Top 5 Mistakes Telehealth Employers Make in Staffing (And How to Avoid Them)

Even experienced telehealth employers make staffing mistakes that can cost time, money, and patient satisfaction. Understanding common pitfalls and how to avoid them is key to building a scalable and efficient telehealth workforce.

Top 5 Mistakes in Telehealth Staffing

1. Underestimating Licensing Requirements
   Many employers assume clinicians can practice in multiple states without proper licenses. This can lead to legal risk and delayed care.
   
2. Neglecting Credentialing and Compliance
   Failing to verify certifications or maintain updated credentials can result in denied reimbursement or compliance penalties.
   
3. Ignoring Clinician Burnout
   Overloading staff with excessive shifts or administrative tasks reduces quality of care and increases turnover.
   
4. Overlooking Flexible Staffing Needs
   Telehealth demand fluctuates. Employers who rely solely on full-time staff may struggle during high-demand periods.
   
5. Not Leveraging Telehealth Staffing Agencies
   Many employers attempt to hire and manage all clinicians internally, which slows onboarding and increases administrative burden.
   

How to Avoid These Mistakes

• Plan for Multi-State Licensing: Partner with services like DirectShifts to handle licensing across states efficiently.
  
• Automate Credentialing: Use tools or staffing agencies that verify and maintain certifications.
  
• Implement Flexible Scheduling: Use part-time, per-diem, or on-demand clinicians to manage fluctuations.
  
• Monitor Clinician Workload: Regularly review schedules to prevent burnout.
  
• Leverage Specialized Staffing Agencies: Agencies like DirectShifts provide pre-credentialed, licensed clinicians and help with compliance, saving time and resources.
  

Case Study: Access TeleCare Avoids Staffing Mistakes

‍Access TeleCare expanded its telepsychiatry services but faced potential staffing delays due to multi-state licensing and credentialing issues. Partnering with DirectShifts allowed them to:

• Onboard clinicians across 12 states within weeks
  
• Avoid compliance penalties with fully verified credentials
  
• Reduce administrative workload for internal HR teams
  

As a result, Access TeleCare maintained high clinician satisfaction and uninterrupted patient access while scaling services efficiently.

FAQ: Common Telehealth Staffing Mistakes

1. What are the most common staffing mistakes in telehealth?
   Licensing oversights, delayed credentialing, burnout, inflexible staffing, and poor use of staffing agencies.
   
2. Why is multi-state licensing important?
   Clinicians must be licensed in the state where the patient is located to practice legally.
   
3. How can credentialing mistakes affect telehealth operations?
   Delays in onboarding, denied reimbursement, and compliance penalties.
   
4. What is clinician burnout and how does it happen?
   Physical and emotional exhaustion due to heavy workloads or long hours in virtual care.
   
5. How can flexible staffing help?
   Using part-time, per-diem, or on-demand staff ensures adequate coverage during peaks.
   
6. What role do staffing agencies like DirectShifts play?
   They provide pre-credentialed clinicians, manage licensing, and streamline compliance.
   
7. How can employers monitor workload effectively?
   Track hours, patient load, and administrative tasks per clinician regularly.
   
8. Are administrative burdens a major contributor to mistakes?
   Yes, inefficient internal processes can delay hiring and credentialing.
   
9. What’s the fastest way to avoid staffing mistakes?
   Partner with specialized telehealth staffing agencies and implement workflow automation.
10. How does avoiding these mistakes impact patient care?
    Ensures consistent clinician availability, reduces wait times, and improves quality of care.