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If you’re a healthcare administrator staring at empty shifts on your schedule, you’re facing one of the industry’s most pressing challenges. Beyond the burden created for administrators, allied healthcare staffing shortages can also impact patient care, employee morale, and your facility’s ability to operate at full capacity.

The good news? You don’t have to navigate this challenge alone. Staffing agencies have become essential partners for healthcare facilities looking to bridge the gap between demand and available talent.

Understanding the Scope of Allied Healthcare Staffing Shortages

Research shows that allied healthcare professionals are in short supply, as the industry has the second largest talent gap of any other in the country. Adding to the problem, government data projects that shortages for allied healthcare professionals—including physical therapists, respiratory therapists, medical technologists, and pharmacists—will continue through 2037.

The reasons for these shortages include, an aging population requiring more care, professionals leaving the field due to burnout, and educational programs that can’t keep pace with demand.

For your facility, this may translate to longer wait times for patients, increased workloads for existing staff, and potential impacts on the quality of care you can provide.

How Staffing Agencies Bridge the Gap

Access to a Broader Talent Pool

Staffing agencies maintain extensive networks of qualified allied health professionals across different specialties and geographic regions. While your internal recruitment efforts might reach hundreds of candidates, agencies can tap into thousands of pre-screened professionals who are ready to work.

Speed and Flexibility

When you need a respiratory therapist to start next week or a physical therapist for a three-month assignment, staffing agencies can move quickly. They’ve already handled the time-intensive processes of recruiting, screening, and credentialing, so they can match you with qualified candidates in days rather than months.

Specialized Recruitment Expertise

Allied health recruiting requires specific knowledge of certifications, licensing requirements, and technical skills. Staffing agencies specialize in understanding these nuances and can effectively evaluate candidates’ qualifications in ways that general HR departments might struggle with.

Different Staffing Solutions for Different Needs

In addition to their talent networks and recruitment expertise, staffing agencies can find you alternative staffing solutions to help meet your needs, even in the most unique cases. This includes:

• Workforce Management Solutions: Agencies can offer you access to technology designed to streamline your staffing process, like a vendor management solution (VMS). A VMS is a cloud-based platform that allows you to manage multiple staffing vendors through a single portal, providing real-time visibility into your staffing pipeline, costs, and performance metrics. A VMS can help you automate job requisitions, track candidate submissions, manage approvals workflows, and generate comprehensive reporting on your staffing spend and fill rates. The platform also ensures compliance with your organization’s policies and regulatory requirements while reducing administrative burden on your HR team. Many VMS platforms integrate with your existing HRIS and payroll systems, creating a seamless experience for managing both permanent and temporary staff.

• Managed Service Provider (MSP) Partnership: Staffing agencies can also help you find an MSP partnership. MSPs provide you with a dedicated team that acts as an extension of your organization to manage your entire contingent workforce strategy. They take ownership of vendor management, rate negotiations, quality assurance, and performance monitoring across all your staffing needs, while serving as a single point of contact for all temporary staffing requirements. This includes coordinating with multiple agencies on your behalf and providing strategic workforce planning insights. MSP partnerships typically include dedicated account management, customized reporting and analytics, supplier diversity programs, and workforce optimization strategies.

What to Look for in a Staffing Partner

Rigorous Screening Processes

Quality agencies conduct comprehensive background checks, verify licenses and certifications, and assess both technical skills and cultural fit. Ask potential partners about their screening protocols and credentialing processes.

Industry Expertise

Look for agencies that specialize in healthcare staffing and understand the unique requirements of allied health professions. They should be familiar with regulatory requirements, continuing education needs, and specialty-specific competencies.

Responsive Communication

Healthcare doesn’t operate on a 9-to-5 schedule, and neither should your staffing partner. Choose agencies that provide dedicated account management and can respond quickly to urgent staffing needs.

Compliance and Safety Focus

Your staffing partner should prioritize compliance with healthcare regulations, maintain proper insurance coverage, and have protocols for ensuring worker and patient safety.

Making a Staffing Agency Partnership Work

Be Clear About Your Needs

The more specific you can be about job requirements, work environment, and expectations, the better your staffing partner can match you with appropriate candidates.

Maintain Open Communication

Regular check-ins with your staffing agency help ensure placements are working well and allow for quick adjustments when needed.

Provide Adequate Onboarding

Even experienced professionals need orientation to your specific facility, procedures, and systems. Investing in proper onboarding improves outcomes for everyone involved.

Planning for the Future

While agencies can provide immediate relief, healthcare facilities should also think strategically about their long-term staffing plans and how staffing agencies fit into that plan. This might include developing relationships with multiple agencies to help create more appealing work environments or innovative scheduling models.

Consider staffing agencies as partners in your overall workforce strategy, not just a quick fix for immediate shortages.

Moving Forward

As allied healthcare staffing shortages are expected to continue for years to come, you don’t have to let it compromise your ability to provide excellent patient care. The right staffing agency partnership can help you maintain adequate coverage, reduce stress on your existing team, and continue serving your community effectively.

Take time to research potential partners, ask the right questions, and choose agencies that align with your facility’s values and standards. With the right support, you can navigate current challenges while building a more resilient staffing strategy for the future.

Remember, seeking help with staffing challenges is a strategic decision that allows you to focus on what you do best: providing exceptional healthcare to those who need it most.

Do you need help managing allied healthcare staffing shortages? Connect with us to explore the benefits of a partnership with Amergis.

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