‘There are not enough good, qualified people around’
THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
Kevin Donovan knows how to recruit medical professionals to the Lakes Region.
“The sell for people to live and work in this area is the lifestyle and the community, the type of people who live here and the four seasons,” said Donovan, chief administrative officer for Concord Hospital-Laconia and Concord Hospital-Franklin.
He is in a better position to make that pitch now that the region’s healthcare system has greater stability.
In April, the state Attorney General’s office signed off on Concord Hospital’s $30 million purchase of the assets of LRGHealthcare, which included the Laconia and Franklin hospitals. LRGH declared bankruptcy in 2020 after years of operating losses.
“The acquisition by Concord Hospital has helped our recruitment efforts,” said Donovan, who was president and chief executive officer of LRGH. “When we were recruiting as an organization in bankruptcy or pending bankruptcy, it was a barrier. So it has helped to a degree, but we’re feeling the same pressure as other organizations. There are not enough good, qualified people around.”
Openings abound at the hospitals in Concord, Laconia and Franklin for everything from cooks to doctors. Also being sought are technicians, couriers, laundry workers and others. Some of the jobs include sign-on bonuses.
Donovan said there is strong demand for medical professionals nationwide.
The recent hiring of a dozen newly graduated nurses at the Laconia and Franklin hospitals and 30 in Concord was a positive development, but Donovan said more are needed.
Specialized medical providers are also in demand.
“We know we could support multiple dermatologists in this community, but there aren’t enough candidates out there, and we haven’t been able to find anybody,” he said.
There are also not enough people applying to be lab technicians, or a sufficient educational pipeline to qualify, he said.
‘Challenged with openings’
In terms of non-clinical staff, such as janitors, food services and secretaries, the healthcare system is facing the same workforce shortage and recruitment difficulties. Competition for labor is driving up hourly pay.
“Everywhere I go, there are help-wanted signs advertising $13 to $15 an hour,” Donovan said. “It just feels like there are not enough working-age, or working class people around.”
Patrick Boyle, Concord Hospital’s chief human resources officer, estimates there are now 280 open positions in the Laconia, Franklin and Concord hospitals. The organization employs 4,500 people, making it the largest private sector employer in the region.
“We are challenged with openings in a number of areas, clinical, office, clerical,” Boyle said. “Things have heated up rapidly and we are chasing after a limited pool of talent.”
“While New Hampshire is an appealing place to relocate to, people don’t need to move,” Boyle said. “These positions are readily available where they reside.”
The availability of work from home has created another challenge for employers who need in-person workers.
“A decent pool of workers, maybe 25% to 30% have moved to remote work and aren’t looking to come back to a fixed job site,” Boyle said.
This article is being shared by partners in the Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.
