Healthcare Human Resources (HR) Professionals Week, celebrated from March 10-14, is a time to recognize the vital role that human resources professionals play in the healthcare industry. These dedicated individuals ensure that healthcare organizations are staffed with skilled professionals, maintain employee well-being and uphold policies that create a positive work environment. This week, we acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and the essential contributions made by our HR employees.
- Mike Francisco, human resources business consultant, joined Magellan Federal in May 2013.
- Lisa Clarke, workday HR technologist, with Magellan since February 2020.
- Nicole McLain, director of talent acquisition at Magellan since September 2010.
Continue reading to learn more from Mike, Lisa and Nicole on their experiences as a healthcare HR professional:
Why did you want to pursue healthcare HR and what is the most rewarding aspect of working in this field?
Mike: I have been working in the federal contracting space for 30 years and until 2013, most of my work was in support of staff specializing in systems and equipment such as sensors, receivers, transmitters, logistics and intelligence support. As a veteran, supporting health related programs for the military service members and their families was a natural next step.
Lisa: My passion is to help employees find information and complete processes in the most efficient manner. Working in human resources has allowed me to do that. In my current position, supporting system processes, researching questions, creating reports that help provide insight and more are all very rewarding.
Nicole: I pursued a career in talent acquisition over 20 years ago because I found it to be a challenging yet fulfilling field. Specifically in healthcare because I need to be passionate about the industry and company that I work for to recruit people into it. I really enjoy all aspects of talent acquisition and how it has a direct impact on people’s lives. It’s extremely rewarding to help someone find their dream job!
What are some challenges you face in this profession and how do you overcome them?
Mike: Many of our employees are former military or spouses of military members and are deeply integrated into the military community. It’s only natural that they see themselves as working for the military. The best way to maintain employee engagement with Magellan is by frequent communication. Naturally, that starts with their supervisors, and as a human resource business consultant I work to help facilitate those communications. I also try to be readily available to employees in the field. Despite the push towards staff automation and self-service, people just want to talk to someone, and it is incumbent on all of us to make that effort.
Lisa: I would call them opportunities, not challenges! As we all know things change, and with these changes, our system workflows, process and data need to be updated. These changes can only be overcome by the collaboration of the amazing group of people within Magellan HR! I am so fortunate to be part of this team.
Nicole: I feel the biggest challenge in talent acquisition is finding qualified candidates that have the right skills, education and experience and that are a cultural fit within the organization, and most times I must find the right candidate on a tight deadline. I try and overcome this by leveraging employee referrals and using social media job boards, to source and expand the pool of candidates.
Is there anything you’d like to highlight about working in healthcare HR?
Mike: I can see that our team works hard to care for others. To avoid burnout, we need to do as much as possible to ensure that our employees have the necessary benefit information available to them. The online knowledge tool at Magellan has that information, and I can’t thank my fellow HR team enough for the work that has been put into creating a robust online library of resources.
Lisa: Employees working with customers here at Magellan have demanding jobs, it’s an honor and privilege to be able to support them in their HR needs.
Nicole: There is a preconceived notion out there about talent acquisition that anyone can recruit without having experience as a recruiter. While it might seem simple, there are a lot of nuances to the process. Talent acquisition professionals need strong interpersonal skills, empathy and an understanding of HR regulations, market trends and company culture. Additionally, the ability to negotiate offers, build relationships and manage multiple hiring processes requires specialized expertise.
What does National Healthcare HR Professionals week mean to you?
Mike: This week is designed to recognize HR professionals for their contributions to the industry. I’m happy to be part of a team of professionals doing what needs to be done to ensure that our clinical and non-clinical team received the support they need.
Lisa: It’s a chance for all of us to say, “thank you” and recognize those who work behind the scenes in all aspects of human resources.
Nicole: Healthcare HR Professionals Week is a time to recognize and celebrate the important role that HR professionals play in the industry. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge the unique challenges and impact HR professionals have in a field that directly influences people’s lives, health and wellbeing.
How does Magellan HR embrace a strengths-based culture?
Mike: Magellan fosters collaboration. Leaders make sure people have responsibilities based on their individual strengths and take the time to recognize their achievements.
Lisa: Magellan HR provides tools to help support an environment that focuses on employees’ natural talents and strengths through training, performance connection, internal career opportunities and peer to peer recognition opportunities like the High Five Friday!
Nicole: Magellan HR embraces a strengths-based culture by focusing on identifying, developing and leveraging the unique strengths of employees and understanding their talents and skills, which leads to more engaged, motivated and high-performing teams.
