How to Set Your Care Team Up for Success in the New Year

As the calendar flips and your agency prepares for the challenges and opportunities of 2026, one thing should be top of mind: your care team. These frontline professionals are the heart of your Medicaid-based operations. Their satisfaction, performance, and retention can make or break your outcomes—clinical, financial, and organizational.

So how can you position your staff for success as the new year begins? It starts with intentional planning in four key areas: scheduling, technology, recognition, and onboarding.

1. Build Smarter, More Balanced Schedules

A well-balanced schedule isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential to preventing burnout and improving care quality.

• Use historical data to identify patterns in call-outs, overtime, and weekend strain.

• Offer more predictable rotations that give staff time to rest and recover, especially in high-volume periods like flu season or holidays.

• Give caregivers a voice in their schedule through mobile tools that allow shift preferences and real-time availability updates.

• Ensure equitable assignments to avoid overloading your most reliable staff, which often leads to burnout.

Empowered scheduling means fewer last-minute gaps, improved morale, and better continuity of care.

2. Make Technology a Help—Not a Headache

The right tools can streamline tasks and reduce friction in the field. But poorly implemented tech can have the opposite effect.

• Start the year with a system check-up. Are your staff still toggling between apps or submitting paper timesheets? It’s time for a change.

• Consolidate systems wherever possible. Platforms that integrate scheduling, EVV, documentation, and billing reduce administrative burden.

• Prioritize mobile-first experiences for field teams. User-friendly apps that work offline ensure staff stay productive, even with poor service.

• Provide refresh training in January to make sure everyone is up to speed—and to capture feedback on what’s working and what’s not.

Technology should simplify work and free up caregivers to focus on what matters most: patient care.

3. Recognize and Reward Your People

Retention starts with appreciation. If your team hasn’t felt seen this year, the new year offers a fresh opportunity to reinforce their value.

• Kick off Q1 with a recognition campaign that spotlights staff who went above and beyond in 2025.

• Celebrate small wins regularly. Even informal shoutouts in team meetings or group chats build morale.

• Offer meaningful rewards like gas cards, extra PTO, or professional development opportunities.

• Build career pathways that show how caregivers can grow within your agency—not just in clinical roles, but in leadership or coordination positions.

A culture of recognition helps teams feel connected, loyal, and motivated.

4. Start Early with Onboarding for 2026 Hires

The first impression sets the tone for an employee’s entire tenure. If you’re planning to grow your team in 2026, get ahead now.

• Pre-build onboarding tracks that cover compliance, systems training, documentation, and culture.

• Automate admin tasks (like form completion and benefits enrollment) so new hires can spend more time connecting with your mission and team.

• Assign mentors or onboarding buddies to support retention and confidence early on.

• Schedule regular check-ins during the first 90 days to identify gaps and offer support.

Proactive onboarding is a powerful lever for reducing early attrition and building long-term engagement.

Invest in Your People—Because They Are Your Agency

The most successful Medicaid agencies know that operations and outcomes depend on people. Scheduling, tech, recognition, and onboarding may seem tactical—but together, they create an environment where staff thrive.

As you plan for 2026, don’t just think about census and claims. Think about your care team. When they’re set up for success, so is your agency.

Statewise is here to help agencies streamline operations, support staff, and scale with confidence. Let’s make 2026 your strongest year yet.