HWL Insights

The workforce management landscape in 2025 told a story of both challenge and transformation. Healthcare organizations spent over 50% of their budgets on labor costs while facing unprecedented staffing shortages, according to Redesign Health analysis. Education wasn't far behind, with 1 in 8 teaching positions either vacant or filled by uncertified educators, reports the Learning Policy Institute. Yet amid these challenges, innovative solutions emerged that are reshaping how organizations approach workforce strategy. 

For over a decade, HWL has partnered with hundreds of leading healthcare systems nationwide to solve one of their most pressing challenges: workforce management. Through our integrated MSP and VMS solutions, we’ve helped hospitals and other healthcare providers streamline contingent labor, reduce costs, ensure compliance, and maintain operational excellence—even in the most complex environments. 

HWL is excited to welcome Miguel Castroman as the newest member of our sales team, where he will focus on expanding HWL’s Locums MSP and VMS partnerships nationwide. With more than 20 years of experience across the healthcare workforce landscape—including permanent, leadership, and locums staffing—Miguel has built a career on strengthening executive relationships, navigating complex workforce challenges, and delivering strategic solutions for health systems. His background includes notable roles at Doximity, AMN Healthcare, and VISTA Staffing Solutions, complemented by an MBA from Kennesaw State University and fluency in English, Spanish, and German. Miguel’s expertise and mission-driven approach align closely with HWL’s commitment to transparent, vendor-neutral workforce solutions, and we’re thrilled to have him join the team.

HWL is thrilled to welcome Eric Sylvia to our leadership team as Vice President of Business Development. Eric brings a proven track record of success in healthcare staffing and business development, having spearheaded growth initiatives at Krewe Anesthesia Solutions, Riverside Consulting Group, and Medicus Healthcare Solutions.

We’re thrilled to welcome Tay Person to HWL as Vice President of Business Development for our Education Vertical.

I was speaking to an executive in a health system that was six months into having implemented an MSP with a very large staffing agency that had promised everything under the sun from customer service, fill rates, quality and cost savings. I was not shocked to hear that almost none of the promises from sales had materialized.

South Shore Health (SSH) has long been a leader in delivering exceptional care. As Massachusetts’ only community-based Level III NICU and one of just three Level II Trauma Centers in the state, SSH sets the standard for regional healthcare. Its nationally recognized cardiac program performs more than 3,500 procedures annually and consistently ranks among the top 10 hospitals in the state.

Exploring thought leadership in healthcare through engaging conversations with industry leaders

Staffing shortages, rising costs, compliance complexities, and more have been some of the most common challenges in the healthcare space for the past few years. Legacy systems and medical devices also pose cybersecurity risks that are often overlooked. Outdated staffing protocols foster inefficiency and lost revenue.

In a compelling industry panel discussion hosted by Health Connect South, four healthcare leaders came together to share their perspectives on an industry at a crossroads. The panel discussion, The State of Healthcare: Industry Leaders Perspectives, which brought together voices from different corners of healthcare, revealed both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in transforming healthcare. 

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. 

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.

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.

Sourcing talent in the healthcare industry has proven to be a tricky endeavor for facilities big and small. Between talent shortages, an aging baby boomer generation increasing demand for health services, and a large portion of the workforce reaching retirement age, recruiters have had their work cut out for them for quite some time. In fact, an estimated 900,000 registered nurses intend to leave their positions by 2027 due to burnout, stress, and retirement.

One of the most significant challenges that hospitals have faced for years is the shortage of skilled workers. This, in turn, has made recruiting extremely competitive — if hospitals are all vying for the same candidates in the same labor pool, whoever offers the most will win. So, it's no wonder the industry average time to fill positions is 49 days.

Tracy Kettler is a highly accomplished professional with extensive experience in healthcare workforce solutions, operations and strategic business relationships. As the Vice President, Account Management at Nomad Health, she successfully led the expansion of the account management team, developed training programs, and improved supplier rankings. Tracy's career highlights include leadership roles at AMN Healthcare and RightSourcing Inc., where she managed large client portfolios and implemented successful programs. With a degree and progressive experience, Tracy has been recognized by leadership, peers, and clients for her deep understanding of workforce solutions in healthcare. Her expertise spans all facets of implementation, client services and delivery for many industry-leading healthcare systems.

Lee Health is among the most extensive not-for-profit public health systems in the United States, with over 950 primary and specialty care physicians and advanced practitioners serving patients across Southwest Florida in more than 100 practice locations.

HWL is proud to announce Reed Parsons as the Senior Director of Sales Enablement, the latest team member to join our organization. Reed brings a wealth of experience and strategic leadership to his role, marked by a remarkable career in the dynamic field of sales and enablement. Throughout his journey, Reed has consistently made impactful contributions, showcasing his ability to drive organizational success through innovative approaches and meticulous execution.