Imagine that the emergency room is overflowing with helpless patients. As additional patients show up, you understand that a portion of your staff is missing because of unplanned leaves. In anticipation of the upcoming holidays, some employees have even taken advantage of paid vacation time earlier than usual. Nobody is happy because your lines are long, you don't have enough workers, and your core staff feels like they are working too much.
As the US faces a growing physician shortage, situations like these will only get worse. The AAMC estimates that there will be a shortage of 40,800 to 104,900 physicians by 2030. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that hospitals like yours are now more dependent on locum tenens physicians than ever before.
Locum tenens, like anything in huge demand, can be difficult to recruit and expensive at the same time, especially when working with only one staffing agency. The hiring procedure can be time-consuming and frustrating, from privileging to credentialing.
Utilizing a vendor-neutral VMS (Vendor Management System) for healthcare staffing is essential. With the VMS, you can easily place job orders and manage credentials from a single location, have faster access to high-quality candidates, control costs at rates that are competitive with the market, and have better visibility into spending on contingent labor.
A divided house cannot endure. While delegating responsibilities is necessary, you must still monitor their execution. Otherwise, how will you know when a department spends more on contingent labor than it needs to?
The right vendor management platform will come outfitted with key performance indicator (KPI) coverage, keeping you informed on each employing choice made in each division. The VMS shows the total number of no-shows or no-calls, cancelation rates, time-to-fill, fill rates, and average staff evaluation grades. You'll be able to better understand the costs of your contingent workforce and improve your workflow in this way.
Hiring locum tenens can become very expensive. However, this isn't only because of compensation costs. Money is time. There is the time spent looking for candidates, negotiating with agencies, interviewing doctors, and other similar activities.
You will greatly reduce this amount of time if you make use of an effective VMS healthcare platform. This is because instead of approaching each of your vendors individually, you are communicating with them all through a single portal. Your staff positions will be filled immediately as a result of the easing and speeding up of every task, from collecting timesheets to obtaining approvals and contacting staffing agencies.
Using a vendor-neutral VMS is the single most cost-effective way to find locum tenens. In order to be your locum tenens provider, vendors must compete with one another under vendor neutrality. All the while, vendors get rid of supplier markups and just set forth the best applicants. You will never have to pay rates that are higher than the market just to meet the demand of your hospital if you have a good VMS platform.
Additionally, you shouldn't be concerned about having to compromise on quality in order to stay within your budget. Because staffing firms compete with one another based on the quality of physicians they are able to provide and are at risk for their malpractice insurance, today's physicians who practice as locum tenens are subjected to stringent screening procedures.
Using a high-quality vendor management platform for Healthcare makes your tasks easier. It's easier and faster to communicate with your vendors. You can make all approvals, manage accurate data, and ensure error-free practices from the beginning with automated billing and invoicing. Furthermore, you use a single invoice rather than inventing a new method to invoice each vendor. You can complete your entire vendor commitments in one go.
A VMS platform can't stop the spread of flu or cold, the entry of ER visits during night-times, or offer relief to those in need. However, it can assure that you will be able to obtain additional assistance in case you require it, despite the increasing scarcity of medical professionals.
Contact Vemsta right away for a VMS platform that will provide you with the visibility you require, prompt access to expert assistance, affordable pricing, and better management of all of your staffing processes. We are ready to meet your requirements.
The healthcare industry is undergoing rapid transformation, with the growing demand for skilled professionals far outpacing supply. In the face of these challenges, healthcare staffing agencies are turning to automated software solutions to stay competitive. Healthcare staffing agency software not only addresses the need for efficient candidate management but also optimizes scheduling, compliance, and communication. But with so many options available, how do you know which healthcare staffing software is right for your agency?
This blog will help break down the essential features you should look for in a solution and highlight why healthcare staffing software has become a must-have for recruiters.
The healthcare sector has faced unprecedented upheaval in recent years, further amplifying an already critical shortage of qualified healthcare professionals. The recruitment process in healthcare is notoriously slow and expensive due to extensive training requirements and the specialized skills demanded by the profession.
As a result, healthcare staffing agencies are increasingly relying on staffing software to automate recruitment processes, manage labor costs, and ensure compliance with labor laws.
Healthcare staffing software offers a multitude of advantages that can make a real difference for both recruiters and the healthcare facilities they serve. Here are some of the top benefits:
1. Improve Sourcing Efficiency
Staffing solutions today come with powerful candidate management tools that allow agencies to build a centralized database of qualified candidates. With advanced search capabilities and automated matching, recruiters can quickly identify the right fit for open positions. This results in better talent sourcing, faster placements, and higher candidate quality.
2. Reduce Time to Hire
Healthcare staffing software often includes built-in Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which help automate key stages of the hiring process, such as application screening, interview scheduling, and candidate communication. This automation drastically reduces the time-to-hire, allowing recruiters to focus on more strategic tasks.
3. Enhance Communication
Many staffing solutions provide built-in messaging features that streamline communication between recruiters, candidates, and clients. Centralized communication helps eliminate misunderstandings, build stronger relationships, and improve productivity across the board.
4. Reduce Labor Costs
Labor costs in healthcare are difficult to control, but staffing software helps agencies manage overtime and reduce turnover. By optimizing shift scheduling and providing full visibility into candidate availability, agencies can reduce unnecessary costs while ensuring compliance with labor laws and regulations.
5. Ensure Compliance with Labor Laws
Healthcare staffing agencies need to stay compliant with constantly evolving labor laws and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). Staffing software helps generate reports, track hours, and audit processes to ensure agencies remain compliant with both national and local regulations.
When choosing a healthcare staffing solution, it's important to focus on features that will have the most significant impact on your agency's efficiency and success. Below are some essential features to consider:
1. Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
An ATS is a vital tool for healthcare staffing agencies. A good ATS can help agencies track applicants, manage their qualifications, and keep the recruitment process organized. With automated resume screening, interview scheduling, and communication tools, ATS platforms can dramatically improve hiring speed and efficiency.
2. Shift Scheduling
Shift scheduling is a complex process in healthcare recruitment, especially when dealing with locum tenens. Good staffing software should simplify the scheduling process, allow you to match candidates with shifts based on availability, and send automated reminders for shift renewals.
3. Onboarding
Efficient onboarding is essential to maintain a smooth recruitment process. The onboarding feature allows agencies to automatically send out onboarding documents and track the progress of new hires, saving time and ensuring a seamless transition.
4. Online Invoicing
Managing payroll and invoicing can be time-consuming and prone to errors. An efficient staffing software solution should integrate invoicing and payroll features to reduce the risk of human error and ensure candidates are paid on time.
Healthcare staffing software is an essential tool for agencies that want to remain competitive in today's fast-paced market. By improving sourcing efficiency, reducing time-to-hire, enhancing communication, and ensuring compliance, staffing software solutions like Vemsta can help your agency meet the growing demand for healthcare professionals. Get in touch with Vemsta for more details.
In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, managing a workforce efficiently and cost-effectively is a significant challenge for many healthcare employers. This is where Managed Services Providers (MSPs) help. From simplifying the temporary recruitment process to speeding up the filling of urgent vacancies, MSP recruitment offers a wealth of benefits that healthcare facilities can leverage to optimize their staffing strategies and, ultimately, improve patient care delivery. But how can employers ensure they’re utilizing it to its full potential? Keep reading!
MSP, short for Managed Services Provider, refers to a third-party specialist that offers comprehensive workforce management services. In the healthcare sector, an MSP handles every aspect of sourcing, hiring, and managing labor, ensuring that healthcare facilities have access to the talent they need when they need it. MSP recruitment in healthcare encompasses various services, including:
How can employers determine if they need an MSP? Here are some key indicators:
MSP recruitment services offer a variety of benefits that help healthcare employers meet their most fundamental workforce needs while overcoming today’s most pressing challenges. Here are eight key ways MSP recruitment streamlines staffing and improves patient care delivery:
1. Access to More Temp Workers
Contingency workers, such as per diem and travel nurses, are crucial for maintaining continuity of care in healthcare facilities. MSPs offer access to a larger pool of temporary or contract healthcare professionals than most organizations could source independently.
2. Better Matches for Open Positions
Finding candidates with the right experience, licensure, or skills can be challenging, especially in remote or highly competitive urban areas. MSPs improve an employer’s chances of finding and securing the right talent by leveraging their extensive networks and expertise in healthcare recruitment.
3. Less Time to Hire
Time is of the essence in healthcare recruitment. MSPs specialize in maintaining a pool of sought-after healthcare workers, allowing them to quickly recruit, vet, and place staff.
4. Lower Cost-Per-Hire
MSPs help healthcare employers save both time and money by optimizing the recruitment process. This includes everything from screening candidates to managing payroll, resulting in a lower cost-per-hire and more efficient use of the labor budget.
5. A Better Understanding of Data
MSPs don’t just collect valuable recruitment data; they also help employers make the best use of it. By closely monitoring and managing key workforce metrics, they help employers optimize their labor budget and make informed decisions about workforce management.
Healthcare Managed Services Providers offer a strategic advantage in managing their workforce efficiently and cost-effectively. By leveraging the expertise and resources of an MSP, healthcare employers can overcome recruitment challenges, reduce costs, and ultimately, improve patient care delivery.
As the demand for healthcare services continues to grow, the role of MSPs in optimizing staffing strategies will become increasingly vital to the success of healthcare organizations. Connect with Vemsta for more details.
In any healthcare facility, managing the complexities of day-to-day operations is a significant challenge. From administrative tasks to IT needs and tracking employees’ performance, healthcare organizations juggle various responsibilities, including payroll, billing, and scheduling. The sheer volume of these tasks necessitates efficient management systems. One essential tool that has emerged to streamline these operations is the Healthcare Vendor Management System (VMS).
A Healthcare Vendor Management System (VMS) acts as a centralized platform for managing interactions with third-party vendors. By providing oversight for all tasks outsourced to vendors, a VMS helps facilities automate processes, measure performance, and detect unwanted trends early. Thus, healthcare leaders can view and control vendor activities from a single point, ensuring that each task is optimized for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
A VMS differs from Managed Services Providers (MSP), where the partner takes on the roles of the vendors themselves. Instead, a VMS offers the tools and technology needed to manage vendors, keeping the responsibility of vendor oversight and cost management with the healthcare organization.
1. Driving Efficiency and Cutting Costs
One of the most significant advantages of implementing a VMS is the potential to drive operational efficiency and reduce costs. By managing tasks to their fullest potential, healthcare facilities can approach peak operational capacity. In competitive markets, this efficiency can make a critical difference. For instance, a VMS can monitor energy usage, optimize billing processes, and track the cost and performance of every task, leading to better resource allocation and reduced expenses.
2. Access to Important Resources
The growing reliance on contingency workers, such as travel nurses, has added complexity to vendor management. A healthcare VMS simplifies this process, making it easier and more cost-effective to manage a diverse workforce while tracking employees’ performance. Additionally, partnering with a VMS that offers a variety of workforce solutions can provide access to a broader pool of workers and other essential resources, enhancing the facility's ability to meet staffing needs and respond to crises.
3. Adopting the Latest Technology and Expertise
Staying up-to-date with technology is crucial for any business, but it is particularly vital in healthcare. Many organizations struggle with implementing and managing electronic health records (EHR) and other digital tools. A healthcare VMS can alleviate this burden by ensuring that the latest, most effective technologies are in place. By offering state-of-the-art solutions and best practices, a VMS helps healthcare facilities stay ahead of technological advancements, leading to better patient care and streamlined operations.
4. Ensuring the Right Tool for Every Job
A VMS that takes a technology-neutral approach to vendor management ensures that the tools and systems in use are the best fit for the job at hand. This approach prevents reliance on legacy systems or underperforming vendors, which can hinder efficiency and security. By continually assessing and optimizing the processes and personnel involved, a VMS helps healthcare organizations maintain high standards in all operations, particularly in critical areas such as digital security.
5. Gaining Better Insights for Continuous Improvement
One of the most valuable aspects of a VMS is its ability to provide actionable insights through data tracking and analysis. By monitoring key performance indicators, a VMS offers a deeper understanding of both clinical and business factors that impact the facility. These insights not only drive operational efficiency but also enhance compliance and improve the chances of meeting value-based care reimbursement targets. Continuous improvement becomes possible when an organization can identify and act on trends that might otherwise go unnoticed.
When selecting a VMS, it's essential to consider the specific needs of your healthcare facility. The market offers various options, ranging from technology-focused systems to full-service partnerships that provide ongoing management and guidance. A VMS should ideally be technology-neutral, allowing flexibility in vendor choices and ensuring that the system can adapt to your facility's evolving needs.
VMS is indispensable for modern healthcare facilities. It centralizes vendor management, improves efficiency, reduces costs, and provides valuable insights that drive continuous improvement. Whether you’re managing contingency workers or implementing new technologies, a VMS offers the structure and support needed to optimize operations and achieve your organization’s goals.
If you're looking to enhance your facility's efficiency and vendor management, consider partnering with a VMS provider like Vemsta. Offering customizable services for scheduling, billing, invoicing, and more, Vemsta also provides tailored workforce management solutions, including nurse staffing, clinical recruitment, and crisis response. Contact Vemsta today to discover how we can help meet your healthcare vendor management needs.