Client Profile:
Three of the largest providers of Out of Hours (OOH) GP services in Ireland faced significant challenges in delivering consistent, high-quality patient care. Their heavy reliance on hourly paid locum doctors not only incurred substantial costs but also impacted the continuity of care essential for patient satisfaction and outcomes.
Challenge:
The clients needed a sustainable solution to enhance patient care while also addressing the financial inefficiencies of depending on locum doctors. The primary goal was to recruit 55 qualified General Practitioner doctors on 2-year salaried contracts, ensuring a stable, committed workforce to provide uninterrupted OOH services across Ireland.
Solution:
As a specialist medical recruitment agency, we developed a comprehensive recruitment strategy tailored to the unique needs of OOH GP services. Recognising the urgency and complexity of the challenge, our approach included:
- Targeted Sourcing: Leveraging our extensive network within the medical community, we implemented a targeted sourcing strategy. This included outreach to potential candidates through medical conferences, professional forums, and direct recruitment campaigns in areas with high concentrations of qualified GPs.
- International careers events: We deliver 4-6 MatchMedics branded medical careers events across the globe each year to attract international medical professionals to Ireland. Many of the GPs hired on this campaign came to know about these specific job options at one of our events
- Competitive Positioning: Understanding the competitive market for GPs, we worked closely with our clients to develop attractive salaried packages that emphasised not only financial benefits but also the opportunity to contribute to patient care continuity and community health.
- Rigorous Screening and Selection: Each candidate underwent a thorough screening process, including in-depth interviews, credential verification, and assessment of their commitment to OOH care. Our aim was to ensure that only the most dedicated and qualified doctors were selected to meet the clients’ needs.
- Streamlined Onboarding: To facilitate a smooth transition, we designed a streamlined onboarding process that included comprehensive orientation on OOH service protocols, patient care standards, and the use of specialised healthcare systems.
Outcomes:
- Enhanced Patient Care: The recruitment of 55 salaried GP doctors significantly improved the continuity of care for patients accessing OOH services. With a stable and committed team of doctors, the clients reported notable improvements in patient satisfaction and outcomes.
- Cost Savings: By transitioning to a model supported by salaried GPs instead of relying on hourly paid locum doctors, the clients collectively saved hundreds of thousands of euros annually. These savings were redirected towards further improvements in patient care services and expansion of OOH service capabilities.
- Client Satisfaction: The successful recruitment campaign not only met but exceeded the clients’ expectations, establishing a new standard for OOH GP services in Ireland. The clients commended the strategic approach and efficiency of the recruitment process, which has since fostered a long-term partnership with our agency.
Conclusion:
This case study demonstrates the power of strategic recruitment in transforming healthcare services. By aligning qualified, dedicated professionals with the mission of OOH GP services, MatchMedics was able to significantly enhance patient care and achieve substantial cost savings for our clients. Our commitment to understanding the unique challenges of healthcare recruitment and delivering tailored solutions continues to drive success for our clients and the communities they serve.