Addressing Healthcare Needs: International Nursing Recruitment and Specialized Medical Services

Augusta University Medical Center is addressing its need for experienced nurses, and a partnership with Avant Healthcare Professionals is helping make it happen. AU Medical Center has committed to hire 100 international registered nurses from the Philippines over the next year to fill vacancies in five departments. This initiative comes as Georgia currently has a high demand for nurses due to a fairly rapidly growing population as well as an increase in the retirement of older nurses.

The Strategic Role of Avant Healthcare Professionals

Avant, founded in 2003, recruits international nurses with the promise to provide positive patient experiences, exemplary clinical quality and an international staffing partnership delivering stability and reliability. The company screens qualified candidates who meet the organizational staffing needs of the medical center and works with AU Medical Center nursing leadership to interview candidates via Skype.

The process to bring an international nurse to the United States can take up to six months. About six weeks prior to the arrival of an international nurse to the medical center, Avant flies them to Orlando, Florida, to their facility for a six-week immersive orientation. There, the nurses learn how the health care system operates in the United States, hands-on skills labs with virtual simulations, and charting in an electronic medical record.

Allocating Resources Across Departments

To provide a clear overview of the staffing plan, the following vacancies are being filled:

• Medical/Surgical: 41 nurses
• Perioperative Services: 26 nurses
• Critical Care: 15 nurses
• Emergency Services: 12 nurses
• Oncology: 6 nurses

Advancements in Women’s Health and Specialized Care

Beyond general staffing, healthcare centers are focusing on specialized expertise. Dr. Cara Detrie brings exceptional training and a genuine passion for women's health to Conway Medical Center's OB/GYN department. Her expertise spans the full spectrum of women's health, from routine preventive care to complex surgical procedures. She has particular expertise in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and is completing certification in robotic-assisted surgery, offering patients access to the most advanced surgical techniques.

In addition to surgical expertise, diagnostic capabilities are expanding. Women’s Health Imaging at Andover Medical Center provides the latest in digital breast imaging technology in a private, comfortable and modern facility. Bone density testing is also available, screening women for signs of bone loss and osteoporosis.

The Evolution of Women in the Medical Profession

Women physicians are vital to the dynamic of today’s healthcare arena. They bring unique perspectives and challenge us to be better, more equitable and kinder providers. We see this reflected in national trends; today women make up 37% of U.S. physicians, compared to just 5% in 1970. Having providers who look like us is critical to providing the highest-quality, most equitable care to all.