Europe’s healthcare sector is facing a very strained staff situation

St. Gallen, 24 November 2011

Hospitals focus on talent management

Because of the very critical staffing situation in Europe’s healthcare sector, hospitals have a growing interest in talent management. umantis, the provider of software for human resource management, has become aware of  a strong trend in this area.

Although, until now, talent management within the healthcare sector has been treated in an inadequate manner, surveys and customer statements in hospitals show that attracting the right applicants, developing employees and offering prospects is now being given a high priority.

Shortage of qualified staff and employee perspectives

According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Darmstädter Wirtschaftsforschungsinstitut (Wifor) study, there will be a lack of 56.000 doctors, 140.000 nursing staff and other specialists in Germany alone. «We are currently experiencing a very tense situation. In Europe we are already missing tens of thousands of nurses, medical technicians and doctors – and this number increases every year», Markus Lüdi, Operations Director Human Resources at the Inselspital, Berne University Hospital, emphasises. «In addition, there are many new professions in the healthcare sector that planning has to be made for. As a hospital, we actively solicit these», he points out.

In such applicant markets it is all the more important for each hospital to present itself as an attractive employer. «We have to and want to be an attractive employer», Karin Burtscher, Head of Human Resources of the  Schwarzwald-Baar Klinikum in Villingen-Schwenningen, says. «That’s why we are going to enable our young doctors to acquire important management skills – beyond medical expertise. We want to retain our doctors after their specialist examinations and not lose their knowhow», she emphasises.

Strong interest in talent management software

In view of these developments, the leading provider of Talent Management software, umantis, registered a rapidly increasing interest in its software modules from the healthcare sector in 2011.

With its 7500 employees, the Inselspital in Berne is one of the largest hospitals in Europe. It is the first large hospital in Switzerland to have implemented the umantis Recruiting software and thus hopes to gain an advantage in competition for medical and nursing staff. «In comparison with private businesses, Swiss hospitals are years behind when it comes to talent management.  There is a need for a strong focus in this area», Operations Director Human Resources Lüdi says. «We are pioneers here and expect many advantages thanks to a modern and paperless application and staffing process – particularly with regard to speed and professional appearance towards applicants».

The German Schwarzwald-Baar Klinikum with its 2800 employees, is the region’s largest employer. Currently, they are implementing the umantis Employee Management software. Head of Human Resources Karin Burtscher: «We have to precisely visualize the competencies and qualifications we have already, as well as define the one’s we must systematically develop in the future. This picture only becomes apparent if target and performance data can be consolidated and clearly laid out. This is where software can be a great help».