✯ ✯ 2003 National Health Policy ✯Conference
January 22-23, 2003 J.W. Marriott Washington, D.C.
Pharmacist Recruitment & Retention Department of Veterans Affairs
Louis E. Cobuzzi. R.Ph., M.S. VA Maryland Health Care System
Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Approx. 6M patients enrolled 172 Hospitals 800 Outpatient Clinics 135 Nursing Homes 43 Residential Care Facilities 206 readjustment counseling centers 73 Home Care Programs 40,000 Beds 108 Medical School Affiliations
Dept. of Veterans Affairs
105,421,242 Prescriptions in Fiscal Year 2002 190,694,533 Thirty Day Equivalent Prescriptions Total Cost of Drugs & Supplies for FY 2002 was approximately $2.5B
vels
mployees (FTEE
VA Maryland Health Care System
3 Medical Facilities in Eastern Maryland 6 Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) 762 Inpatient Beds 555,745 Outpatient Visits in Fiscal Year 2002
VA Maryland Health Care System
Pharmacy Services
53 Pharmacists
41 Staff Pharmacists 12 Clinical Pharmacy Specialists
32 Pharmacy Technical Support Staff
Managed Care Service
4 Clinical Pharmacy Specialists
Recruitment & Retention
National Initiatives
Health Care Staff Development & Retention Office (HCSDRO) Headquarters' Chief Consultants for respective clinical disciplines
Local Initiatives
Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) Facility based efforts (VAMHCS)
National Initiatives
Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Employee Incentive Scholarship Program (EISP) Advertising
Print Media: National Publications Web Site: www.vacareers.com
Employee Debt Reduction Program
Program administration and funding is centralized 32 Occupations are listed for EDRP Targets recently appointed employees in those occupations Individual facilities determine eligibility based on R&R difficulty
Employee Debt Reduction Program
Provided to reduce interest and principle on Government and Commercial Loans May be applied on loans for up to 5 years Payment limit is $44,000
First year maximum payment is $6,000 Second year maximum payment is $8,000 Years 3-5 maximum payment is $10,000
EDRP AWARDS in FY 2002
Total number of awards consummated was 1,849 Pharmacists received 314 (17%) of the awards Average pharmacist award was $22,959 Average award to other professionals was $17,333
EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Program funding and administration is centralized Permits DVA to award scholarships to 14 healthcare disciplines Targets difficult to recruit and retain occupations The eligible occupations and award determinations are made by local officials
EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Employees may pursue advanced degrees or training beneficial to the organization Awards are limited to a maximum of $31,080 Awards are prorated for part-time students EISP has benefited pharmacy staff seeking both initial and advanced degrees
EISP Awards in FY 2002
Total number of awards consummated was 414 Pharmacists received 71 (17%) of the awards Average award for pharmacy-related education was $14,915 Average award to other professionals was $8,495
Health Care Staff Development and Retention Office Advertising
Print Media budget
Recruitment ads are displayed in prominent national publications each month DVA publishes generic health care ads targeting specific occupations 12% of the budget is devoted to pharmacy
HCSDRO PRINT PLANNING PROCESS
Selection Criteria
Readership Gross Circulation Audited Circulation Paid or Non-Paid Circulation Geographic Distribution Home vs. Bulk Distribution Affiliation Cost Editorial Content Bonus Distribution
HCSDRO ADVERTISING
Internet Advertising
DVA Placement Service
Provides specific information regarding employment opportunities and locations www.vacareers.com
Non-DVA Web Sites
Jobscience.com Careerbuilder.com Hospitaljobsonline.com State affiliated associations and Organizational web sites
HCSDRO ADVERTISING
Convention & Job Fair coverage
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (Midyear and Annual meetings) American Pharmaceutical Association
Personal Placement toll free number
1-800-949-0002
LOCAL INITIATIVES
Convention and Job Fair coverage Recruitment bonuses Retention bonuses Establish affiliations with Colleges of Pharmacy
Take part in the opportunity to train future pharmacists and technicians Enable staff pharmacist to gain faculty appointments
LOCAL INITIATIVES
Residency Training Program
Advance clinically based program Develop trained clinicians for your facility, DVA, or other employers
Print Advertising
Local newspapers Society journals (clinical specialties) Recruitment publications (i.e.,Pharmacy Week)
LOCAL INITIATIVES
Schools of Pharmacy recruitment
Residency positions Staff positions Part-time pharmacy student hires
An Awards and Recognition Program
Use of Service/group awards to improve the environment & establish a sense of “Team”
Consider the employees lifestyle needs
Telecommuter for Telephone Liaison Care
Information on Pharmacist Recruitment & Retention
http://www.pharmacynow.org
Articles & Features Mentor View Jobs & Employment Continuing Education
“Nurse & Pharmacist Shortage Offers Lessons for All Industries”
Info@EmployeeRetentionStrategies.com Employee Retention Strategies Newsletter, January/February 2002 issue
SUMMARY
You must be in the “ballpark” with regard to salaries
Sustain and maintain competitive salaries Conduct biannual salary surveys in your recruitment district
Recruitment and retention should be a continual process Remember, most employees stay with their employer because they like the working conditions