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HWL Insights

Driving Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare: How HWL Supports Beth Israel Lahey Health's DBE Program

Driving Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare: How HWL Supports Beth Israel Lahey Health's DBE Program

October 24, 2024/By Lori Kiesel

In a healthcare industry where innovation and compassion intersect, true progress is rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH), serving the northern suburbs of Boston, has redefined what it means to champion these values. With the support of HWL, BILH’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) program is not just a checkbox; it’s an impactful initiative that integrates diverse suppliers into the very fabric of its operations, driving forward a new era of inclusivity in healthcare.

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The University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group: A Locum Tenens Transformation Story

The University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group: A Locum Tenens Transformation Story

October 18, 2024/By Karen Little

The cornerstone of exceptional patient care in modern healthcare systems lies in the effective management of a skilled and adaptable workforce. For large health systems, this challenge is magnified when it comes to coordinating temporary physician coverage, known as locum tenens. The University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group (UVMHN) recently faced this challenge head-on, embarking on a transformative journey to revolutionize its locum tenens management. It is the story of how a fragmented system evolved into a streamlined, unified program that not only improved operations but also enhanced patient care.

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Is Float Pool Nursing Right for You?

Is Float Pool Nursing Right for You?

October 02, 2024/By Amanda Wheeler, RN, BSN, MBA

As a nurse who thrives in the dynamic and ever-changing environment of float pool assignments, you are part of a unique group within the healthcare community. Adaptable, resilient, and continually optimistic, you embrace the challenges and rewards that come with floating between various units within a healthcare institution.  

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Quality Over Quantity: Clinical Interviewing for Contingent Labor

Quality Over Quantity: Clinical Interviewing for Contingent Labor

October 02, 2024/By Nancy Bourg RN, BSHCA, MBA

Over the past few years, since the turbulence of the pandemic, healthcare organizations' main focus has been having enough staff to fill vacancies due to increased demand and surges in patient volume. This led to unprecedented rates of burnout, permanently changing the course of staffing history as organizations became dependent on contingent labor. 

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The importance of asking these key questions when evaluating an MSP/VMS for Locum Providers

The importance of asking these key questions when evaluating an MSP/VMS for Locum Providers

September 27, 2024/By Tommy Binner

The demand and costs for locum tenens providers is continually on the rise. With the increasing demand for healthcare and diminishing supply of providers across the healthcare community, the need for flexible staffing solutions has organizations across the US turning to Vendor Management Systems (VMS) and Managed Service Providers (MSP) to streamline their operations and ensure quality coverage. Once only for the travelling nurse community, a well-chosen VMS/MSP can efficiently manage locums staffing needs, reducing the stress and cost of using locums.

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How a Healthcare Employer of Record (EOR) Can Contain Costs

How a Healthcare Employer of Record (EOR) Can Contain Costs

September 13, 2024/By Melissa Evans

Striking a balance between cost management and high-quality employees is critical for long-term success and ensuring the integrity of patient care. However, with so many healthcare systems' over reliance on contingent labor, which often comes at a premium price, this is often easier said than done. Innovative solutions are imperative for today's healthcare leaders. 

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HWL Welcomes Robert Middlebrooks as Senior Vice President of Project Management Office

HWL Welcomes Robert Middlebrooks as Senior Vice President of Project Management Office

September 06, 2024/By Craig Hershovitz

We are thrilled to announce the addition of Robert Middlebrooks to our HWL team as the Senior Vice President of our Project Management Office. Robert brings a wealth of experience in project management, healthcare quality, and regulatory compliance, making him a valuable asset to our organization.

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Employee Misclassification in Healthcare: What It is and its Consequences

Employee Misclassification in Healthcare: What It is and its Consequences

August 28, 2024/By Tracy Kettler

Of all the issues facing healthcare companies as of late, staffing is at the top of the list. From ensuring staff are being properly utilized and reducing turnover to reducing reliance on contingent staff and more, you'd be hard pressed to find a facility that hasn't experienced staffing woes of some type. 

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The Importance of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) Programs in Healthcare Staffing

The Importance of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) Programs in Healthcare Staffing

August 22, 2024/By Lauren Cabral

In healthcare staffing, promoting diversity and inclusivity is not only ethically imperative but also strategically beneficial. Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) programs play a central role in achieving these goals. DBEs are businesses owned and operated by individuals confronting social and economic challenges, encompassing minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and disabled-owned enterprises, among others. These programs are designed to provide equitable access for DBEs to participate in federally funded contracts, particularly in healthcare staffing, thereby fostering supplier diversity and advancing equity in the healthcare sector.

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How A Positive Culture Drives Success in Healthcare

How A Positive Culture Drives Success in Healthcare

August 20, 2024/By Laurie DiMarzio

At HWL, we believe that culture isn't just a buzzword—it's the engine that drives our success. In the healthcare field, where the stakes are high and the work is both demanding and rewarding, a positive workplace culture has a profound impact. Cultivating this culture is essential for our success and can transform our work environment in significant ways. 

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The Best Time to Implement an Internal Contingent Workforce Optimization Plan is When You Don’t Need One

The Best Time to Implement an Internal Contingent Workforce Optimization Plan is When You Don’t Need One

August 16, 2024/By Amanda Wheeler, RN, BSN, MBA

In the dynamic and unpredictable business of modern healthcare, the importance of an adaptable and resilient workforce cannot be overstated. After we experience the annual year end mad dash of elective procedures patients schedule strategically to beat resetting deductibles and the long winter months of seasonal illness that require us to “staff up” for volumes, late Spring & Summer can be deceptive seasons for healthcare leaders as patient volumes decrease and staffing appears to “stabilize.” Inevitably, the reprieve is always short lived, so it is imperative we spend those calmer times planning, implementing and/or optimizing our workforce strategies for the next evolution. Even healthcare systems currently experiencing low turnover rates and minimal reliance on external contingent labor should consider investing in and optimizing an internal resource pool, or Local Insourced Flex Team (LIFT). This strategic move is crucial in addressing seasonal fluctuations in patient volume, unexpected staff absences, and the prolonged time required to fill vacancies. Additionally, it provides a local solution to the ongoing nursing shortage and serves as a retention mechanism by offering flexible work options, alternatives to travel nursing & competitive compensation that benefit both the organization and its employees.

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What Our Partners Say About HWL's Suite of Workforce Solutions

What Our Partners Say About HWL's Suite of Workforce Solutions

August 12, 2024/By Jeff Niles

HWL's suite of workforce solutions has helped hundreds of healthcare organizations cut staffing costs, maintain quality of care, and improve recruiting strategies to foster future success. We're always putting out the word that services such as Managed Service Programs (MSP), Vendor Management Systems (VMS), internal agencies, and more are all essential to implement in the face of industry-wide staffing challenges. 

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Addressing Behavioral Health Staffing Challenges with HWL's Expertise

Addressing Behavioral Health Staffing Challenges with HWL's Expertise

August 08, 2024/By Tamara Miller

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has emerged as a critical area of concern within the healthcare sector. As healthcare organizations grapple with the economic impact of mental health costs and workforce shortages, the need for reliable staffing solutions has never been more pressing. According to recent data, the annual economic burden of mental and medical healthcare costs combined with lost productivity exceeds a staggering $220 billion in the United States alone. This figure underscores the urgency to address staffing challenges effectively to mitigate further financial strain and ensure quality patient care.

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The 3 C's of an Effective VMS/MSP partner

The 3 C's of an Effective VMS/MSP partner

July 30, 2024/By Tommy Binner

The effectiveness of how you manage your contingent workforce is as important a job as there is in healthcare leadership today.  With the rise of the gig economy and the increasing reliance on temporary workforce solutions, businesses are turning to Vendor Management Systems (VMS) and Managed Service Providers (MSP) to streamline their contingent workforce processes. However, amidst the myriad of options available, decision-makers must prioritize three key factors: Consistency, Centralization, and Configurability, often referred to as "The 3 C's".

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The Balancing Act: Work-Life-Balance or Work-Life-Conflict?

The Balancing Act: Work-Life-Balance or Work-Life-Conflict?

July 23, 2024/By Melissa Evans

In the world of healthcare, where the lines between day and night often blur, the concept of work-life balance can seem like a distant dream. But as a mental health expert and a leader in healthcare workforce solutions, I understand the impact that a lack of balance can have on both healthcare professionals and the patients they serve. Addressing this issue is imperative and it starts with an awareness of the impact mental health has on our workforce.

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Promoting Compassionate Care for Nursing Staff via Supportive Workforce Solutions

Promoting Compassionate Care for Nursing Staff via Supportive Workforce Solutions

July 16, 2024/By Ciara Endicott

Compassionate care is a practice that fosters empathy, understanding, and deeper nurse-patient relationships in order to deliver a higher quality of care. It is a way for staff to become more familiar with the reasons for their patients' individual pain and suffering so that they can more accurately address them. 

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Navigating Healthcare Workforce: Mission vs. Metric Mindset

Navigating Healthcare Workforce: Mission vs. Metric Mindset

July 08, 2024/By Trevor Strauss, FACHE

In the dynamic realm of healthcare workforce solutions, the tug-of-war between a mission-driven approach and a metric-oriented mindset often takes center stage. Balancing the human-centric ethos of healthcare with the demands of efficiency and performance metrics presents a challenge for managers and administrators, both internally at health systems and externally with agency or other partners. Understanding the nuances between these two mindsets is crucial for creating an effective workforce strategy that prioritizes both the mission of care and operational excellence.

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Key Benefits of Internal Resource Pool Management

Key Benefits of Internal Resource Pool Management

June 28, 2024/By Jeff Niles

Internal resource pools (IRP) have become a staple in successful healthcare talent management strategies for organizations big and small. Also referred to as float pools, IRPs act as a database of contingent staff to help manage their credentials, schedules, and more. With each employees' information stored in one location, facilities can fill openings on short notice, improve patient outcomes, contribute to their talent retention efforts, and more.

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Balancing the Scales: Bringing the cost of staffing back to Earth

Balancing the Scales: Bringing the cost of staffing back to Earth

June 14, 2024/By Tommy Binner

The primary concern for organizations globally lies in the realm of workforce challenges, and this is evident across various sectors. Nowhere are these challenges more pronounced than in healthcare, with continuous shortages of providers of all types.

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Revolutionizing Healthcare Labor Strategies: From External Reliance to Internal Empowerment

Revolutionizing Healthcare Labor Strategies: From External Reliance to Internal Empowerment

June 11, 2024/By Trevor Strauss, FACHE

A leading healthcare system headquartered in the Southeast, with a network of hospitals and a variety of ancillary health services, was facing a decision to continue with the status quo or insource control of their human capital and workforce solutions.

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