From the moment the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global health emergency to the conclusion of 2020 surpassing 20 million infections nationwide, healthcare workers have been stretched to the max. In the climate of panic and fear that characterized the early days of the pandemic, defining a workable strategy to deliver thousands of providers was anything but simple.
From the moment the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global health emergency to the conclusion of 2020 surpassing 20 million infections nationwide, healthcare workers have been stretched to the max. In the climate of panic and fear that characterized the early days of the pandemic, defining a workable strategy to deliver thousands of providers was anything but simple.
“No one knew how to approach this massive, immediate demand for healthcare providers. We worked with the HWL team–all hours, day and night–to define a strategy and deliver providers to the areas with the greatest needs.” —Brandon Blackmore, Senior Client Services Manager, Supplemental Health Care (SHC).
Never before had the U.S. seen a spike in demand for healthcare staff in so many places all at once. Pleas for help were coming from all over the nation, but in Georgia, where the state had engaged Healthcare Workforce Logistics (HWL) to coordinate COVID-19 staffing, a robust strategy was developed and executed, later becoming the playbook for other states to follow.
A Burgeoning Crisis in Georgia
While much of the nation’s attention was on the COVID-19 outbreaks in New York and Seattle, Georgia was under siege as well. A large COVID-19 cluster was spreading rapidly in Albany. This unexpected surge in south Georgia forced state leaders into action. Striking a partnership with HWL, and its parent company, Jackson Healthcare, the state committed to covering the costs of additional COVID-related providers at facilities in need.
HWL took responsibility for rapidly delivering highly skilled healthcare workers to address COVID-19 staffing needs.
- Nurses
- Respiratory therapists
- Allied health providers
- Physicians
Key Challenges
- Spike in patient volume + COVID-positive staff creating an immediate need for temporary providers at health systems around the state
- Staffing agencies competing for talent needed all over the country
- Credentialing process took 4-6 weeks, making immediacy impossible
In Albany alone, over 200 providers were required to staff a COVID unit opening at Phoebe Putney’s North Campus, which had been previously closed. Finding 200 temporary providers in a matter of weeks was the task at hand and HWL delivered quickly and efficiently—leveraging every agency partner they had. This is where one partner, Supplemental Health Care, stood out from all the rest.
Not only did SHC procure a high volume of providers, but also developed the strategy needed to ensure all agency partners could deploy staff at the speed required to meet the relentless stream of patients.
Stronger Together
HWL President, Jonathan Ward approached Vickie Anenberg, the Chief Operating Officer at SHC. In the days leading up to the program rollout, SHC’s Brandon Blackmore was constantly on the phone with HWL’s Victoria Abolafia, MSP Program Director.
“Everything was open and transparent from the start. Together we worked through exactly what would need to happen to get this done,” Blackmore explains.
The state had already agreed to grant license reciprocity, but Blackmore and Abolafia outlined what credentialing modifications should be made to expedite the process. To meet the immediate need, providers would need to be able to go ahead and start work while certain things were still in process.
“I said, ‘If they need people fast, then this is where we need exceptions.’ Victoria took that back to her boss, and as soon as the state approved it, I had my team ready to hit the ground running.”
With 200 recruiters filling orders as fast as they received them, the SHC team was 100% invested. They knew they weren’t just filling jobs, they were sending nurses to Georgia to save lives. The urgency of the situation was headline news every night, and they were proud to be a part of the solution.
The Impact
SHC would send over a thousand providers to 68 unique facilities in Georgia. Recognizing the increased demand for mental health services, SHC tapped into its extensive database of behavioral health providers deploying over 700 individuals to provide further assistance.
About the COVID-19 Rapid Response Staffing Program
HWL is offering healthcare delivery organizations a rapid response staffing program designed to meet the urgent staffing needs that may be driven by increased demand for healthcare professionals and shortages of core staff due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
Through HWL’s vendor-neutral model, healthcare delivery organizations can easily access locum tenens, nursing and allied health professionals, allowing them to rapidly address the shortage of healthcare staff and meet rising demands for professionals in the field as a result of coronavirus.
Just as the State of Georgia has put it into action, states across the country can benefit from the ability to staff their facilities with healthcare professionals in and around their areas.
If you have additional questions about any of our programs, please call our sales department by phone at 833-HWL-INFO (833-495-4636) or submit a no-obligation program inquiry form here.
Additional information
- Mobile Vaccination Solutions Program
- Providing Strategic Vaccination Services to Hard-to-Reach Communities
- GEMA/HS Leverage HWL’s Full-Service Vaccination Staffing Program
- HWL Forms Strategic Partnerships to Meet the COVID-19 Surge at Banner Health & Beyond