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 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.