Beyond filling shifts: How to build a network of independent professionals you trust

The ShiftKey platform was built to empower independent professionals and healthcare organizations to work together on their terms while improving care for everyone. Here are a few tools that make it easier to build a network of reliable, qualified independent professionals who serve your residents (or patients!) at the highest level.

Reliability Score

Our enhanced Reliability Score gives you a real-time view of each independent professional’s dependability right in the Shift Request screen. It’s based on the professional’s most recent 12 months of shift data, refreshed daily.

When an action is more likely to result in a care disruption (such as a last-minute cancellation or failing to cancel), the score is weighted negatively. Cancellations with less than two hours’ notice and failing to cancel affect Reliability Scores the most, as they are the most disruptive to care delivery.

When an independent professional shows a high commitment to the shifts they agree to complete, the score is weighted positively.

Ratings and endorsements

Our two-way rating system helps build a better, more transparent marketplace.

After a shift has been completed, independent professionals and facilities can rate each other using a five-star scale. More stars equal a better experience. Independent professional ratings become visible after three or more facilities have rated them.

Independent professionals can see the following facility endorsements: “user-friendly charting,” “friendly atmosphere,” “well-stocked” and “optimal ratios.”

Each rating is anonymous. An independent professional’s rating is not tied to specific shifts or facilities; it’s an overall score based on the total number of shifts completed via the ShiftKey platform.

Ratings are the weighted average of all the eligible ratings received (the total score divided by number of ratings received). A greater weight is placed on positive interactions to counterbalance the negativity bias often found in traditional rating systems.

How to rate independent professionals

Once an independent professional has completed a shift, you have 48 hours to rate them, which you can do on the Shift Opening screen. If you select a four- or five-star rating, you can also endorse them by highlighting any of the following skills and qualities they demonstrated during their shift:

• Accurate Charting
• Communicated Well
• Patient Care
• On Time
• Collaborated Well

How facilities have achieved five-star ratings

• Ensuring the facility is well-stocked with necessary supplies
• Maintaining reasonable nurse-to-patient ratios
• Creating a welcoming, supportive environment
• Providing clear directions and expectations for charting
• Communicating effectively

Favorites

Our Favorites feature helps facilities reconnect with trusted and reliable independent healthcare professionals.

This is perhaps one of the most critical tools available to help you build a trusted network, and it unleashes the full power of ShiftKey’s time-saving features: Admin Assist, Direct Connect and SAMI (Schedule and Marketplace Integration).

It’s also easy to use. Simply select the heart icon next to your preferred independent professional’s name. That will turn the heart icon green and add them to your Favorites list. (To remove an independent professional from your Favorites list, select the heart icon again.)

Once you select your preferred independent professionals, everyone who uses ShiftKey at your facility will be able to immediately identify Favorite independent professionals and prioritize them for the shifts they request, even if they’ve never met them before.

It really is that simple.

Have questions or need help building your trusted independent professional network?

If you’re a ShiftKey client, contact your Account Manager or visit our help center. If you’re new to our platform, schedule a quick call to learn more about how we can help you future-proof your workforce.