When healthcare organizations stand at the crossroads of allied staffing and outsourcing solutions, there’s much to be said and explored. Allied staffing is a critical branch of healthcare staffing, ranging from various specialties that keep the wheels going at our hospitals and facilities. Choosing a reliable allied staffing agency with a strong presence in the allied industry can reduce staffing stress, promote a healthy workforce, and contribute to the quality of patient care.

Factors to consider about allied health agencies

There are three primary concerns regarding selecting a random allied health agency. First, Allied roles are a relatively new wave in the industry, and many agencies in the market are still fairly new, experimenting with the industry and learning the ropes. Furthermore, some agencies excel in nursing and have expanded into allied health; however, they may have weaker capabilities in allied staffing. Last but not least, when you do talk about a specialized allied health agency, it would be difficult to work with an agency that does solely allied health. Healthcare organizations find it way more streamlined to collaborate with an agency like White Glove placement with an equal umbrella over allied health, nursing, and locum tenens staffing versus dealing with a couple of different partners for each specialization. Depending on the organization’s needs, you should seek a company that offers allied health travel agency services as well as allied temporary staffing and permanent hiring options to meet your requirements.

Locking in an adequate allied health staffing partner

There’s a tremendous difference between an empowered search and an unknowing one. Knowledge is so powerful; it allows you to take the lead toward the outcome you are looking for, instead of being led down a path that may not work for your organization’s objectives at all. From our expertise to your plan sheet, three quick tips for doing your allied staffing homework with a proactive strategy.

Step one: Set your expectations for your allied health staffing agency

Taking the time to reflect on your institution’s goals before beginning your search is a valuable investment. Clarify your objectives: Are you looking for rapid staffing to cover last-minute absences, seeking travel contracts easily, or aiming for higher quality hires? Consider what success and challenges looked like in the past and identify the contributing factors. Having multiple goals isn’t unrealistic, but realistically possible, that is, when you are consciously aware of them! This clarity will help you communicate your expectations to the staffing agency effectively. Once you have outlined your goals and expectations, you’ll be ready to start your search.

Step two: Set out for the allied health agency search

Research is a basic preliminary screening process to get to a solid allied healthcare staffing. A company’s website can reveal a lot about its core values, while Google reviews from both healthcare organizations and employees can provide insight into the workplace environment—happy clinicians perform better, fact of life.

Step three: Interview the top prospective allied healthcare staffing companies

When onboarding an agency, asking the right questions is crucial for your success moving forward. Being one step ahead can save you many challenges later on. Most importantly, prioritize the interview with the company. Be cautious not to be swayed by impressive PowerPoint presentations. Instead, focus on listening carefully and asking the right questions.

Not sure where to start? Here are some targeted questions to help you get to the core of the matter and gather the information you need.

12 pre-sign up questions for allied medical staffing success

Can your allied agency accommodate our scale?

Why it matters: Understanding whether an allied agency can support your facility’s volume, come first and foremost. This question assesses their capacity to manage your volume of staffing requests, ensuring they can seamlessly provide the necessary personnel during peak times or special requirements.

What is your allied staffing process?

Why it matters: This question allows you to evaluate the agency’s methodology in sourcing, vetting, and placing allied professionals. Understanding their process gives insight into the quality, reliability, and suitability of candidates they provide.

What does your onboarding process look like?

Why it matters: A thorough onboarding process helps integrating new staff effectively and ensuring candidates are starting on time. This question also enables you to gauge how the agency ensures that new hires understand their roles and the specific environment they’ll be working in, ultimately leading to better performance and satisfaction.

How extensive is your pipeline of available allied health professionals?

Why it matters: The depth of an agency’s talent pool directly affects their ability to fulfill your staffing requests promptly. This question helps you understand the agency’s market presence and connections, which indicates their efficiency in providing qualified candidates when needed.

Which areas of healthcare staffing do you specialize in? Is your main strength as an allied travel agency, allied temporary staffing, or permanent recruitment, or all the above?

Why it matters: While many agencies may generalize in staffing, specialized knowledge in allied health roles is necessary to address the unique challenges within this sector. This question ensures that the agency has the expertise to find the right professionals for your specific needs.

What would successful allied staffing for our facility look like to you?

Why it matters: Having a shared vision for the success of the partnership ensures that goals and expectations are established correctly. This question provides clarity regarding the previous success of the allied staffing provider to determine if they meet your expectations for outcomes.

How soon can we expect you to fill open positions?

Why it matters: Timeliness in staffing can mean the difference between a well-functioning unit and a chaotic environment. Knowing the expected timeframe for filling vacancies allows you to plan accordingly and manage your team effectively.

Which benefits do you offer to employees?

Why it matters: Attracting top talent often hinges on the benefits agencies can provide. This question helps you understand the competitive edge the agency has in recruiting skilled professionals, as favorable benefits can lead to higher retention rates.

How do you assist professionals in their roles?

Why it matters: Understanding how an agency supports its staff after placement can reveal the commitment of professionals to their roles. This question highlights the support, resources, and connections available to allied health workers, which ultimately impacts the continuity of these professionals within the agency. This, in turn, affects the quality of service delivered to patients. At White Glove Placement, we place great importance on our clinicians’ experiences to ensure they feel valued, appreciated, and heard. We offer an excellent benefits package, events, and other perks, which contribute to our retention rates being among the highest in the industry.

Can you share the procedures in place if and when an issue arises?

Why it matters: Situations are bound to crop up when you talk about large institutions with numerous employees. This question allows you to gauge the agency’s crisis management strategies and ensures that there are clear procedures for effectively handling conflicts or performance issues.

What geographic areas do you cover for staffing?

Why it matters: Knowing the agency’s geographic scope of operations is important for planning. This question ensures they can provide staff to all locations where you may need support, avoiding service delivery gaps.

In the event that your allied health company is unable to provide staffing, what will happen?

Why it matters: It’s important to know the agency’s contingency plans. This question reveals how they handle unforeseen circumstances and whether they have a reliable backup strategy, which can be vital for maintaining workforce stability in your facility.

Pro tip: transparency is the answer you are looking for. If an agency answers that this ‘never happens,’ stay wary.

One little tip before you go:

We hope you find these questions helpful. Here is our last piece of advice. When you ask a question, leave it open-ended and wait quietly for the answer to come. Don’t give away the answer you are looking for. For instance, if you ask, “What is the scale you can accommodate?” don’t specify by saying, “Can you accommodate an organization with 100 vacancies a month?”

A while ago, we published a fantastic resource oninterviewing candidates for open positions. These tips also apply very well to interviewing healthcare staffing partners. Feel free to take a look!

Are you searching for an allied health professionals agency that works for you?

White Glove Placement is a leader in providing allied staffing, nursing, and locum assistance. Feel free to ask us anything! Contact us for a brief consultation, and we will be fully transparent about how we can help you achieve your goals.