One of the most important parts of the economy, the healthcare sector in the US provides to save lives, enhance quality of lives and enhance the health of the entire nation. Regardless of the vital work of professionals behind the scenes in hospitals, clinics and patient care, health care staffing remains a complicated process that involves consistently filling shifts with qualified, competent staff. Whether it is vacancies from a staff member to leave the profession, sudden illness or the ongoing increases in patient demand, healthcare staffing is a challenge that appears to be growing.
Healthcare staffing agencies are able to provide critical support to the healthcare system by helping to promptly fill staff shortages in a professional and efficient manner. In this blog, we explore how staffing agencies support the resilience of the U.S. medical system, discuss the types of services they provide and what benefits they may provide to an ever-growing number of facilities.
Before we get into how staffing agencies help fix the problem, we should look at the problem. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare occupations are projected to grow 13% from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. But many areas are finding demand outpacing supply.
| Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Aging Population | Healthcare demand is accelerating quickly as the baby boomer cohort reaches the end of life continuum. |
| Burnout | The COVID-19 pandemic put record levels of stress and burnout onto many health care providers and led to their leaving the profession. |
| Geographic Disparities | Periodically, rural and underserved communities have challenges maintaining quality and quantity of skilled personnel. |
| Seasonal or Crisis Surges | There are a plethora of reoccurring unforeseen challenges such as flu seasons, pandemics and natural disasters that disrupt regular staffing capacities. |
| Staff Turnover | There is significant turnover in nursing and support staff roles due to the high workloads. |
A healthcare staffing agency is a specialized recruitment firm that matches qualified medical professionals with healthcare facilities that are in need of staff. Such agencies recruit for hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, outpatient centers and even home healthcare facilities.
Professionals Typically Supplied by Staffing Agencies:
→ Registered Nurses (RNs)
→ Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
→ Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
→ Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)
→ Medical Assistants (MAs)
→ Physicians and Surgeons
→ Therapists (Physical, Occupational, Respiratory)
→ Medical Technologists
→ Administrative healthcare staff
Let’s outline the specific ways in which the agencies often assist with staffing shortages in medical organizations.
When a medical organization is experiencing staff shortages, whether unexpected absences, resignations or a sudden increase in patient loads, agencies are able to offer a quick replacement. Most agencies have a pool of pre-screened staff that are easily relocatable within a very short time frame.
Agencies also can access talent from all over the country, not just limited to a local radius. This is especially helpful when rural hospitals or areas are experiencing labor shortages. Travel nurses and locum tenens physicians are two examples of professions that temporarily commute to work.
Agencies recruit for healthcare and only healthcare. They know the certifications, training and licensing that is required by each state, thus ensuring that each candidate has been vetted appropriately. Recruiting through an agency saves hiring managers time and ensures compliance.
Agencies offer multiple types of contracts to meet different needs:
| Staffing Model | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Per Diem | Last-minute fill-ins, on-call coverage |
| Contract / Travel | Temporary assignments (usually 8–13 weeks) |
| Temp-to-Perm | Trial period before permanent hire |
| Permanent Placement | Full-time staff recruitment |
| Locum Tenens | Short-term coverage for physicians or specialists |
Staffing agencies do not just take care of credentialing, onboarding and payroll, they also manage the bulk of the hiring and employment paperwork. This leaves healthcare facilities to focus solely on patient care, rather than the logistics of human resources.
The downside of understaffing is not only that existing staff become more stressed, it can also lead to lower quality of care, longer wait times and medical errors. A staffing agency can ensure adequate staffing levels so that facilities can provide safer and better care.
The benefits of working with a staffing agency go beyond just finding coverage. Here are some of the benefits:
→ Time-Saving: Facilities can get coverage for critical spots quickly without spending weeks posting jobs, conducting interviews and background checks.
→ Cost-Efficient: Although it is an expense, staffing agencies typically save money over time with reduced overtime, less burnout and turnover cost.
→ Risk Reduction: Agencies are responsible for complying with healthcare employment laws, completing licensure checks and conducting background screening. This transfers some of the legal and operational risks to the staffing agency.
Scalability: Facilities can ramp up and ramp down workforce depending on levels of census or seasonality.
One of the most glaring examples showing staffing agencies’ value were the travel nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, hospitals all over the country were utilizing travel nurses and temporary clinicians, many hired through staffing agencies. These travel nurses filled spaces in emergency rooms, ICU units and testing sites, many of whom traveled thousands of miles to work thousands of hours in short amounts of time.
Without travel nurses and the ability to count on flexible labor, many healthcare systems would not have managed the demand.
| Challenge | Solution Provided by Agencies |
|---|---|
| Credentialing Delays | Maintain an active database of pre-credentialed professionals |
| Cultural Fit Issues | Use behavioral screening and facility-matching algorithms |
| Retention of Temp Workers | Offer incentives, housing, travel reimbursement and career support |
| Compliance Risks | Keep up-to-date on federal and state regulations and manage documentation |
Selecting a staffing agency can be a decision that makes or breaks an organization. Here are some things healthcare organizations should look for:
→ Specialization in Healthcare – Do they solely do healthcare? Or do they focus on many industries?
→ Speed of Placement – How long does it take to produce an acceptable quantity of qualified candidates?
→ Quality – What type of screening and credentialing procedures do they have in place?
→ Reach – Can they source talent throughout multiple states/regions?
→ Support Services – Do they have additional services for housing for travel nurses? Continuing education? Onboarding assistance?
→ Reviews – What do previous healthcare providers say about their service?
Not only do healthcare entities benefit but medical professionals also access new career options through staffing agencies.
For Job Seekers:
→ Flexible schedules
→ Higher pay (especially in travel assignments)
→ Access to diverse healthcare settings
→ Opportunities to explore new cities or rural areas
→ Career advancement and skills development
→ Many professionals find the variety and freedom offered by contract or travel opportunities to be liberating, which will lead to a long-term start or even funnel into a full-time specialization if that is the inevitable direction of the search.
The Future of Healthcare Staffing in the U.S. Healthcare staffing will continue to develop and play increasingly important roles. Emerging trends include:
→ Telehealth Staffing: Agencies provide remote clinicians including virtual nurses or mental health professionals.
→ AI-Powered Matching: Technology is advancing that helps agencies match job candidates faster and with more accuracy.
→ Intentionality regarding DEI Goals(Diversity, Equity and Inclusion): Agencies are assisting human resources to meet and deliver on DEI Goals in healthcare systems.
→ Workforce Analytics: Data can optimize staffing need predictions through analytics; enhancing revised staffing practices.
To summarize from where we’ve been, staffing agencies were useful. They are more than useful now, they have become a formal milestone in workforce planning and talent management.
Healthcare staffing agencies are an important link in the U.S. medical profession, connecting qualified medical personnel with facilities clamoring for their services. By doing so they improve the quality of care, alleviate the stress on full-time staff and provide flexibility for healthcare facilities in uncertain times. Whether you are a healthcare facility looking for dependable staffing options or a medical worker looking for flexible employment opportunities, working with a good healthcare staffing agency can provide the exposure you need and the results you deserve.
At Linked PS, we are all about supporting the future of health care, one placement at a time. Contact us today to see how we can help fulfill your staffing needs in a quick, compliant and compassionate manner.
In this digital economy era, talent is all that matters. And in the technology industry, where change is always on the go and innovation is the mainstay, the staffing agencies are not recruiters alone, they are strategic growth partners.
A healthcare staffing agency finds medical facilities and qualified healthcare workers to temporarily, contractually or permanently fill positions.
They recruit quickly to replace missing critical staff, lower staff burnout, provide stable patient care and offer flexible hiring options.
Agencies provide nurses (RNs, LPNs, CNAs), physicians, therapists, technologists and administrative personnel, among others.
Based on the priority and position, agencies are able to fill spots within 24–72 hours utilizing their pool of pre-screened applicants.
Agencies provide quick deployment of trained professionals to ensure patient care doesn’t cease during emergencies or pandemics.
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