Hiring Nurses During a Global Pandemic | How I Built This with Guy Raz | NPR

TL;DR

Incredible Health, led by Dr. Iman Abuzeid, is revolutionizing nurse hiring by allowing hospitals to apply to nurses, reducing hiring time from 90 to 12 days. This digital platform addresses the critical nursing shortage exacerbated by the pandemic, offering a more efficient and rewarding hiring experience for healthcare professionals.

Transcript

hello and welcome to how I built this resilience Edition from NPR I am guy RZ uh welcome to the show Welcome uh to our show here on Thursday I was just um before we went live talking about my insomnia last night so if anybody has any tips about insomnia please um send them in this of course is where we talk with entrepreneurs and Business Leaders a... Read More

Key Insights

• Incredible Health is a digital platform that connects nurses with hospitals, reversing the traditional hiring process.
• The platform reduces the average nurse hiring time from 90 days to 12 days.
• There is a significant nursing shortage in the U.S., expected to reach one million by 2024.
• Incredible Health's model allows nurses to receive job offers without actively applying, enhancing their hiring experience.
• The healthcare sector is the largest labor sector in the U.S., with one in eight Americans working in it.
• The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of telemedicine and digital hiring solutions in healthcare.
• Incredible Health provides free continuing education for nurses, reducing their out-of-pocket costs.
• The platform's business model is subscription-based for hospitals, while nurses use it for free.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Incredible Health's platform work?

Incredible Health's platform allows nurses to create profiles and be matched with hospitals. Unlike traditional job sites, hospitals apply to nurses, reversing the typical process. This approach reduces the average hiring time from 90 days to 12 days, making it more efficient and attractive for both nurses and healthcare facilities.

Q: Why is there a nursing shortage in the U.S.?

The U.S. is experiencing a nursing shortage due to an aging population, increased healthcare demand, and insufficient training capacity for new nurses. The pandemic has exacerbated this issue, highlighting the need for more efficient hiring solutions like Incredible Health to meet the growing demand for healthcare professionals.

Q: What are the benefits of using Incredible Health for nurses?

Nurses benefit from Incredible Health by receiving job offers without actively applying, saving time and effort. The platform also offers free continuing education, helping nurses maintain their licenses without incurring additional costs. This model enhances their career management and professional development.

Q: How has the pandemic affected healthcare hiring practices?

The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital hiring solutions and telemedicine in healthcare. Hospitals have had to adapt quickly, embracing remote interviews and automated scheduling to meet urgent staffing needs. Incredible Health's platform has been instrumental in facilitating these changes, reducing hiring times and costs.

Q: What is Incredible Health's business model?

Incredible Health operates on a subscription-based model for hospitals, which pay based on hiring volume. For nurses, the platform is completely free, allowing them to create profiles, receive job offers, and access resources like continuing education without any cost.

Q: How does Incredible Health address biases in hiring?

Incredible Health addresses hiring biases by using data-driven matching algorithms and offering features like avatar selection instead of profile pictures. This helps reduce human biases related to appearance or location, ensuring a fairer hiring process for nurses across diverse backgrounds.

Q: What challenges do older nurses face in the hiring process?

Older nurses often face age-related biases in hiring, despite their experience. This is a common issue in many industries, including healthcare. Incredible Health aims to mitigate such biases by focusing on skills and qualifications rather than age, although systemic biases still present challenges.

Q: What impact has Incredible Health had on the healthcare industry?

Incredible Health has significantly impacted the healthcare industry by streamlining nurse hiring, reducing costs, and addressing the critical shortage of healthcare workers. Its innovative platform has set a new standard for efficiency and effectiveness in healthcare employment, particularly during the pandemic.

Summary

In this episode of "How I Built This: Resilience Edition," Guy Raz interviews Dr. Iman Abuzeid, the co-founder and CEO of Incredible Health. Incredible Health is a digital platform that connects nurses with hospitals for job opportunities, making the hiring process quicker and more efficient. Dr. Abuzeid discusses the nursing shortage, the impact of the pandemic on healthcare, and the strategies used by Incredible Health to streamline the hiring process.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Incredible Health work?

Incredible Health is a venture-backed career marketplace for healthcare workers. Hospitals and health systems use the platform and custom matching technology to hire permanent nurses in just 15 days, compared to the industry average of 90 days. By allowing hospitals to apply to the nurses instead of the other way around, the platform provides a better experience for nurses and helps address the nursing shortage.

Q: How does hospitals applying for nurses help with the nursing shortage?

The nursing shortage is a significant challenge in the healthcare industry. By changing the traditional hiring model and having hospitals apply to nurses, Incredible Health accelerates the hiring process. The platform also uses software and automation to screen and custom match nurses to the right employers. These innovative approaches address the challenges of the nursing shortage and have been adopted by over 250 hospitals and health systems across the country.

Q: How has the pandemic affected the demand for nurses?

The pandemic has significantly increased the demand for nurses, particularly in specific areas like ICU and ED nursing. Initially, there was a decrease in demand due to canceled surgeries, but since July, the demand for every nursing role has dramatically increased. Hospitals are operating at full capacity and dealing with the ongoing effects of the pandemic, leading to a higher demand for nurses in all specialties.

Q: How has Incredible Health positioned itself to meet the increased demand during the pandemic?

Incredible Health responded to the increased demand by launching the Pandemic Hiring Suite, which includes features and tools to further accelerate the hiring process. These features include automated interview scheduling, remote interviewing, in-app chat, and enhanced matching algorithms. By reducing costs and facilitating remote hiring, the platform helps hospitals hire nurses faster and more efficiently.

Q: How has the pandemic impacted the healthcare industry as a whole?

The pandemic has brought about rapid decision-making and adoption of new solutions in the healthcare industry. Historically known for red tape and bureaucracy, healthcare providers have been forced to adapt quickly. The adoption of telemedicine and operational infrastructure, like Incredible Health, has been accelerated. This shift toward faster decision-making and innovation has been unprecedented.

Q: Do you think telemedicine will be the predominant form of medical care in the future?

Telemedicine is likely here to stay. The pandemic has proven the value of telemedicine and its potential to improve patient experiences. The healthcare industry needs to focus on customer service and adapt to patients' preferences. As reimbursement policies evolve and more people adopt telemedicine, it will become a standard form of medical care. However, challenges remain, such as limited access for certain communities without internet and device capabilities.

Q: How has the pandemic changed Incredible Health's overall strategy?

The pandemic prompted Incredible Health to reprioritize and reconfigure its product roadmap to meet the needs of hospitals and nurses during this crisis. They introduced features like remote interviewing, automated interview scheduling, and in-app chat through their Pandemic Hiring Suite. Additionally, the company adjusted its geographic expansion plans based on the pandemic's impact on different regions.

Q: How does Incredible Health address bias in the hiring process?

Incredible Health acknowledges and measures bias within its platform. They collect demographic data to identify any bias and then implement best practices to reduce it. These practices include interviewer training, adjusting sourcing methodologies, using avatars instead of profile pictures, and implementing random sorting to ensure equal opportunity for all candidates.

Q: Do you think now is a good time to start a business or pursue entrepreneurship?

Dr. Abuzeid believes that starting a business is an incredible opportunity for personal growth and learning. Entrepreneurship offers unique experiences and skill development. Although there are challenges and risks, working a traditional job is not foolproof either, as there have been significant layoffs this year. With the right resilience and dedication, starting a business can be a rewarding and exciting career path.

Q: How has Dr. Abuzeid addressed the mental health and well-being of her team during the pandemic?

Dr. Abuzeid and her team have implemented several strategies to support the mental health and well-being of their employees. They emphasize communication, understanding, and flexibility. Acknowledging the challenges of remote work, they provided a work-from-home stipend to set up home offices. Additionally, they increased intentional communication touchpoints like weekly hangouts, game afternoons, and coffee sessions. The team's mental health is a priority for Incredible Health.

Q: How does Incredible Health ensure interviews are conducted fairly?

Incredible Health has developed rigorous interview practices to eliminate bias and ensure fairness. Interviewers follow guidelines and specific questions to prevent subjective judgments based on cultural fit or personal biases. They also incorporate case studies and presentations to assess a range of skills. For nurses specifically, Incredible Health provides detailed interview preparation guides to help them present themselves professionally and maximize their chances of success.

Takeaways

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for nurses and accelerated the adoption of innovative solutions in the healthcare industry. Incredible Health has played a significant role in addressing the nursing shortage and streamlining the hiring process. Their platform allows hospitals to apply to nurses, reducing the average hiring time to just 15 days. By providing advanced features and tools, such as automated interview scheduling and remote interviewing, Incredible Health has helped hospitals hire nurses quickly and efficiently. Telemedicine has also emerged as a prominent form of medical care, with the potential to improve patient experiences. The pandemic has prompted rapid decision-making and adaptation within the healthcare industry, emphasizing the need for resilience and innovation. Starting a business, despite the challenges and risks, offers unique opportunities for growth and learning. It is essential to address bias in the hiring process by measuring and implementing best practices that ensure fairness and equal opportunities. Supporting employee mental health and well-being is crucial during challenging times, and fostering open communication and flexibility can contribute to a healthier work environment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Incredible Health, co-founded by Dr. Iman Abuzeid, is transforming the nurse hiring process by having hospitals apply to nurses, significantly reducing hiring times. The platform has become crucial during the pandemic, addressing the nursing shortage and improving efficiency in healthcare hiring.

• The platform's innovative approach allows nurses to create profiles and receive job offers, improving their experience and reducing the industry's reliance on outdated hiring practices. This model is especially important as the demand for healthcare workers continues to rise.

• Incredible Health not only facilitates faster hiring but also supports nurses' career management by offering free continuing education and other resources. The company's rapid adaptation to the pandemic's challenges highlights its commitment to improving healthcare employment.