Physician onboarding checklist
Posted by Jackie Farley
Welcoming a new physician to your team is a pivotal moment. Having a well-organized onboarding process in place is the key to ensuring they have a smooth transition. Here is a comprehensive checklist to guide you through the essential steps for a seamless onboarding experience:
- Pre-arrival preparation
- Coordinate with new hires regarding housing arrangements and make arrangements for them if necessary.
- Have everything in place to ensure new hires have access to all necessary technology and systems.
- Help with the facilitation and procurement of any required licenses and credentials.
- Welcome package
- Craft a warm welcome letter and provide an introduction to the team.
- Include essential organizational information and details about the workplace culture.
- Offer a schedule for the first week that includes introductions and orientation sessions.
- Orientation and training
- Provide a schedule of comprehensive orientation sessions.
- Offer training on electronic health records (EHR) and other relevant systems.
- Provide a detailed overview of organizational policies and procedures.
- Meet and greet sessions
- Arrange introductory meetings with all key staff members.
- Host a welcome lunch or dinner with the team to foster connections.
- Facilitate networking opportunities within the organization.
- Clinical integration
- Provide the new physician with a mentor or buddy for support and guidance.
- Ensure access to clinical resources and protocols.
- Establish clear expectations for patient care and documentation.
- Administrative processes
- Complete all necessary paperwork and documentation.
- Set up their email, phone and other communication tools so they are ready to go.
- Review and finalize employment contracts and benefits packages so any issues can be addressed immediately.
- Cultural onboarding
- Foster an understanding of the organizational culture.
- Encourage participation in team-building activities and events.
- Communicate the healthcare organization’s mission, vision and values.
- Continued support
- Implement regular check-ins with the new physician to see how they are settling in.
- Address any concerns or challenges promptly and effectively.
- Make ongoing professional development opportunities available.
- Community integration
- Introduce the physician to local healthcare networks.
- Facilitate their involvement in community outreach programs.
- Offer information on local amenities, resources and programs.
- Feedback mechanism
- Establish a feedback loop to facilitate continuous improvement.
- Encourage open communication regarding the onboarding process.
- Utilize the feedback given to enhance and improve the onboarding process and overall experience for future new hires.
By following this comprehensive checklist, you can ensure your new hires not only integrate seamlessly into the organization but also feel supported and engaged from day one. Remember, a well-structured onboarding process is an investment in the long-term success and satisfaction of your physicians.