--- title: "From Administrative Chaos to Strategic Focus: Inside RWJBarnabas Health's Locum Breakthrough" description: Discover how RWJBarnabas Health, New Jersey’s largest academic health system, partnered with HWL to streamline their locum tenens program, reduce administrative burden, and improve workforce efficiency across 700 care sites. image: https://blog.hwlworks.com/hubfs/RWJ.webp --- [VMS Login](https://vms.hwlmsp.com/) [![HWL_2C_300DPI-Aug-29-2023-12-27-59-4566-PM](https://blog.hwlworks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HWL_2C_300DPI-Aug-29-2023-12-27-59-4566-PM.jpg?width=201&height=75&name=HWL_2C_300DPI-Aug-29-2023-12-27-59-4566-PM.jpg "HWL_2C_300DPI-Aug-29-2023-12-27-59-4566-PM")](https://www.hwlmsp.com/) [Industry News](https://blog.hwlworks.com/from-administrative-chaos-to-strategic-focus-inside-rwjbarnabas-healths-locum-breakthrough#) ### x**HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY NEWS** Get industry news, client announcements, product release info, and HWL Insights directly in your inbox! # From Administrative Chaos to Strategic Focus: Inside RWJBarnabas Health's Locum Breakthrough [Healthcare Workforce Solutions](https://blog.hwlworks.com/tag/healthcare-workforce-solutions), [Technology](https://blog.hwlworks.com/tag/technology), [Locum Tenens](https://blog.hwlworks.com/tag/locum-tenens), [Physician Staffing](https://blog.hwlworks.com/tag/physician-staffing) ![](https://blog.hwlworks.com/hubfs/RWJ.webp) When you're responsible for serving over three million patients annually across 700 care locations, operational efficiency isn't just a goal - it's essential for patient care. RWJBarnabas Health (RWJ), New Jersey's largest integrated healthcare system, discovered this firsthand when their locum tenens program became a source of administrative burden rather than strategic support.  **When Complexity Demands a New Approach**  As the largest academic health system in New Jersey, training over 1,600 medical residents and fellows annually, RWJ faced unique challenges that many smaller systems rarely encounter. Their locum tenens program suffered from fragmented processes across multiple facilities that created administrative chaos, limited visibility into locum spend and coordination, manual invoicing systems that slowed Accounts Payable and increased overhead, and inconsistent vendor agreements that lacked standardization.  For a system of their size and complexity, these inefficiencies were not just inconvenient, they were preventing their team from focusing on what matters most: advancing patient care and medical education.  "Our locums program needed centralized coordination and improved visibility into our provider management processes," explains Sandro Altherr, Vice President of Physician and Clinical Professional Recruitment at RWJBarnabas Health. "We required a partner who could understand our complex multi-entity health system and provide the flexibility to evolve with our changing needs."  That's where HWL stepped in. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, HWL took a consultative approach, leveraging their deep expertise in the Northeast market to understand RWJ's specific challenges and goals. The solution they implemented addressed every pain point, creating a centralized platform that served as a single point of contact for all locum agency interactions, streamlining financial processes through refined PO procedures and automated invoicing systems, and providing ongoing strategic market insights to help determine fair market value for rate setting and budgeting.  The Impact: Measurable Results and True Partnership  The transformation delivered substantial efficiency improvements that allowed the RWJ team to reallocate resources toward strategic healthcare initiatives rather than routine coordination activities. An integrated coordination system enhanced communication effectiveness and reduced operational complexity across their entire health system network, while the platform's ability to adapt to changing program goals provided real-time market insights for more strategic decision-making.  What makes this transformation particularly remarkable isn't just the operational improvements -it's the collaborative relationship that made it possible. "Working with the RWJ team has been exceptionally rewarding," notes Amy Harkins, HWL Locums Account Manager. "Their commitment to operational excellence and collaborative approach has created a true partnership. The synergy between our teams has enabled us to develop customized workflows that anticipate future challenges."  This collaborative spirit demonstrates why the right partnership can deliver results that go far beyond technology implementation - creating lasting improvements that evolve with your organization's needs.  **Your Healthcare System Deserves Better**  If your healthcare system is struggling with similar locum tenens management challenges, you're not alone. The complexity of modern healthcare delivery requires sophisticated workforce management solutions that can adapt to your unique needs while delivering measurable results.  HWL offers comprehensive workforce management solutions designed specifically for healthcare organizations like yours. From managed services programs that reduce internal burden to next-generation VMS platforms with custom workflows, we provide the technology and expertise needed to optimize your contingent workforce management.    *[Contact HWL today ](https://hwlworks.com/request-information/)to discover how our customizable suite of technology and advisory solutions can give your healthcare system the competitive advantage it needs in today's dynamic workforce marketplace.*  August 07, 2025/By [Karen Little](https://blog.hwlworks.com/author/karen-little) TAGS: [Healthcare Workforce Solutions](https://blog.hwlworks.com/tag/healthcare-workforce-solutions), [Technology](https://blog.hwlworks.com/tag/technology), [Locum Tenens](https://blog.hwlworks.com/tag/locum-tenens), [Physician Staffing](https://blog.hwlworks.com/tag/physician-staffing) ##### Share this entry - Share on Facebook - Share on Twitter - Share on Pinterest - Share on Linkedin - Share on Tumblr ### Author: [Karen Little](https://blog.hwlworks.com/author/karen-little) Karen Little joined HWL in 2019 as Director Supplier Relations, and currently serves as Vice President of Locums Account Services. Prior to HWL, Karen held successful careers in Insurance and Banking in both sales and leadership, as well as with Jackson and Coker, a physician staffing firm in 2008. During her time at Jackson and Coker, Karen held many different roles and worked in recruiting, business development and management. She was also the AVP of the MSP/VMS Division, where her team managed $50MM+ in spend annually. In her current role at HWL, Karen works with clients and agencies to ensure they receive the highest level of attention and customer service. Karen’s years in the staffing industry have made her a trusted advisor to her clients and a valued partner to locums agencies. Find me on: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-little-a081522/) ##### You might also like [Expanding Healthcare Recruitment Capacity Without Expanding Internal Headcount](https://blog.hwlworks.com/expanding-healthcare-recruitment-capacity-without-expanding-internal-headcount) [Vendor-Neutral vs. Agency-Run MSPs: What Actually Differentiates the Models](https://blog.hwlworks.com/vendor-neutral-vs.-agency-run-msps-what-actually-differentiates-the-models) [Why RFPs Don’t Work and What to Do Instead](https://blog.hwlworks.com/why-rfps-dont-work-and-what-to-do-instead) [HWL to Unveil a Fresh New Look and Upgraded Services at AAPPR 2026](https://blog.hwlworks.com/hwl-new-workforce-management-platform-aappr-2026) [Vendor Neutrality in Locums: A Strategic Lever for Physician Recruitment Leaders](https://blog.hwlworks.com/vendor-neutrality-locums-physician-recruitment-strategy) [Vendor Neutrality: The Workforce Advantage CNOs Can’t Ignore](https://blog.hwlworks.com/vendor-neutrality-the-workforce-advantage-cnos-cant-ignore) [2025 Workforce Management Lookback: Healthcare and Education at a Crossroads](https://blog.hwlworks.com/2025-workforce-management-lookback-healthcare-and-education-at-a-crossroads) [Debunking the Myths: Why VMS and MSP Solutions Work for Locum Staffing](https://blog.hwlworks.com/debunking-the-myths-why-vms-and-msp-solutions-work-for-locum-staffing) Please feel free to keep the discussion going in the comments section below. ### Latest News - [What If We've Been Measuring the Wrong Workforce Metrics](https://blog.hwlworks.com/what-if-weve-been-measuring-the-wrong-workforce-metrics) July 09, 2026 - [Built by Educators. Designed for Education.](https://blog.hwlworks.com/built-by-educators.-designed-for-education) July 06, 2026 - [Expanding Healthcare Recruitment Capacity Without Expanding Internal Headcount](https://blog.hwlworks.com/expanding-healthcare-recruitment-capacity-without-expanding-internal-headcount) May 14, 2026 [**Follow** on Twitter ](http://twitter.com/hwlmsp/) [**Follow** in Linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthcare-workforce-logistics/) [**Subscribe** to RSS Feed ](https://blog.hwlworks.com/blog/rss.xml) > [HWLMSP](https://www.facebook.com/hwlmsp/) ### More HWL Insights in your Inbox! 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