Proper HR Training in Healthcare – What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

Rethinking HR in Healthcare Practices

Many healthcare practices view Human Resources as a simple administrative function — keep the office staffed, avoid conflicts and the job gets done. Right?

Not quite! Effective HR in a healthcare setting requires administrators to be well-versed in HR procedures, compliance issues, regulations and workplace dynamics. This knowledge is necessary to create a modern and productive environment. Ignorance in these areas can expose practices to fines, HIPAA violations, patient complaints and even lawsuits that threaten both financial stability and reputation. In other words, what you don’t know about HR can hurt your practice.

The Hidden Risks of Untrained HR Management

Untrained staff who are managing HR duties can become the weakest part of the healthcare team. This is not through any fault of their own. It’s typical for administrators to wear many hats, with HR being only one. But unfortunately, they may inadvertently put your practice at risk because they “don’t know what they don’t know.”

Practitioners should ensure the person handling HR meets high professional standards. This includes managing workplace culture, employment eligibility and physical and cybersecurity awareness. And if they don’t, get them the help they need, whether that is learning opportunities or the assistance of a qualified, certified outsourced HR partner.

HR Training in Healthcare: Why It Matters

Staff training and engagement are vital, particularly for independent healthcare practices with small or single-person HR teams. Continuous training and professional oversight are essential for consistent team performance. Reports have shown a correlation between employee experience, patient satisfaction scores and patient safety.

Robust HR policies also influence staff retention. The longer a well-skilled, productive employee is on board, the greater an impact they have on the organization as a whole, enhancing what’s known as “employee lifetime value” (ELTV). All this supports long-term prosperity.

Proper training also reduces both physical errors, such as inadvertent needle sticks and administrative mistakes in areas like record keeping or scheduling. Setbacks such as these affect patient satisfaction and outcomes.

HR Essentials Every Practice Must Have

Essential HR “Must-Haves” for a Proper Healthcare Practice Include:

Employee Handbooks

Every practice needs a comprehensive, up-to-date employee handbook outlining office protocols, HIPAA compliance, billing procedures and more. It should be updated regularly to reflect internal changes, current regulations and trends. An outdated policy guide is almost worse than none at all, since obsolete information could foster improper practices and attitudes.

Accurate Job Descriptions

Clear explanations of each employee’s role should be established and documented, especially when defining on-site and remote positions. In this era of hybrid work, there has been a growth in remote employment lawsuits. Many involve Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) related claims, where employees sue over unclear expectations around remote work or scheduling.

Proper Documentation

Administrators must comply with regulations like completion of I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) forms for all hires — citizens and non-citizens. These forms verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Equity and Fairness

All team members must uphold high standards for respect and equity for both patients and staff. Untrained administrators may mishandle sensitive personnel issues, creating a hostile workplace environment that leads to turnover, lost investment in staff training and potential grievances.

The Bigger Picture

HR policies influence how a practice is perceived — not just by patients, but also by current staff, potential hires and the wider industry. They reflect your organization’s values and priorities. Investing in strong, up-to-date HR practices is essential to the long-term success and stability of any healthcare practice.

Investing in HR training isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity for healthcare practices that want to operate efficiently, mitigate risk and support long-term growth. At James Moore HR Solutions, we specialize in helping healthcare practices strengthen their HR operations. From policy development to targeted training programs, we’ll work with you to build a more confident, compliant and capable team.

All content provided in this article is for informational purposes only. Matters discussed in this article are subject to change. For up-to-date information on this subject please contact a James Moore professional. James Moore will not be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any information within these pages or any information accessed through this site.