Facing a nationwide health care worker shortage made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, University of Virginia Human Resources increased recruitment of new UVA Health employees in fiscal year 2023 after restructuring its personnel recruitment process, hiring new recruiters and streamlining application processes.

UVA Health officials said they expect to stabilize the healthcare workforce within a few years, having filled 1,654 jobs in the past six months while increasing retention of employees.

“While we prioritize the well-being and care of our patients, we must also care for, empower and support our fellow team members,” said Wendy Horton, CEO of UVA Health University Medical Center. “By embracing these values, we create a nurturing environment where everyone can thrive.”

Part of the restructuring included dividing the health system’s recruitment effort into two teams that focus on different aspects of the health system. The application process was also streamlined to allow a potential employee to apply once and be reviewed for several job opportunities rather than making several applications for different jobs.

The health system also added recruiters, expanding from a 13-member team in 2019 to 25 members in 2023. The changes are credited for the increase in system hires from fiscal year 2022’s 1,659 new employees to 2,528 in the last fiscal year.