Healthcare organizations are increasingly exploring Employer of Record (EOR) services as a way to reduce labor costs, expand access to talent, and create more flexible workforce models.

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.

Healthcare organizations face unprecedented challenges in managing contingent labor costs, vendor relationships, and workforce optimization. Strategic vendor management systems deliver measurable cost savings, enhanced transparency, and oversight of contingent staffing programs—positioning procurement professionals to drive meaningful ROI while maintaining operational excellence.

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

As healthcare systems navigate ongoing financial challenges, a promising shift is emerging. Recent analysis from Moody's Investor Services reveals an encouraging trend in the sector's financial health, with operating cash flow margins approaching 7%. While this signals a positive trajectory toward recovery, healthcare organizations must strategically navigate ongoing challenges to maintain this momentum. 

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. 

While nurses were more widely recognized during the COVID-19 pandemic, the allied health sector—comprising a wide range of professionals from imaging specialists to rehabilitation therapists—has also undergone significant changes. As healthcare leaders face ongoing staffing challenges, the demand for allied health professionals continues to rise, underscoring their critical role in comprehensive patient care.

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. 

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.

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 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.

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.