentials. These short-term authorizations, issued by state licensing boards or regulatory bodies, allow new healthcare graduates to practice while their full, permanent license application is being processed. It is imperative that your team implements a robust system for effectively tracking temporary permits and proactively alerting you when permanent credentials are required. This vigilance is crucial to prevent any professional from providing patient care without valid credentials or from being unexpectedly removed from existing staff schedules. Tip #5: Prepare for Temporary Staffing Needs Unforeseen circumstances can arise, particularly during periods of high-volume onboarding. While early and thorough preparation significantly mitigates delays, unexpected challenges can still surface at any point in a new hire’s journey. Develop comprehensive contingency plans, including provisions for temporary staff or float pools, should any onboarding delays impact critical staffing levels. Tip #6: Power Onboarding with Tech Graduation season often overwhelms manual systems, leading to bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Investing in scalable automation is paramount to smoothly manage surges in hiring volume, allowing your HR team to reallocate their focus to strategic initiatives rather than administrative burdens. See how Propelus’s workforce compliance solutions — EverCheck, Data Solutions, and Immuware — can help you onboard new healthcare talent faster and with greater confidence. New grads can also use CE Broker to track their own CE requirements, access accredited courses, and make their professional journey smoother.
How a Regional Healthcare Network Improved Compliance & Efficiency by 90%
Overview A large regional healthcare network based in the Northeastern United States recognized the critical importance of ensuring their licensed professionals met all compliance requirements. This involved the verification and ongoing monitoring of licenses, certifications, and registrations from various governing authorities. The following success story details their efforts to streamline these essential processes. It’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made. Identifying expiring licenses quickly and sharing that information is invaluable.” – Executive Assistant, Rehabilitation Hospital, part of the Regional Healthcare Network The Challenge of Manual Processes Committed to compliance and efficiency, the large regional healthcare network identified issues within its manual license verification and management processes. These processes involved cross-referencing employee licensure on the Department of Public Health and other issuing boards’ websites and emailing supervisors about upcoming license expirations. This was time-consuming, taking approximately 10-20 hours per month per colleague, and created risks of errors and oversights that could lead to employees working with expired licenses. The manual system also limited the capacity to manage a growing staff efficiently. The Propelus Solution: EverCheck Since its initial adoption in April 2020, the team has significantly enhanced its utilization of the EverCheck platform. Today, it leverages EverCheck’s capabilities, including compliance dashboards, comprehensive reporting functionalities, and timely system notifications, to meticulously track the status of licenses, certifications, and registrations, ensuring ongoing compliance. “Transitioning to EverCheck has streamlined the process immensely,” said the network’s executive assistant. “With a quick glance, I can identify upcoming expirations and proactively address them, ensuring our team remains compliant and our operations run smoothly.” The Results By implementing EverCheck, the regional healthcare network improved compliance and significantly reduced the time and effort required for primary source verification. Reflecting on the transformative impact of EverCheck, the executive assistant said, “It has been one of the best decisions we’ve made. The ability to quickly identify expiring licenses and share that vital information with our team is invaluable. Plus, it frees us up to work on other projects.” By transitioning from a manual license verification process, which previously consumed 20 hours per month, to utilizing EverCheck, the healthcare network now manages the process for a mere 2 hours monthly. This reduction represents an impressive 90% increase in efficiency. Not only does this streamlined approach allow for greater efficiency within their workflow, but it also translates to substantial cost savings in labor hours. With this newfound efficiency, the regional network’s team was able to reallocate valuable resources toward other critical areas of operations, ultimately enhancing productivity and driving organizational success. Conclusion The adoption of EverCheck by the regional healthcare network revolutionized the license verification processes, significantly reducing manual effort, mitigating compliance risks, and enhancing data accuracy. Their insights underscore the value of proactive adoption of technology solutions in optimizing healthcare operations and ensuring regulatory compliance. Take the Next Step Discover how Propelus and EverCheck can help your healthcare organization achieve compliance excellence while empowering your workforce. Learn more about EverCheck at evercheck.com Download the case study
Elevating Compliance and Retention at a Leading Children’s Hospital
Overview A leading children’s hospital in the southwestern United States faced the challenge of maintaining compliance while enhancing employee retention for a workforce of over 9,000 licensed healthcare professionals. To streamline processes and improve overall performance, the hospital turned to EverCheck by Propelus. By leveraging EverCheck’s innovative solutions, the hospital has transformed its compliance practices, optimized workforce management, and set a new standard for healthcare excellence. My biggest piece of advice I would give would be to spend the money and invest in the technology. Our investment into EverCheck has been a true game changer for us. In no way could we ever monitor 9,000 active licenses in the way that EverCheck is able to do that. This has allowed us to get back to doing things that truly matter and really support the children at our hospital. – HR Supervisor, Employee Records Challenge Managing compliance at scale is no easy task, particularly for a multi-facility healthcare organization with thousands of licenses and certifications to track. Beyond regulatory requirements, the hospital also needed to address the growing demand for a seamless employee experience to improve retention in a competitive job market. The hospital sought a comprehensive solution to: Simplify and automate license and certification tracking. Ensure audit readiness across departments. Enhance employee onboarding and engagement. Use data-driven insights to support retention strategies. The Propelus Solution: EverCheck The children’s hospital partnered with Propelus to implement EverCheck, a cutting-edge compliance management platform designed to reduce administrative burdens and improve organizational efficiency. Here’s how EverCheck addressed their needs: Automated Compliance Tracking EverCheck provided real-time visibility into the status of thousands of licenses, certifications, and registrations, eliminating manual tracking errors and ensuring that compliance deadlines were met without added stress. Actionable Workforce InsightsBy integrating EverCheck data with its internal systems, the hospital used dashboards to monitor trends in staff turnover and identify opportunities to enhance employee satisfaction. Proactive Audit Preparedness With EverCheck’s robust reporting capabilities, the hospital streamlined its preparation for audits, ensuring readiness for Joint Commission reviews. The platform’s features supported mock surveys, allowing cross-functional teams to identify and resolve potential gaps before official inspections. Seamless Onboarding Experience EverCheck played a vital role in simplifying the onboarding process, ensuring that new hires were compliant from day one. This not only reduced time-to-productivity but also created a positive experience for new employees, contributing to long-term retention. Key Takeaways for Healthcare Organizations Streamlined Compliance Processes With EverCheck, the hospital automated primary source verification and monitoring, significantly reducing administrative workload and improving accuracy. This efficiency allowed HR teams to focus on higher-value initiatives, enhancing overall productivity. Enhanced Employee Retention By simplifying compliance processes and improving onboarding experiences, the hospital created an environment where employees felt supported. These efforts contributed to a notable improvement in retention rates, particularly among hard-to-fill roles. Improved Audit Outcomes Regular mock surveys supported by EverCheck’s reporting tools ensured that the hospital consistently met or exceeded audit standards. These proactive measures maintained the hospital’s reputation for compliance excellence. Recognition for Excellence The hospital’s adoption of EverCheck helped secure prestigious designations, such as Magnet Recognition, and strengthened its position as an employer of choice in the healthcare sector. Why It Works The hospital’s success with EverCheck lies in the platform’s ability to align compliance management with broader workforce goals. The automation of complex processes reduces operational strain, while actionable insights empower leadership to make informed decisions that benefit both employees and patients. The Results Adopt Automation: Tools like EverCheck eliminate manual errors, streamline compliance, and free up time for strategic HR initiatives. Stay Audit-Ready: Proactive measures supported by advanced technology ensure that organizations are always prepared for regulatory surveys. Enhance the Employee Experience: Simplifying compliance and onboarding processes fosters a supportive workplace culture, boosting retention. Leverage Data for Decisions: Actionable insights from tools like EverCheck can inform strategies to improve operational efficiencies while ensuring compliance. Conclusion By integrating Propelus’s EverCheck platform into its operations, the leading children’s hospital has set a new benchmark for compliance and workforce performance in the healthcare industry. The partnership has not only ensured regulatory compliance but also improved employee satisfaction and organizational efficiency. Take the Next Step Discover how Propelus and EverCheck can help your healthcare organization achieve compliance excellence while empowering your workforce. Learn more about EverCheck at evercheck.com Download the case study
Heart Smarts: Equipping Professionals to Support Cardiovascular Health
February is American Heart Month—a time to raise awareness about heart health and cardiovascular diseases. It’s also a time to recognize the critical role healthcare professionals play in supporting cardiovascular health and interventions. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., making it essential for providers to stay up-to-date with the latest knowledge, skills, and credentials. 1 At Propelus, we help ensure they do. Through EverCheck, CE Broker and our Data Solutions, we equip healthcare organizations with the tools to maintain compliance, streamline credential management, and keep their teams focused on what matters most—patient care. The Credentials that Save Lives In a cardiovascular emergency, every second matters. Healthcare professionals must have up-to-date certifications to provide lifesaving cardiac care, and organizations need a reliable way to track and verify these credentials. EverCheck streamlines the process helping healthcare organizations ensure their teams are prepared. EverCheck and our Data Solutions verify and manage a wide range of cardiac care and resuscitation certifications, including: American Heart Association (AHA) Certifications: Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Heartsaver® CPR AED, Pediatric Emergency Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS®) American Red Cross Certifications: Advanced Life Support (ALS), BLS, PALS Resuscitation Quality Improvement® (RQI) & HeartCode® Certifications: RQI Provider eCredential, ACLS HeartCode® eCard, BLS HeartCode® eCard Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Certifications: Advanced Provider, Instructor Renewal, and more By automating verification, EverCheck and our Data Solutions reduce administrative burdens and ensures healthcare professionals can deliver life-saving care with confidence. Advancing Heart Health Through Education Education is key to managing and treating heart disease. CE Broker makes it easy for healthcare professionals to access relevant continuing education (CE) courses that strengthen their knowledge and improve patient care. Some of the top cardiovascular health-related courses available through CE Broker include: Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Understanding Heart Failure Emergency Cardiac Care Guidelines Evidence-Based Care for Patients with Acute Heart Failure Cardiovascular Nursing: Interventional Cardiology (Course availability may vary by state and profession.) In addition to providing essential CE courses, CE Broker’s Credential Tracker allows professionals to stay on top of their cardiac care and resuscitation certifications—like CPR, ACLS, BLS, and PALS—without the stress of manual tracking or missed renewal deadlines. The Propelus Commitment At Propelus, we know that credential verification and continuing education are vital components of delivering high-quality patient care. That’s why we make it easier for healthcare professionals and organizations to stay ahead, ensuring that heart health remains a priority. For Heart Month, we are taking it one step further—CE Broker will be donating a portion of proceeds from subscription purchases to the American Heart Association. This means that when healthcare professionals invest in their education and credential management, they are also contributing to heart health initiatives. The Wrap Up Heart Month is more than just a reminder—it’s a time to take action. By making credential management and continuing education seamless, EverCheck, CE Broker and Data Solutions empower healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care for patients. At Propelus, we are proud to equip healthcare professionals with tools to support cardiovascular health. By investing in education and credential management, we are working toward a future where heart disease is no longer the leading cause of death. Let’s work together to power professionals and champion heart health—today and every day. 1. National Center for Health Statistics. Multiple Cause of Death 2018–2022 on CDC WONDER Database. Accessed May 3, 2024. https://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd.html
Propelus Launches Groundbreaking Primary Source Verification API
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 14, 2024 – Propelus, a leader in dynamic workforce compliance solutions, is excited to unveil its latest innovation: the Propelus Primary Source Verification (PSV) API. This cutting-edge solution reinforces Propelus’ unwavering commitment to empowering healthcare organizations and professionals and their collective need for far greater connectivity, continuity, and real-time transparency across a broad and complex healthcare ecosystem. With the addition of the PSV API to Propelus’ offerings, customers have on-demand access to the most comprehensive, automated, and accurate primary source verified data–how, when, and where it is needed to ensure a more compliant, safer, and happier workforce in compliance management. “We are honored to help our healthcare partners solve complex workforce compliance problems through game-changing technologies. Our new PSV API simplifies workforce compliance and streamlines healthcare operations at scale, automating more than 4,800 different types of professional license, certification, registration, sanctions, exclusions, and more primary sources at scale to meet our complex healthcare ecosystem’s needs.” – Julie Walker, CEO at Propelus The Propelus PSV API drives workforce compliance effectiveness and efficiency by seamlessly delivering essential primary source data connecting established systems within Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Medical Staffing Services, Compliance, Finance, and more. Propelus’ customers are thrilled by the addition and continued innovation, which perfectly complements their current workforce compliance offering as a faithful ally in elevating healthcare quality, safety, and outcomes. “The launch of the Propelus PSV API represents a significant milestone in our commitment to revolutionize workforce compliance management,” said John Barnes, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Propelus. “Our API provides unparalleled access to primary source verification data and privileged partner relationships that are powering unprecedented opportunities to streamline total workforce compliance with confidence.” The Propelus PSV API performs millions of primary source verifications daily, providing ongoing insights and an unrivaled workforce compliance management experience beyond keeping pace with regulatory changes, which is something Propelus is passionate about and is no easy feat for healthcare organizations. For more information about the Propelus PSV API and how it can revolutionize your workforce compliance management experience, visit propelus.com. About Propelus: As a leader in workforce compliance technology, Propelus is modernizing how healthcare professionals, their employers, regulators, and partners work better together. For over 20 years, Propelus solutions — CE Broker, EverCheck, and Immuware — have propelled the progress of millions of professionals by providing seamless compliance management throughout their career journey. Leveraging market-leading technology, essential data, and unparalleled strategic partnerships, we power critical compliance programs for a happier workforce, better operations, and safer communities. Learn why Propelus is trusted by 5+ million professionals: https://propelus.com/. Newswire Press Release
