--- title: Covering Pediatric Staff Shortages During Summer description: Tips to manage pediatric staff shortages during summer by cross-training employees, enhancing benefits, and hiring per diem or locum tenens staff for optimal practice efficiency. image: https://blog.pcc.com/hubfs/Blog%20Images/Four%20pediatrician%20practice%20staff%20members%20stand%20together%20looking%20forward.jpeg --- - [Request a 1:1 Consult](https://info.pcc.com/consult) - [Brochure](https://www.pcc.com/brochure/) - [Blog](https://blog.pcc.com) - [Client Support](https://support.pcc.com) [![PCC_Horizontal](https://blog.pcc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/PCC%20Logos/PCC_Horizontal.png?width=210&height=62&name=PCC_Horizontal.png)](https://www.pcc.com/) - Our Solution - [Why Choose PCC?](https://www.pcc.com/why-choose-pcc/) - [Financial Management Tools](https://www.pcc.com/financial-management-tools/) - [Clinical Workflow Tools](https://www.pcc.com/clinical-workflow-tools/) - [Mobile Solutions](https://www.pcc.com/mobile-solutions/) - [PCC Interoperability](https://www.pcc.com/interoperability/) - [Technical Support](https://www.pcc.com/technical-support/) - [Personalized Support](https://www.pcc.com/personalized-support/) - [Our Pricing Model](https://www.pcc.com/pricing/) - Our Results - [Pediatric Benchmarks](https://www.pcc.com/pediatric-benchmarks/) - [Client Testimonials](https://www.pcc.com/client-testimonials/) - [Success Stories](https://www.pcc.com/success-stories/) - Learn with PCC - [Overview](https://www.pcc.com/learn/) - [PCCLearn: Knowledgebase](http://learn.pcc.com/) - [PCCTalk: Client Forum](https://www.pcc.com/talk/) - [PCC Protocols Library](http://protocols.pcc.com/) - [PCMH Resources](http://pcmh.pcc.com/index.php/PCC_PCMH_Resources) - [PCC Users’ Conference](https://www.pcc.com/users-conference/) - [Events & Trainings](https://www.pcc.com/events/) - Insights - [Smart Pediatrics Resource Center](https://www.pcc.com/smart-pediatrics-resources/) - [Cost Impact Calculator](https://www.pcc.com/cost-impact-calculator/) - [Does Your Practice Measure Up?](https://www.pcc.com/performance-calculator/) - [PCC Blog](https://www.pcc.com/blog/) - [Chip’s Blog](https://chipsblog.pcc.com/) - [Charting the Future Podcast](https://info.pcc.com/charting-the-future) - About PCC - [Overview](https://www.pcc.com/about/) - [Request a 1:1 Consult](https://info.pcc.com/consult) - [Meet Our Team](https://www.pcc.com/team/) - [Events & Trainings](https://www.pcc.com/events/) - [Careers](https://www.pcc.com/careers/) - [PCC Industry Pros](https://www.pcc.com/industry-pros/) - [Contact Us](https://www.pcc.com/contact-us/) [practice management](https://blog.pcc.com/tag/practice-management) # Covering Pediatric Staff Shortages During Summer Summer can feel like a lazy river ride for pediatricians: with trips, camps, and plenty of outside play, office visits may be fewer than during sick season and kids are generally less ill. But for practice administrators and office managers, the struggle to fill schedules continues. After all, staff and physicians also want in on the nice weather! If your practice is struggling to realize both vacation time and filling out the staff schedule, here are some tips to help you stay afloat on the inner tube of success and keep your revenue from hitting a wave – all summer long. # Cross-Train for Strength  Just as athletes cross-train muscles for better performance, you can and should cross-train staff on your team. While everyone has their strengths and should generally play to them, the ability of your staff to cover for one another during absences will help prevent lulls between the reception room and the exam room. Depending on the number of staff and the size of your practice, here are tasks you might consider cross-training: - Checking patients in/out - Billing  - Handling appointments - Referrals - [Patient recall](https://learn.pcc.com/help/pccs-tools-to-remind-recall-and-contact-patients/) - Rooming patients - Giving a brief tour of the practice for new patients/expecting parents - Accepting deliveries Cross-training isn’t just a good strategy for summer and other lulls in schedules. [This study suggests that cross-training is a great way to keep employees motivated and engaged](https://www.proquest.com/openview/2e5a1f762910c7829a80fc4369d520e9/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=51770), as the novelty of new tasks breaks the monotony of their usual work. Win/win. ## Shock the Benefits Pool When was the last time you considered your practice’s benefit package before hiring new staff? Perhaps recently, especially if you’re experiencing [staff shortages](https://www.childrenshospitals.org/content/public-policy/fact-sheet/pediatric-workforce-shortages-persist-in-2024), but if you haven’t, now is a great time to take another look.  Negotiating benefits is a great strategy for practices that aren’t able to offer more financial compensation when a candidate asks for it, and benefits are also great for employee retention. Some benefits questions to consider: - Is PTO accrued over the year or given in a lump sum? - Do employees with more seniority get more PTO?  - Does your practice require planning PTO ahead of time, or are you generally flexible? Where is the best middle ground? Some practices offer more flexibility in scheduling vacation time for their senior employees and physicians, but be careful: allowing a senior employee to schedule a vacation last minute over the newbie’s wedding plans booked months in advance sets a demoralizing precedent. Having clear definitions around who can book vacation time, how far in advance, and how seniority benefits differ (if you choose to offer them) can prevent this problem. ## Summer Staffing: Locum Tenens and Per Diem Players When the staff you have in the office dwindles, sometimes you simply need more people – both in and out of the office. - **Per diem staff** can help fill in gaps for positions like MAs, front desk, and scheduling. - **Locum tenens** physicians require more planning, but could be a great option especially if multiple physicians are out for several weeks during the season. - **Remote** **workers** can help your practice schedule appointments and perform administrative work like making patient recall phone calls. Telemedicine opportunities for physicians and NPs are another great benefit to negotiate with. **Getting creative** with part-time staff can pay dividends. College students are a great pool of candidates for summer-time coverage. Bonus: medical school students make great scribes and can use what they learn in your practice for their future career. [Read about how Dr. Caroline Morgan of Pirate Pediatrics did just that.](https://www.independentpediatrician.com/2024/12/sailing-your-own-ship-dr-caroline-morgan-on-thriving-in-independent-practice/) Even while summer schedules relax a little, there are plenty of creative ways to help your team accommodate everything that this summer will offer. Whether you decide to shore up your team of part-time players or get flexible with the staff you already have, you can tackle summer scheduling snafus with a little planning ahead. Speaking of planning ahead – are you making the most of your front desk staff? They’re the face of the office, and critical for your success. From optimizing patient flow to making great first impressions, supporting your front desk can be a great boost for your practice’s workflow and morale. Learn more about how to utilize your front desk to collect payments, improve patient relationships, [and much more with this webinar from PCC’s Lynne Gratton](https://info.pcc.com/why-your-front-desk-has-the-most-important-job-in-your-practice-lp). [![Why Your Front Desk Has the Most Important Job In Your Practice](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/373774/3dd1ad8b-fca9-42e9-a452-5d8a1082e8c9.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/373774/3dd1ad8b-fca9-42e9-a452-5d8a1082e8c9) ## Allie Squires ![](https://blog.pcc.com/hubfs/Copied%20Assets/Pivot%20-%20Related%20Articles%20Slider/line-blog.png) Allie Squires is PCC's Marketing Content Writer. She received a Master's of Science in Professional Writing from NYU and resides in Vermont with her partner. She most enjoys writing stories that connect pediatricians' work with their goals for the future. ## You might also like ## [Why Pediatric Billers Get Stuck — And How Your Practice Can Help Claims Get Paid ![](https://blog.pcc.com/hubfs/Copied%20Assets/Pivot%20-%20Related%20Articles%20Slider/line-blog.png) Everyone at your practice wants claims to be paid quickly. When delays occur, attention often turns.. Allie Squires on Aug 28, 2026 [Read More](https://blog.pcc.com/why-pediatric-billers-get-stuck-and-how-your-practice-can-help-claims-get-paid)](https://blog.pcc.com/why-pediatric-billers-get-stuck-and-how-your-practice-can-help-claims-get-paid) ## [It Starts with Hello: The Inside Secrets to RCM In Your Practice ![](https://blog.pcc.com/hubfs/Copied%20Assets/Pivot%20-%20Related%20Articles%20Slider/line-blog.png) Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) is a constantly shifting pattern of charges, policies, claims, and.. 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