Flu season is right around the corner, typically beginning in October and extending all the way through May. With the CDC estimating that around 8% of the U.S. population contracts the flu each year, it’s no surprise that last flu season resulted in somewhere between 16-30 million medical visits. As patient numbers surge, the pressure on your clinic will inevitability rise. If you’re not prepared for what lies ahead, you could face widespread issues - including worker burnout, a decline in patient care, and difficulties onboarding new staff.

In my experience, tackling these issues before patient counts rise is the best way to keep your clinic running smoothly. That’s why I’ve outlined four common challenges clinics face each flu season and how a staffing partner can help address them proactively.

1. Decline in Patient Care Standards

As patient counts rise, the quality of care at clinics can take a hit. With more patients to see, healthcare workers may feel rushed and overwhelmed, making it harder to give each patient the attention they deserve. Ultimately, resulting in longer wait times, missed details in diagnoses, and a less personal experience for patients during flu season. It’s no wonder patient satisfaction rates continue to fall nationwide.

A staffing partner can help keep patient care standards from declining by matching your clinic’s needs with the right temporary staff. They bring in specialists who possess the right experience, making sure care stays top-notch, even during the flu season rush. By identifying the right talent, a staffing partner helps keep patients happy and takes some of the pressure off your permanent team.

2. Worker Burnout

Elevated patient counts often raise stress levels for your team and can ultimately result in burnout. A recent study of about 43,000 healthcare workers in the National Library of Medicine journal found that nearly 50% experienced burnout due to work overload. With burnout rates being especially high among nurses and clinical staff, reaching 56% and 54.1%, respectively.

Burnout often creates a domino effect, impacting every part of clinic operations. A staffing partner can ease this burden by supplying clinical professionals on a temporary basis to handle the patient surge. And it’s not just clinical support you get; staffing partners can also supply administrative help to manage responsibilities like stocking supply closets, updating records, and coordinating calendars, allowing your team to concentrate fully on patient care.

3. Increased Turnover

High turnover, driven in part by elevated patient counts, can significantly disrupt your clinic operations. Unfortunately, turnover rates are rising in healthcare professions as workers seek better opportunities or retire. Research from McKinsey highlights this trend, showing resignations among healthcare workers rose from about 400,000 per month in 2020 to nearly 600,000 per month by May 2023.

A staffing partner can help mitigate the crippling effects of turnover by providing immediate access to qualified, pre-vetted temporary workers. In turn, ensuring your clinic has reliable replacements ready to step in without missing a beat.

4. Difficulty Onboarding New Workers

The surge in patient numbers during flu season can make it tough for clinics to recruit and integrate new staff quickly. With everyone focused on managing the influx of patients, there’s often little time to properly train and onboard new hires. The frenzy can lead to mismatched placements, where new staff may struggle to keep up with the pace or fully understand the clinic’s processes.

A staffing partner can help ease the onboarding process by providing pre-vetted and experienced candidates. These professionals are ready to jump in with minimal training, so your clinic can keep running smoothly without the hiccups that tend to arise when new workers are onboarded.

How a Staffing Partner Can Strengthen Your Clinic’s Workforce

For clinic managers, flu season often brings added stress and uncertainty. Partnering with a staffing agency not only ensures you have the right people in place but also provides peace of mind. Knowing your clinic is well-prepared allows you to focus on leading your team and delivering exceptional care.

At Yoh, we make staffing a breeze with flexible solutions that easily adapt to your clinic’s changing needs. Whether you need a registered nurse for flu shots one day or administrative support for scheduling and inventory the next, we’ve got you covered. Consider taking a deeper dive into our clinic-based care solutions, designed to keep your operations running seamlessly.