Our NAHCR
Board recently identified their top 5 “Resolutions” for the coming year. Here,
Theresa Mazzaro, Communications Director, discusses her thoughts on why she is
resolute to make these things happen.
I can tell
you upfront it’s not about the money that we collect from dues. For me
personally, it’s about the patients.
Patients? That seems like a stretch to go from membership in a Healthcare Recruitment Organization to a patient. Can you expand on that?
Sure.
Everything we do as a healthcare recruiter is about hiring people to care for
our patients (or support those that do). I live in the Pacific Northwest but
most of my family lives on the East Coast. I want the staff hired at hospitals
in Maine to be just as exceptional as the staff we hire in my organization. I
feel like NAHCR helps us (as healthcare recruiters) hire the best people for
the best patient experience.
That makes sense. But will increasing membership alone make that happen?
No. It’s one
thing to pay a fee to join a group. It’s another to become “active” and
participate in all that NAHCR has to offer. We have webinars, LinkedIn and
Facebook groups, and of course our National Conference (IMAGE) that bring
everyone together to learn best practices that they can then take back to their
organization to affect change. We also have a Directions magazine that brings
thought leaders together on pertinent conversations for the betterment of our
practice. We also have a certification (CHCR) that people can test for at these
conferences, putting a “best in practice” stamp on what we do.
Tell me a little more about the CHCR?
CHCR stands
for a Certified Healthcare Recruiter. I believe it is our industry’s statement
to the “world” that we are a proven professional in healthcare recruitment. It
elevates us to be held to a higher standard of best practice, knowledge, and
passion for our field to have this certification (in my opinion). I’d like to
see it listed on every job description throughout the country.
So people need to come to the conference? What have you
learned there?
I have been
able to become a better business partner to my hiring manager, sourcing
specialist, interviewer, marketing and advertising “expert”, and really an
overall better recruiter as a result of my the last 5 NAHCR Image conferences I
have attended. I also have brought back new tools that I learned about from our
vendors that help make my job easier and allow me to work “smarter” and not
“harder”
So it would seem that maintaining our vendor relationships is
important.
Absolutely!
We have some really great tools out there that make my job SO much easier. The
technology is so advanced and simple for any level (novice or advanced techies)
to use. I wouldn’t know about most of these things without attending these
conferences and getting dedicated time to spend with our vendors. Their support
is key to helping us stay in the forefront of best practice.
At the end of the day, what advice do you have someone who
wants to get more involved in NAHCR?
I believe the first step is to join. Find a
local chapter as well – and join there. Listen to a webinar. Read Directions.
If you are like me – you’ll be hungry for more – and we are lucky that NAHCR
gives us all this…and more!