HWL Insights

Healthcare systems of all sizes are acknowledging the benefits of working with contingent labor; however, many organizations are finding it difficult to manage agency spend, streamline the recruitment process and possess the strategic foresight necessary for successful future staff planning. Contracting with workforce solutions providers to assist with managing contingent labor can save hospitals and practices money while also allowing the organization to focus on what they do best—caring for patients.

Image: Lahey Hospital & Medical Center

When faced with a temporary vacancy the busy Critical Care unit at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, does what every other healthcare facility would do, contacts a rapid response staffing agency to fill the vacancy quickly. Desperate for a qualified candidate, the Critical Care Nurse Manager complies with the terms of the agency’s contract and agrees to the agency rate requested for the expedited candidate. 

Vendor Management Systems (VMS) streamline and standardize the management of contingent workers across the healthcare organization to reduce costs and increase time saved. Whether it’s Local or Travel, Contract or Per Diem, Clinical or Non-Clinical, a robust VMS will deliver heightened visibility, efficiency, and compliance into your operations. Learn how Lahey Hospital and Medical Center leveraged HWL VMS technology to consolidate contract hiring and monitor contingent workforce performance across the organization.

In April, a small post-acute facility in a large Southeast city began to feel the harsh impact of COVID-19. As patient health deteriorated the Department of Health, assisted by the National Guard, tested all 204 residents and staff—104 residents and 21 staff members tested positive for COVID-19. At this point, one resident and one staff member had passed away as a result of the virus. 

Determining market equilibrium pricing can be complex, but it doesn't have to be. Healthcare Workforce Logistics (HWL) is uniquely positioned to act as an honest broker for our clients. Unlike an agency-managed MSP program, we offer the ability to have one set rate with all vendors, tiered rate structures, or individual rates with each agency. We also monitor and assess agencies’ performance on an on-going basis and continuously monitor market pricing to achieve cost reductions on locums, nursing, and allied health professionals. 

Nursing and allied health professional wages vary not only among states and cities but also among clinical specialties, certifications, roles, and practice environments. Coupled with the laborious task of managing multiple contract labor agencies, it can be a frustrating recruitment process. The crux of the matter is how do you acquire top temporary talent seamlessly and without overpaying? And how do you uncover if your organization is overpaying in the first place?

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., Healthcare Workforce Logistics (HWL) has doubled down on what it does best - mobilizing healthcare professionals where they’re needed most, at competitive rates - in the nation’s hot spots, including a pivotal role in our home state of Georgia.

Access to the right data at the right time is essential to containing agency spend and meeting increased healthcare demands. Accurate or ‘clean’ data ensures health systems don’t fly blind—providing leverage for vendor negotiations, rapid staffing fulfillment, and additional cost management activities. For every expense category in the hospital, you rely on data. Data drives most decisions about spending and yet when it comes to contingent labor costs, often organizations don’t have a clear picture. Wouldn’t you like the same level of control and insight into agency spending that you have with other operational expenditures? 

Locum tenens, nursing, and allied health professionals are essential components in the battle against coronavirus (COVID-19) and all of its variants, including the highly contagious Delta variant that has caused recent spikes in cases. Healthcare Workforce Logistics (HWL) is offering healthcare delivery organizations a rapid response staffing program designed to meet urgent staffing needs driven by increased demand for healthcare professionals and shortages of core staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic.    

Even as health systems are breathing a sigh of relief in the home stretch of the first wave of COVID-19 patients, they are facing staggering financial disruptions of key service lines. Some health systems continue to have surge staff needs and others are furloughing employees. In either case, all organizations should take this opportunity to thoroughly assess all aspects of staffing needs and processes and evaluate how best to progress forward. 

Locum tenens healthcare providers can be lifesavers for organizations who need additional providers, even though they come with a higher price tag than fully employed providers. Given an aging population and an aging physician workforce, the need for Locums is expected to continue to climb.

With states across the country scrambling to open more coronavirus (COVID-19) testing centers and to maintain adequate hospital staffing levels for increased inpatients, the need for licensed and credentialed healthcare clinicians is surging nationwide. COVID-19 is driving demand for more locum tenens physicians, nursing staff, and allied healthprofessionals to provide care and man testing centers to administer the COVID-19 test—a crucial component in the fight against this deadly contagion. 

State of Georgia Calls on Jackson Healthcare to Fulfill Healthcare Staffing Needs in Fight Against COVID-19.

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 the COVID-19 pandemic.   

The Situation 

America's healthcare system has its foot stuck on a train track and the evening express is hurtling down the track.

During a work year, organizations lose 6,500 hours dealing with manual processes related to managing staffing suppliers.

Front line managers at SwedishAmerican Hospital reported that their antiquated systems and inconsistent process for securing temporary staff was “a nightmare.”  Since partnering with HWL, leadership reports that “the change in process is like night and day.” 

Originally published May 2018. Updated on November 17, 2020.

The U.S. health sector has seen tremendous growth over the last century. Demand for medical providers is outpacing the supply so organizations are turning to provider staffing firms to fill the gaps. In fact, the healthcare staffing market is expected to hit $43.5 billion by 2025.

More and more healthcare provider organizations are turning to locum, or locum tenens to keep up with the increasing demands.

Read, ‘How an Agency Can Help You Find a Locum Tenens Physician.’

Healthcare Workforce logistics (HWL) has been engaged to manage a Locums Managed Service Program (MSP) for Healthcare Council of the National Capital Area (HCNCA) and National Capital Area Shared Services (NCASS) including HWL proprietary Locums VMS.