Approaching Occupational Therapist Staffing

As the demand for occupational therapy services increases, so does the burden on occupational therapist staffing. Occupational therapists play a key role in helping patients learn to live independently. Unfortunately, as more healthcare workers leave the industry, practices struggle to fill occupational therapist jobs.

At Weave, we’re passionate about helping practices become more efficient in their everyday activities. Below, we’ll discuss multiple solutions to OT staffing shortages so you can fill the roles at your practice.

The Role of Occupational Therapy in Modern Healthcare

Modern occupational therapists work in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, schools, private practices, and clinics, to help patients with mental, physical, or cognitive impairments learn to live independent lives. Occupational therapists may work with children or adult patients in a rehabilitation center for recovery purposes or in a more full-time setting to promote their quality of life.

Occupational Therapy Staffing Agencies: A Solution to Demand

One primary solution to occupational therapist staffing shortages is choosing a staffing agency partner. Staffing agencies allow committed occupational therapists to apply to a range of positions across the country. They can then be matched with a full-time position based on their expertise, lifestyle, and other criteria to find a position that aligns with their career goals. As an OT practice partnering with one of these agencies, you will gain access to top-tier occupational therapists who have already been vetted by the company.

Essentially, both sides can benefit. Someone looking for OT jobs can be paired with a workplace actively seeking quality professionals. Hospitals, clinics, and other practices can skip the timely search process and immediately receive a list of qualified and committed occupational therapists looking to expand their careers.

OT staffing agencies address the growing need for qualified professionals in the field.

Challenges in Occupational Therapist Staffing

Filling occupational therapy jobs is not as simple as it may seem, which is why we’re seeing agencies pop up to provide support. Here are some common challenges in OT staffing:

• Labor shortages: Healthcare workers continue leaving the field in droves, with the AAMC predicting that 122,000 physicians will have left by 2032.
• Proper expertise for the job: You may have plenty of applications for your occupational therapist jobs, but the therapists may not be a good fit for your exact roles. For example, healthcare professionals may have experience in clinical settings rather than hospital settings.

Overcoming Staffing Challenges With Strategic Partnerships

By working with a staffing agency, you can overcome the above obstacles, as the agency should pair your practice with qualified occupational therapists actively seeking a career. These occupational therapists should have the right certification and education, including a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in related fields.

Your team can also overcome shortage obstacles by increasing internal efficiency. For example, if you have a front-desk team handling scheduling, payments, billing, insurance verifications, etc., you may want to automate these tasks using platforms like Weave so these professionals can fill your other occupational therapy jobs.

Benefits of Effective Occupational Therapist Staffing

With successful OT staffing, you can reap the following benefits:

• Heightened occupational therapist satisfaction
• Improved patient satisfaction and outcomes
• Increased efficiency at your facility

Success Stories: The Impact of Quality Staffing

Say a practice works with a staffing agency or uses other solutions to fill OT jobs, relieving team stress. Let’s see how this may look:

A patient can come in to see their occupational therapist and enjoy minimal wait times, more one-on-one care, heightened patient education, and a well-rounded experience. Your occupational therapists can enjoy a more satisfied day-to-day job since they aren’t stressed in their career, meaning they may be less likely to leave their job.

Selecting the Right Occupational Therapy Staffing Agency

When choosing a staffing agency to help you fill job positions, you must research your options.

Key Considerations and Questions To Ask

Here are different things you should consider when choosing between agencies:

• Job reliability
• Customer support
• Commitment to satisfaction
• Healthcare industry experience (and compliance with various healthcare laws)

Weave: Helping Occupational Therapists Boost Practice Efficiency

At Weave, our commitment is to help you navigate your occupational therapist staffing complexities by streamlining how your practice operates with highly efficient software solutions. Get a demo of Weave’s healthcare solutions today to take a step toward solving your occupational therapist staffing challenges.