Private equity drives up healthcare staffing costs via consolidation & fee stacking. California’s new laws curb interference. Strategies for hospitals to fight back.
Nurse staffing software update: AI caregiver summaries and live mobile time clock reporting to speed scheduling, improve pitches, and prevent payroll errors.
The healthcare staffing industry is often described as cyclical, booms followed by corrections. But the collapse of the proposed acquisition by Aya Healthcare of Cross Country Healthcare, combined with renewed federal scrutiny of noncompete practices, signals something more structural: a shift in how regulators view labor markets, consolidation, and competition
Hospital staffing AI cuts agency chaos in 2026: predictive scheduling, rate governance, 25-30% spend savings. End no-shows & OT. Smart workforce playbook for execs.
FTC cracks down on healthcare noncompetes, targeting staffing firms like AMN/CHG. Implications for MSP/VMS deals, clinician mobility & contingent labor costs. Audit now.
FTC comments related to Aya Healthcare and Cross Country Healthcare staffing agencies terminated merger.
Explore how software technology and local provider pools are reshaping per diem staffing in hospitals for cost savings.
There’s an old finance joke: ask a mathematician, “What’s two plus two?” you get 4. Ask an accountant, “What do you need it to be?” Numbers can tell very different stories depending on who’s adding them up. In healthcare staffing, MSP fees are a perfect example: they don’t just skim
Hospital staffing remains steady despite federal budget uncertainty, with agencies leaning on contract extensions, local coverage, and tighter rate control. Learn how healthcare staffing firms can navigate these trends using smarter workforce planning and technology.
Short answer: Not according to recent evidence, but both groups report that the work environment still needs improvement. Travel Nurses and Core Nurses: Work Environment Comparison A national study in The Journal of Nursing Administration (JONA) examined whether travel nurses and core (non-travel) nurses perceive their work environment and ethical climate differently. Conducted across seven
Discover how BlueSky supports healthcare staffing agencies at the 2025 SIA Summit. Visit our booth to learn about scheduling, compliance, and cost-saving solutions.
The classification of travel and per diem nurses remains one of the most debated topics in healthcare staffing. At the heart of this debate is whether nurses working on temporary assignments through staffing agencies should be treated as independent contractors or as W-2 employees.
This week, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson issued a formal letter to healthcare providers and employers regarding the use of non-compete agreements in contracts with healthcare professionals.
FTC scrutiny of the Aya–Cross Country merger highlights risks of MSP consolidation in healthcare staffing and why hospitals need independent workforce control.
The healthcare staffing industry may be on the cusp of another major consolidation with the potential acquisition of Cross Country Healthcare by Aya Healthcare.
In December 2024, Aya Healthcare announced plans to go through with an acquisition of Cross Country Healthcare (Nasdaq: CCRN) in an all-cash deal valued at $615 million, or $18.61 per share. This represented a 67% premium over Cross Country’s pre-announcement closing price of $11.16. The announcement initially lifted CCRN’s stock
While the travel nurse industry experienced significant declines—dropping by 37% in 2024 alone—it would be premature to assume the end of its relevance. In fact, several key factors point to a resilient and promising future for this sector. Despite recent contractions, projections indicate that the market will stabilize in 2025
A key principle in analyzing business strategies is the time-tested adage: “Follow the money.” This approach is particularly relevant when examining the current landscape in Washington and its potential effects on the healthcare staffing sector. While it might seem unusual to link government actions to healthcare staffing, understanding the flow
In the ever-evolving landscape of staffing agencies, especially within healthcare, the pursuit of efficiency, compliance, and precision is constant. Every decision about technology adoption carries weight, potentially shaping both operational effectiveness and financial outcomes. With a plethora of software solutions on offer, the pivotal question emerges: Is healthcare-specific staffing software
Long term, is it realistic to get rid of all of your agency nurses? Jacalyn Liebowitz of Adventist Health doesn’t think so. Watch as she explains why “agency is AN answer, but it’s not the only answer.”
What’s all the talk about supposed MSP ‘Vendor Neutrality’ in healthcare staffing? Now that the contract labor spend is dropping for most hospitals around the country, many are taking a closer look at how their supply chain for temporary personnel is performing. Prudent executives realize the drop in contract labor
In April of 2024, Tim Teague, President of BlueSky Synergy, joined a team from Adventist Health to discuss why they decided to become their own MSP, how they run their internal staffing agency and how it generates revenue to help fund other healthcare staffing initiatives.
On March 20, 2024, BlueSky President Tim Teague and Adventist Health Program Manager, Agency Staffing Office, Joe Heilman discuss how Adventist went from a cost center to profit center with the help of BlueSky VMS. Watch the full broadcast below!
The landscape of healthcare staffing agencies in the U.S. has shifted significantly, with fewer agencies dominating the market. This trend can be attributed to several factors: Rise of Managed Service Providers (MSPs): The emergence of MSPs in the healthcare industry has played a pivotal role. MSPs streamline the process
Post-pandemic era healthcare labor costs rose to crisis levels across the country. Much of these costs were fueled by the sudden surge in agency nursing labor costs. Supplemental labor became a growing percentage of total workforce expense. Since workforce comprises the greatest cost to healthcare institutions, this caused financial stress
BlueSky Medical Staffing Software today announced an innovative feature to its flagship platform. The BlueSky Network establishes a direct connection between participating staffing agencies and the hospitals they staff when both are connected to the BlueSky Network. Reducing duplicate work and speeding time-to-fill, both the agency and hospital will benefit
With the nursing shortage showing no signs of slowing, many hospitals and health systems are casting a wider net, and that includes hiring international nurses. While that can be part of a balanced strategy, there are some things to consider before going all in.
Recently, while visiting a loved one in a palliative care unit at a local Nashville hospital, I had a conversation with a dedicated nurse that opened my eyes to the challenges faced by healthcare professionals. This nurse, passionate about helping those in need, candidly shared the stress that had begun
In the dynamic landscape of healthcare staffing, the last decade has witnessed a remarkable transformation, largely propelled by the expansion and execution of the Managed Service Provider (MSP). This evolution has not only brought about unprecedented opportunities for staffing agencies but has also revolutionized the way healthcare institutions are connected
As we bid farewell to 2023, it’s time to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve embarked upon at BlueSky. In the ever-evolving landscape of hospital staffing, this year has been nothing short of transformative. Join us as we take a look back at the milestones, innovations, and collaborative successes that
Traveling around through various associations and conferences, I hear the same refrain; “we’re going to eliminate travelers and contract labor”. That sound like music to the CFO’s ears, but is it be realistic? In some cases, a laser like focus on staffing models can have that impact. However, the $63B
As governmental funding for pandemic staffing has wound down, the bottom line for hospitals has taken a serious hit. Organizations with the highest labor costs during 2022 spent an average of $465M1. Large organizations such as Kaiser Permanente and Banner Health1 took a serious hit during that period of explosive
Let’s be honest, future healthcare provider financial projections are not pretty. Drastically reducing the highest top line costs to secure future financial solvency is key, and temporary staffing is ostensibly the item zero in on.
Managed Service Providers (MSP) utilizing Vendor Management Systems (VMS) or Workforce Management Systems have been a part of U.S. commerce for decades, starting with Ford Motor Company and moving across all market verticals.
As the pandemic has begun to wane, lingering questions remain. Not the least of which is how much worse staffing shortages became during this period, while the largest healthcare staffing firms enjoyed record breaking profits.
Healthcare is home to ~9% of the total market share of the U.S. temporary staffing industry. Over the past few years, the role of managed services providers (MSP) has gained majority share of this system of temporary personnel delivery. What was once a pure technology solution, this model has become
If your hospital system is using travel nurses, it is very likely you are using technology called “VMS” or (Vendor Management Solution). The entities that use this technology are called “MSPs”, (Managed Service Providers). Although these tools have been used for decades in non-clinical settings, they didn’t appear in great
How can hospitals hold on to nurses, bring new ones into the fold, and fend off extreme staffing shortages?
We touched on the topic of how to attract healthcare grads back in 2019, and given all of the change that’s happened in the industry since then, it’s only fitting that we provide some updated tips for attracting the right talent in 2022. It’s a well-known fact that in today’s
Here are six proven strategies nursing executives are using to combat the nursing shortage and how other nurse leaders can do the same.
Let’s talk about the nursing shortage.
The holidays are notoriously difficult on medical facilities. And this holiday season should be no exception with the pandemic still lingering. As noted by Kelly Gooch of Becker’s Hospital Review, there are many unprecedented challenges in healthcare staffing that have made it more and more difficult to provide the care that patients
BlueSky Synergy announced today its formal release of BlueSky Medical Staffing Software Version 5.18. Due to the recent rise in travel nurse staffing rates, the technology released today becomes the first platform to provide hospitals complete control of subcontractor relationships.
This week Americans exercised their constitutional right to vote on everything from local offices and amendments to the President of the United States. The results of the Presidential race ensure that the Affordable healthcare plan will continue to roll through its regulatory and nation-wide implementation deadlines. States that have gambled
It is no secret in my house that the TV show, “Royal Pains,” is one of my favorites. The show is about a small concierge medical practice, run by two very different brothers in the Hamptons. Although the quirky show has some hard-to-believe plot lines, it does bring light to
Healthcare Staffing: A Matter of Inches Many who watched this last weeks Olympics competition witnessed the completion of swimmer Michael Phelps’ cumulative record of 18 Gold medals and 22 total. As replays showed his gold medal races over the last three Olympics, it was clear that many of the gold
National pundits have been all over the board about the unique and unprecedented appearance of Clint Eastwood at the final night of the Republican National Convention. Despite the typical talking heads analysis of the evening, one particular phrase by candidate Romney will have a direct impact on the staffing industry.
Business owners across the country are facing the reality that health insurance costs are rising exponentially year over year and healthcare staffing agencies are not immune. In fact healthcare staffing agencies are somewhat more affected because their business is hiring people. Companies are forced to be creative and think outside
What’s behind Alabama’s nursing shortage? BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – There’s concern from hospitals across our state that we’re not only dealing with a surge in COVID patients but also a shortage of nurses.
We’re always releasing content and insights to help our audience understand the market fully. Previously, we’ve released guides for agencies to understand VMS systems, but wanted to update and release a more comprehensive overview. Below you will find information that helps define and categorize ATS and VMS systems to bolster
NASHVILLE, TENN. (PRWEB) JUNE 11, 2021
There are a few key features and functionality that can help decision-makers pinpoint a healthcare-central VMS.
It’s now well established that staffing software aids healthcare companies and nurse recruiters for a myriad of reasons. However, certain specialties within medical staffing may find technological solutions particularly beneficial. The high-stress world of “travel nursing” is one of these.
Healthcare staffing software has come a long way in recent years, with innovations ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) to email marketing integrations. Sometimes, though, the most fundamental of features are those that aid in credential management. Compliance with credentialing expectations must be an absolute imperative for any healthcare recruiting agency.
Staffing companies are often confronted with tedious tasks and logistic issues which cost them time and money. More and more staffing companies are turning to a software solution that will reduce the excessive costs of these overheads and streamline their processes. There are many companies who claim to be the
1. Quicker Credentialing Allowing caregivers to log on and keep their credentials up to date will save the staffing agency and recruiters a lot of time, and keep the staffing agency from having to do busy work.
So far 2013 has been great for healthcare staffing and if January is any indication on the growth potential it is going be an awesome year. Every day I hear about more startups entering the healthcare staffing market. Many of these start-ups come from different verticals within staffing, but almost
Are you tired of using paper for credentialing? Would you like a seamless transition to an electronic system? Is your agency perilously close to outgrowing the use of spreadsheets in credentialing?
A recent study by Nursing Solutions, Inc. found that the turnover rate for bedside RNs was higher in 2014 than in any of the past five years. Their study indicated an improving economy parallels the increase in turnover for RNs.
Automated Healthcare Credentialing is Key to You Staffing Agency’s Success We all know by now that the Affordable Healthcare Act is a game changer for healthcare and it is not any different for a healthcare staffing agency. Healthcare credentialing is the most time consuming and costly process in staffing but
As a healthcare staffing agency, great credentialing of candidates is one the most valuable services you can provide clients. It is too often viewed as a necessary evil rather than an insight into the workforce and a hedge against future liability. After several years as a software implementation specialist for BlueSky,
In the world of sports, people talk about “offense” and “defense.” Offense is often the most glamorous part of the game. However, smart coaches know that strong defense is equally critical to winning. Similarly, healthcare recruiting experts understand that successful nurse staffing companies must rely on more than just savvy
Have a Nurse Scheduling Strategy Have you thought about the impacts of a nurse scheduler system can have on your business? As a healthcare staffing agency, using a dedicated nurse scheduler system can not only simplify your life but save you critical time. Operating a nurse scheduler is a company
Staff scheduling issues must be avoided in order to support quality patient care and a safe working environment for employees.
Learn how advanced staffing software reduces errors and boosts accuracy in per diem nurse scheduling for agencies and health systems.
The U.S. Labor Department released new COVID-19 workplace safety rules for healthcare June 10, including a requirement that healthcare employers provide workers with paid time off to get vaccinated and to recover from side effects.
With a non-stop flow of patients and a squad of medical professionals rushing around to help them, hospitals and health care centers can be hectic places. In the midst of all this organized chaos it’s challenging for staff to keep up with constantly shifting schedules or clocking in and out.
Healthcare recruiting success requires tenacity, accuracy, and speed-to-market. While moving quickly relates to all aspects of the business, from placing job ads to credentialing, it is particularly relevant during the scheduling phase. Healthcare recruiting agencies bring value to their clients by quickly filling job orders, pure-and-simple.
Staff scheduling for major hospital systems and healthcare organizations can be a frustratingly complex endeavor. If not done properly, it leads to short-staffing, a disgruntled workforce and even high employee turnover.
When the pandemic hit, healthcare organizations were thrown into reaction mode, with many long-term projects being shelved indefinitely. However, health leaders were able to take some steps which not only addressed some of their current needs but set the stage for future growth.
NASHVILLE, TENN. (PRWEB) APRIL 01, 2021
We don’t have to tell you that 2020/2021 has been a lot different than the prior years, for the healthcare staffing industry. As members of the American Staffing Association, we wanted to expand on recent discussions and insights that companies just like yours have been mulling over.
Healthcare staffing is facing new challenges and opportunities as the 2021 year continues. For many of us in the healthcare staffing industry though, remote onboarding has been part of the process for years. Throughout the changes our industry faces it is exceptionally important to keep the first part of your
Explore how healthcare staffing MSP/VMS ownership impacts vendor neutrality, market control, and opportunities for staffing agencies seeking fair access.
In order for a VMS to fully provide key advantages, the platform must be able to integrate.
Health care providers are increasingly turning to workforce management systems, and the growth seen in this marketplace provides the evidence. According to industry researchers, the health care workforce management systems market will experience a more than 13.8 percent compound annual growth rate through 2019, surpassing a value of $1.4 billion.
It is no secret that You Sign Here, an electronic signature system, and BlueSky Medical Staffing Software are tightly integrated. In fact, You Sign Here was developed by one of our owners in response to support issues we had with other e-Signature platforms. But over the years we have worked
Do you enter a lot of caregivers into your medical staffing software manually from a list of resumes? It feels like a monotonous task which should be able to be automated. Staffing and Recruiting companies have enough on their plates with finding great caregivers, interviewing them and placing them in
Today is a day that men and those who are single typically dread – it’s Valentine’s day! So if you’re single, sitting at your cubicle hating the sight of every bouquet being carried past your desk or if you’re someone who thinks today is just another day and doesn’t care
Let’s face it, finding a job is not always the easiest thing to do. You spend countless hours online or going business-to-business dropping off hundreds of resumes to maybe get one phone call. Once you receive the call you have to prepare for an interview, and then play a waiting
Sunday night I watched the Oscars with the other BILLION people across the world. I am one of those people who have a love-hate relationship with the Oscars. I love the red carpet fashion, watching my favorite stars win well-deserved awards and seeing how bad the host can mess up.
Today is the first full day since Pope Benedict retired. Even though I am not Catholic, I thought it was very moving and thoughtful how gracefully he has moved on into his new position. This move into a private life was a shock to many, as a Pope has not
You’re at that point where you’ve graduated, you earned your degree and now you are faced with a series of questions from friends, family members and colleagues:
Two little words, “Contract Labor” are almost considered curse words to hospital systems. You are probably even scared to utter them publically. Many hospitals are concerned about MSPs and contract labor entering the ever-changing healthcare arena. But in this day and age of the Affordable Care Act we
Contract labor is a fact of life for many hospital systems, especially as the Affordable Care Act transcends among us, and bed count rises exponentially. Using a managed service provider is one of the many ways acute care facilities and hospital systems are managing appropriate staffing levels.
As the Director of Sales for BlueSky, I hear many story’s about other providers and of course the 100 reasons why customers hate their current healthcare staffing software. One of the biggest and newest complaints is certain company’s that are not staying current with new technology. WHAT? How can you
What is being called by the World Health Organization (WHO as, “The Most Severe Health Emergency in Modern Times,” the Ebola outbreak, is definitely putting the damper on healthcare recruiting and staffing. According to the latest WHO figures, the Ebola epidemic has killed more than 4,000 people worldwide. And as of Sunday,
Education is power during the Ebola Outbreak Last week I wrote a blog entitled, “Healthcare recruiting during the Ebola outbreak,” and asked, “how are you handling this health emergency?” Just a few days later, our strategic partners at Prophecy Healthcare launched an Ebola Education Module, called “Ebola: Communicable Disease Preparedness,”
Now, you probably have your work Halloween party coming up this week and want to make sure you have something appropriate but different, right? Well the BlueSky team brainstormed and came up with a great list of costumes specifically for healthcare staffing. Check them out!
With the holidays approaching, we will hear the saying, “Good things come in small packages.” For women, this usually means visions of diamonds and jewelry and for guys they are fantasizing of a key to the sports car they’ve always wanted. I recently read an article in Venture Beat about
There are questions that should be asked during every sales demo for healthcare staffing software and these questions are missed almost every time I do a demo. There are some basic questions that I think NEED TO BE ASKED that people just DON’T ASK. Shhhh… It’s my secret So listen
Ahhh… Thanksgiving week and the kick off to the holiday season is finally upon us, but for those of us in healthcare staffing we know that this is truly the silly season.
Managing payroll for hundreds of healthcare professionals all over the country can be a huge headache. This is especially the case if you are waiting for a nurse to reach a fax machine to send in a paper timesheet or the quality of the picture of the timesheet is not
Many healthcare staffing company owners tend to focus on the rounded number for gross margins in their business. There are important reasons for firms of any size to carefully examine and “chase the basis points”. A basis point is one hundredth of one percent, and to many, may seem too minor
We hope you enjoy a guest post from our BlueSky partner Dr. Alan Lasky at United Background Screening.
In the staffing industry time is of the essence and having the right technology can make or break a company. EZ Job Filler, a new breakthrough technology in medical staffing, allows agencies to fill VMS job assignments even faster. BlueSky Medical Staffing Software has partnered with EZ Job Filler to
Conferences are such a great way to see our clients face-to-face and keep a very real pulse on our industry. ASA’s Staffing World is just a little over one week away and the BlueSky team is excited to see some new and familiar faces. Hopefully, we also get a little
At BlueSky, we have more enhancements to announce that will save our clients time and increase their productivity. They will also help to further establish BlueSky MSS as THE source for cutting-edge technology in the medical staffing software sphere.
Discover the real-world impact of MSP and VMS models on healthcare staffing agency profits, margins, and vendor relationships.
It affects 1 in 88 children (1 out of 54 boys), it’s the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S., receives 5% less of research funding of many less prevalent diseases in children, and can cost a family $60,000 a year on average…it’s Autism.
With the new year comes new years resolutions. The problem with those resolutions is many will set them but never achieve them. That is the hardest part about achieving any goal – the part that bridges where you are to where you want to be.
There is no denying that social media has taken over our lives. How many times have you heard someone say, “I saw this on Facebook”, “I’ve got to Instagram that!”, “Did you see ‘so-and-so’s’ tweet on Twitter?!”. There are so many different forms of social media to choose from that
A few months ago I was talking to a client that was investing in a brand new website and question came up, “Where are the most important areas I should be spending my time and money when creating a new website?” And I realized they were about to make the
If you haven’t heard BlueSky is integrated with a new eSignature software called YouSignHere. With the integration of YouSignHere into BlueSky you can send and sign documents from anywhere helping you do business faster and more efficiently. BlueSky can merge information from a travel contract such as pay-rates, housing details
Today may appear to be just another day to most people. It’s a Thursday, Friday is around the corner and weekend festivities are on your mind. Its the 21st of March and you’re sitting at work reading this blog instead of doing other work you probalby should be doing, right?
It’s been a long day at work – you’re tired, your feet hurt, you have a headache from the daily stresses from your job and you just want to get home and veg out on the couch with some take out and your favorite shows. However, when you walk through
In late February Google confirmed that Google Project Glass is running ahead of schedule and will be released late 2013. In conjunction with the announcement Google also launched a huge competitionto find testers of the cutting edge device. The competition asks Twitter followers to write in a 140 characters or
Have you noticed people walking around today with a red “X” on their hands and wondered what it stood for? Did you know? Did you know that slavery exists? Did you know that there are still over 27 million slaves? 80% of which are women. Did you know it can
Each day shortcuts are being made in our communication. It wasn’t that long ago that our only communication was only via snail mail now we have email – delivering mail and other important documents in seconds. Phone calls are dwindling down to short, sweet, simple, to-the-point text messages. Even social
Like many of you, due to the terror attack at the Boston Marathon, I was glued to the news for most of last week watching as the horror unfolded. On Friday night I sat watching CNN like it was a movie, as they captured Suspect #2. Although, I am deeply
You know, it’s funny how many people know about the CAN-SPAM Act but don’t think that it applies to them. Yes, Healthcare Staffing Recruiters… I am talking to you! If you are using email in your business, the CAN-SPAM act establishes requirements for every message you send regardless of Bulk
When it comes to the role of recruiting there is no question that with the invention of the iphone and then Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Skype, etc., that society has seen many huge changes in technology and it has also affected the way we attract talent.
LinkedIn is a wonderful social media tool that can be used within any profession. BlueSky is even on LinkedIn! If LinkedIn is something new to you, let me familiarize yourself with it. Think of it as a social media to network friends, colleagues, former classmates, etc and the information you
Working in Brookstone through college I was very knowledgeable on the latest and greatest gadgets this world had to offer. One of those, ahead-of-its-time, gadgets that was sold in Brookstone over ten years ago and is just now mainstream was the Roomba from iRobot. As a store manager, I thoroughly
It’s national nurses week, as well as, hospitals week! Be sure to take a moment or two to show your caregivers and facilities the acknowledment and recognition that they do.
Late Friday afternoon I received a call from one of my favorite clients, who I have known since I first started with BlueSky, and his company landed their first big travel contract. I love these types of calls because it means my customers are growing, but I also find it
Let’s face it we all have faced some sort of medical emergency in our life. If you are fortunate enough to not have had a medical emergency arise yet, the question of how will you pay for it may not be far from your mind. Of course, you may have
***************Today’s blog post is a guest post from Kiala from Staffing Robot. We are very appreciative of her for taking the time to send us a guest post.
Sometimes in our own careers we don’t stop and think about what is happening in other industries, sometimes we don’t even think how our industry can effect other industries.
Utilizing independent contractors can sometimes be a difficult and confusing task to take on. They are used not only in the healthcare staffing industry, but in almost every industry out there. It’s important for companies to have some general knowledge on independent contractors, as misclassifying employees and independent contractors can
It’s obvious to see the changes on the surface of healthcare and how it has adapted the now digital age. Paper files are now being scanned to become digital files – that can be accessed from about anywhere, well…as long as HIPAA guidelines are followed. You can be notified that
There is no denying that job opportunities in the healthcare industry are growing, which is why healthcare is the place to be. Careers as a registered nurse rank #2 (Dentistry ranks #1), according to U.S. World News for both top healthcare jobs and top 100 best jobs. Even though job
With any job there are always “it-could-happen-but-its-unlikely” type situations. For example, a recent news story broke about a Tiffany’s store employee that stole $1.3 million in jewels from their employer. This something that probably sits in the back of every company owner’s mind but never expects to deal with.
Another blog about social media? Yeah we’re going there. Social media still seems to scare some in the healthcare staffing industry. Don’t be scared! More than likely you have a Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram or some kind of online social presence for your personal life. The thing is, it’s just
When you think of the word “health”, think about what that word means. Eating right? Excercising? The medical definition from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is as follows: “The condition of an organism or one of its parts in which it performs its vital functions normally or properly : the state of
The Obama administration announced earlier this month that it will allow businesses an extra year to comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
There is a buzz all over the globe about the royal baby. The new prince is here! Although this is very exciting, and I am one of those people that is probably overly invested in being interested in a baby across the pond that will someday be a prince for
We are now about three months away from arriving in Chicago for yet another great time at the healthcare staffing summit. Three months may seem like a long time but it will come faster than you think and its time to start preparing if you haven’t already. What is the
Health care information technology is showing promise, but providers stress both advantages and drawbacks to the use of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) or Electronic Health Records (EHR). The term “bioinformatics” is also catching on quickly.
Trying new things is always scary whether it is in your personal life or work life. Which is understandable. Trying new things is like stepping in to the unknown, like stepping into a dark alley that you’ve never been in or jumping into a pool when you’ve never learned to
Entering the unique world of healthcare staffing is challenging at best and overwhelming at worst, but it can also prove very rewarding. In its simplest form, the industry involves matching a qualified, credentialed nurse to a unit within a hospital, but there is so much more that goes into making that
Freestanding emergency rooms have popped up across the country, but according to a recent NPR story, they have advantages as well as drawbacks. Freestanding ERs are seen as competition to urgent care centers, which are available as convenient options for non-life threatening emergencies like influenza or a sprained ankle. There
A portion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) protecting consumers against higher health care costs has been delayed by the Obama administration. Originally scheduled to kick in Jan. 1, 2014, this aspect of the ACA will now begin in 2015.
Earlier this year, the president of BlueSky, Tim Teague, asked the following question in this article: “Will your new doctor be a nurse?” Well, the debate over the future role of nurse practitioners has continued in the medical community given the projections of a looming physician shortfall. This New York
At BlueSky, we are always searching for ways to enrich the user experience for our clients. We recognize that healthcare staffing is an ever-evolving industry, so our work is centered on helping staffing agencies save time and money.
These are exciting times here at BlueSky. At this year’s Healthcare Staffing Summit in Chicago we will unveil a long-awaited feature: an integration with Global Cash Card! Be sure to stop by and visit us in Booth No. 101 for a live demo! We are thrilled to share this seamless
Ever had a job to fill but wondered what the best way was to get the message out quickly to your candidates?
Just a few short weeks ago, Facebook announced its long-awaited job board. In my opinion, it’s going to change the face of healthcare staffing recruiting. If you are a healthcare staffing agency and are not on Facebook then you need to be! Combine the interactive job board, which is aggregating
It’s the end of the year and that time of year to reflect on things that have happened over the course of the past 12 months. Social media and blogging became more of an importance to us. We have blogged about a wide range of topics from holidy fun to
LinkedIn has proven to be a great tool to build business relationships and a great platform for reaching out to potential candidates. Heck, over 93% of recruiters actively use LinkedIn. It has made recruiting quicker and more efficient for even the tightest budget. However, many healthcare staffing agencies are still
The fourth quarter presents the most complex hiring dynamics of the year, with its mix of fall activity, holiday retail hiring, Thanksgiving-to-New Year’s crazy traffic, and end-of-year financial and budget maneuvering. For recruiters in the healthcare staffing agency, the standard to fill job orders are distributed this way: first quarter,
This year has come as quickly as it has gone, and what a year it has been! We have had so many good moments this year, but one to highlight was attending the Healthcare Staffing Summit in Las Vegas, NV this October. It was great spending time with our wonderful
Staffing agencies are continually looking for the most modern, intuitive, flexible solution, which removes the constraints, and costs of their current platform. Medical Staffing agencies are especially sensitive to these products due to increased regulations on patient safety and pressure to deliver faster, better service with fewer resources. Doing so
Christmas is upon us again, even though it is the same day each year, it always seems to sneak up on all of us. There never seems to be enough time to trim the tree, wrap/buy presents, and make all of the Christmas goodies that aren’t healthy for us. Not
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Let’s paint a picture: You’re out having lunch or coffee with some of your colleagues and you get an important call that everyone at the table should take part in as a conference call but the speaker on your phone makes it slightly difficult for everyone to hear – such
We are less than a week from the start of the Healthcare Staffing Summit and I am so excited! The booth has arrived and the goodies have already been shipped off to Vegas. Just a few more items on the checklist and we will be ready to go. What about
Are we there yet? I am sure you have asked the question, “Are we there yet?”, to your parents before. I feel like a little kid days before the Healthcare Staffing Summit. But, one of the craziest things for me as an adult was realizing that after months of preparation and
Only Six Steps, is that EVEN possible? While planning our Roundtable for the Healthcare Staffing Summit in Las Vegas, we knew there was a big need for healthcare staffing agencies of all sizes to learn how to be a Healthcare VMS. Agencies realize that if they don’t take care of
“I saw it on Facebook” Social media is one of the fastest growing marketing tools that is not getting the credit it deserves. There is so much more that can be done with your social media outlets than you think.
It’s that time of year again… Rushing around trying to find the perfect costumes, buying candy for all the little trick-or-treaters, and baking lots of goodies for halloween parties. Once this is all done the chaos turns in to parents rushing their kids door-to-door to fill their bags and buckets
Healthcare is a key topic of the 2012 election campaign. However, many voters do not understand how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affects the uninsured, current patients, payers, families, businesses, and caregivers. This blog will provide an opportunity for you to become more knowledgeable and a policy expert.
If you are a BlueSky user you already are aware that we are very different from any other healthcare staffing software on the planet. One of the biggest differentiators is our quarterly upgrade and this latest version, Version 4.0, isn’t any different. There were so many great new features that
One of the biggest tragedies has affected 10 states in the northeast region of the United States – Hurricane Sandy. Sandy hit the northeast coast on Oct 29th and has left over $50 billion in damages to the New York area alone. The storm has proven to be one of
In today’s society everyone is about “going green”. We have electric cars, recycled paper products, re-usable shopping bags, etc. However, there is yet another way to recycle products for the benefit of someones PHYSICAL health. Yes, thats right physical health.
Every day American’s send over 5 million text messages. People can’t put their phones down. The statistics are staggering – 97% of all text messages are opened. This easily explains why SMS technology is the fastest growing recruiting tool among healthcare staffing recruiters. Last month we did a seminar and
Social media is growing – be a part of it! It isn’t a secret that social media is growing in importance and that the healthcare industry has been a late bloomer when jumping on the Social Media bandwagon. Although many industry leaders recognize the importance of social media in healthcare
It’s that time of year again… Family is coming to visit, trips to the grocery store are made, the house is needing cleaned, preparing travel plans and of course the numerous hours spent looking at Black Friday ads to find the perfect deals – then the plan of how to
We can do almost anything via our smart phones. Holiday shopping, banking, order pizza… Mobile recruiting should be the next logical step in the healthcare staffing industry.
“Do you have Facebook?…Are you on Twitter?” How many times have you met someone and wanted to stay in touch and they ask you if you Facebook, or vice versa? Or how many times have you had a conversation with someone that starts with, “I saw on Facebook the other
If you’ve been watching the news, its hard not to see a story about the flu epidemic that has taken over. Especially in Boston, where Mayor Thomas Menino, has declared a state of emergency. In recent weeks, 18 people accross the state of Massachusetts have died because of the illness.
In this day and age most of us agree that secure passwords are important. We have all heard the news reports about systems getting hacked and personal information being leaked. I know that my personal information is important and even though it is going the easy route, having one simple
Java has released its latest version of it software, but isn’t having the results they were hoping for. The release of Java 7 is making some web browsers more vulnerable to security risks and virus attacks. The program is used by millions of both PC and Mac users, and is
Healthcare staffing and recruiting has been made more accessible with the launch of the BlueSky mobile app. The app was released on January 15th, 2013 and is available for both Apple and Android users.
Do you want to lose weight and be fit? Do you want to work out? Are you overweight?
Within the next 2 decades, 8 million baby boomers will be turning 65 and are expected to live longer and rely a great deal on our healthcare system. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, coverage is set to expand by 32 million Americans by 2019. Being conscious of
Do you want to improve the quality of your organization and earn a more reputable name? Want to be recognized by insurers? Want to have a stronger, more cohesive team? Have you been thinking about getting your organization certified by the Joint Commission but haven’t done so? What are you
The year of 2013 has proven itself to be a year of new and exciting things. We have recently announced the launch of our BlueSky mobile app, and we have yet another exciting announcement….
In life we face a lot of big decisions like buying car, purchasing a home, what to major in at college, etc. Facing big decisions never changes and doesn’t always get easier as time goes on. Choosing the right healthcare staffing software isn’t any different than making a big life-changing
Picture this… Your flight has over-sold. Now you will be sitting on top of the person next you. Your uncomfortable seat is now even more uncomfortable. Making travel plans far from ideal when all you want to do is just get home. This was a situation I experienced a few
We’re ready for Vegas, but is Vegas ready for us? In three short weeks we will be in Las Vegas, NV for the 2012 Healthcare Staffing Summit and we could not be more excited to share what is new with BlueSky! Trust us, it’s very exciting and you won’t want
Tuesday morning, Microsoft warned Internet Explorer users that hackers have found a “massive hole” or vulnerability in the web browser and to download security software to mitigate the risk of infection. More than a third of all web browsing is done through Internet Explorer versions 6-9, so obviously this is a huge concern to BlueSky users
This year’s Staffing Summit is approaching quickly and you won’t want to leave what happens in Vegas behind.
Many medical staffing recruiters may feel expert interviewers, but it is always good to have a quick refresher. And if you are a medical staffing startup you are starting to interview healthcare professionals based on you applications you have received, you should be prepared with some simple interview questions.
The pressure to cut costs and streamline business in today’s economy is more intense than it has ever been. Medical staffing agencies have to figure out ways to cut costs without compromising the customer experience. The goal of streamlining a process, growing revenue, while delivering quality service, is the foundation
Do you consider your staffing agency to be cutting edge? You may have a Facebook page, a Twitter account, a great healthcare scheduling software and even a blog. All of this is excellent, however, I am going to make a very bold statement and I don’t want to scare you
Believe it or not there are over three million Americans working from home. As gas prices continue to rise, so do the number of tele-commuters. Creating convenience and flexibility for the at-home worker is becoming a critical benefit for employees at many healthcare staffing agencies. Even large Fortune 500 companies
Believe it or not there are over three million Americans working from home. As gas prices continue to rise, so do the number of tele-commuters. Creating convenience and flexibility for the at-home worker is becoming a critical benefit for employees at many healthcare staffing agencies. Even large Fortune 500 companies
Your website is the face of your company and if used correctly can be your best lead generation tool. Educate your potential caregivers with relevant content, and in return collect information on them. How do you collect, store and manage this data? That is an issue many small and medium
With more and more vendor management systems popping up, the rules of healthcare staffing payroll seem to get increasingly complicated. We already know that Healthcare Staffing payroll could not be more different than ANY other industry’s payroll. Healthcare facilities have crazy billing and overtime rules that can make processing payroll
In wake of recent power outages on the East Coast and the unforgiving fires in the western half of the United States, it is yet another reminder of how important it is to have safe, secure, and reliable data storage for your company.
Posted by Chris Lindstrom, MBA – Marketing Manager for Medical Staffing Consultants, Inc.
Having held the position of hiring manager for a small business, and currently working as an implementation specialist within the healthcare staffing software industry, I understand the challenges of hiring the perfect employee. Finding an employee who not only understands the healthcare staffing industry, but who can keep up with
The immediate future of the healthcare staffing industry will be rewarded with several demographic trends that will have to compete with the risk of new healthcare legislation.
1. Prepare a job description. The job description you provide will validate your need for more help. Job descriptions also identifies the skills, knowledge, licenses, certifications and necessary abilities for the job. The more detailed the job description, the better the healthcare staffing agency will be able to find employees who
Healthcare Competency Assessments Guest Blog by Meredith Juengel – Director of Relationship Management at Prophecy Healthcare®
Like the rest of world, I read The Hunger Games trilogy and saw the movie. For the 2% of you who don’t know the story, The Hunger Games is a movie based on the novel by Suzanne Collins. It is about two representatives from each of the twelve districts in the
What to look for in a Healthcare Staffing and Recruiting Software If you are in the market for healthcare staffing and recruiting software, you have your work cut out for you! There are several options to choose from and finding the best solution for your company is key. Not every
If your float pool or staffing bank is not providing the results you need, you are not alone. One of the great challenges in the acute care setting is the ability to meet the challenge of daily staffing expectations. Two of the major drivers in this challenge can be the
Despite the debate that still simmers regarding the Affordable Care Act, a couple of factors will escalate the need for temporary healthcare workers over the next decade.
As previously discussed, the move to Cloud computing is simply the change from working with applications that are loaded on your local computer to working with applications that are generated online via the Internet. Cloud Computing, or web-based applications are not a “Clouds” per se, but are applications that are
The terms “Cloud Computing” and “In the Cloud” are terms that harken pictures of data sitting somewhere in the sky with no physical attributes. Although nothing could be further from the truth, this terminology still leaves consumers scratching their heads as to how all this data can live up in
Between 2010 and 2015, a milestone in the practice of physicians was reached. The number of physicians working as employees of a healthcare organization or a group practice surpassed the 50% mark. This direction of employment versus independent practices has been a growing trend. Hospital systems have been aggressively recruiting
The growth or contraction of the healthcare staffing industry has typically followed the direction of the economy. Since hospital census typically takes a dive when unemployment spikes, the need for additional labor softens.
Today, businesses require customizable and efficient workflow, especially for healthcare-staffing VMS portals.
Now that we’ve discussed some of the preliminaries of selling your healthcare staffing firm, it’s time to take a look at the often-used “earn out” strategy. An earn out strategy is a means by which a price to purchase a company is negotiated with
How much cash do you really get when you sell your business?
In the first lesson, we examined understanding why an owner would sell. In this post, I will open the door to the question of valuation: what is my company truly worth? It is helpful to know this information when a potential buyer comes calling. One of the first things a
As we discussed last time, the benefits taken by you the owner should be carefully examined prior to any healthcare recruiting firm sale. Another important factor: Take a close look at your company’s liabilities.
King v. Burwell: Follow the money to Healthcare Staffing Agencies The historic ruling concerning Obamacare this week has left constitutional scholars scratching their collective heads. A mentor of mine was told me; “you can study the roots…or you can enjoy the fruits” take your pick! Despite the interest in the
Ever wanted to sell your healthcare staffing agency? There are many reasons why owners come to a point that the thought of selling their medical recruiting firm is on the table: retirement, exhaustion, debt and change of career are just a few of the reasons.
When I started my first healthcare staffing agency over two decades ago, it began in a tiny office with payroll that was funded by my prior company stock options. In our hurry to generate revenue, we were anxious to earn business from anyone that would listen to us, and populate our
Nashville, TN – Aug. 3, 2016 – Industry leading software unveils its highly anticipated version featuring its groundbreaking margin calculator and advanced pay-package along with even more features
Two of the driving tenets of the Affordable Care Act are the push for better patient outcomes and reduction of costs. Since labor spend accounts for the largest percentage of acute care expense, it is a prime target for cost cutting.
Donald Trump and Affordable Care Act As Donald Trump moves closer to becoming the Republican’s presidential candidate in the general election, there are new ramblings of what he would do to Obamacare if elected. Many arguments have been made against the continuance of this growing governmental entity, but odds
Late last year the Supreme Court decided to hear the latest legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act. One item at issue is the Act’s provision to pay health insurance companies subsidies to help offset the cost of out-of-pocket expenses for low income policyholders that purchase insurance through a government
In a prior post we discussed two areas that can greatly affect margins in the healthcare staffing world; unemployment and workers compensation. These two components of the cost of labor are directly applied to actual payroll amounts, thus decreasing the gross margin.
Last year the Supreme Court ruled on tenets of the Affordable Care Act that withheld Federal funding from states that chose not to expand their Medicaid programs to include many of the nation’s current uninsured. The ruling denied the Feds ability to withhold existing Medicaid funding if the state did
Have you ever wondered what the odds are that you will have a male nurse? If your guess is “not very likely”, you’re right. However, based on census data just released, the odds are growing every year that your next nurse could be a male.
As the Affordable care act comes closer to full implementation, multiple factors will combine to assess the impact on the demand for contract labor. It is impossible to determine demand figures using historic data as the ACA has thrown an entirely new set of governing principles into play. When all
As the new math of the Affordable Care Act plays out, insurers and hospitals are scrambling to take advantage of new markets. One of the cornerstones of the ACA was the acquisition of a young demographic from a currently underserved population. There will be substantial fanfare around the country to
In January of this year, the American Hospital Association released a report entitled “Workforce Roles in a Redesigned Primary Care Model.” This document was largely created from a roundtable discussion by nine physician and nurse leaders who were asked to develop some recommendations for hospitals and healthcare systems that would
I recently attended a seminar that included topics on how to maximize the value of an MSP/VMS relationship. One of the most interesting take-aways from the meeting was the examination of what were the best as well as worst attributes of most MSP/VMS systems. Not surprisingly, the most valuable asset
Since the Affordable Care Act was enacted three years ago in March, most of the work for implementation has been behind-the-scenes and little noticed by the typical consumer. This will all change on Jan 1, 2014 as for the first time in history, all Americans will be guaranteed access to
Stockton, CA has been in the news recently as a Federal Judge ruled Monday, April 1, that it is eligible for bankruptcy protection. At first glance, this ruling seems to have little to do with the future of healthcare in the United States. Upon closer inspection, however, what stands out
Picture this; a not-for-profit hospital in an urban area tracks it’s cost to provide care for ONE uninsured, homeless individual for a period of between 18 months and 2 years. At the heart of this exercise lies the impetus for the creation and execution of the Patient Protection and Affordable
Recent news cycles have been loaded with information concerning the I.R.S.’ scrutiny, or lack thereof, of applications for not-for-profit 501 C 4 status. Most of the noise concerns the ability of the institution to adequately manage parts of the largest healthcare overhaul since the introduction of Medicare. As the I.R.S.
Several million employees across the US receive health insurance benefits through what is called a “multi-employer” plan, or otherwise known as a Taft-Hartley plan. These plans currently cover unionized workers in retail, construction, transportation and other industries with seasonal or temporary employment. These plans are typically included in the employers
As the Affordable Care Act moves closer to full implementation, the real test is soon to begin. As state insurance exchanges prepare for open enrollment in the fall of this year, premiums for various levels of coverage are starting to take shape. Most eyes are on the State of California
Companies often claim that their employees are their greatest assets. In the world of temporary staffing, aside from existing contracts and operations, nothing could be closer to the truth. Human capital is the currency of staffing firms, and needs are constantly changing to provide the best possible experience for the
Despite the derisive debates surrounding ObamaCare, there are some good changes that have been mandated for those seeking health insurance on their own. In 2014, all new plans offered are required to cover a set of “essential health benefits,” some at no cost to the enrollee. These “essential health benefits” include
It all started with the tension of the waiting game when the ultimate fate of the Affordable Care Act would be determined by the Supreme Court Justices. This hurdle was overcome by proclaiming part of the legislation as a “tax” instead of a mandate, and the voluntary participation by the
In the last blog ,The (not so) Simple methods to test for FTEs…,”we discussed both the “stability” period and the “measurement” period. As is the case in other Federal programs, consistency in the measurement periods is the key. Whatever period you select, (between 3 and 12 months), stay consistent in consecutive periods. What
Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) will close at the end of March 2014. The original goal of 6 million enrollees will be tough to achieve. According to the Department of Health and Human Services there were four million enrollees through Feb. 25, 2014. The actuarial science that
The Affordable Care Act has some very specific implications to the world of managing multiple human capital vendors. (i.e. the VMS model and MSP). It should be a safe assumption that employees of staffing agencies are considered employees of that agency, and NOT the healthcare facility in which they provide
Many healthcare staffing agencies that have over 50 FTEs are looking at the cost (or Tax) associated with NOT complying with the Affordable Care Act. In 2015, employers with more than 100 FTEs will need to cover 70% of their full-time employees and by 2016 employers with more than 50 FTEs
The Small Business Health Options Program, (SHOP) is a program with the affordable care act for employers with less that 50 FTEs. It is a plan that helps small businesses including healthcare staffing agencies provide health coverage to their employees. There are several feature of this plan that allow flexibility for
The recent turn of events during the mid-term elections have the two political parties at odds over the future of the Affordable Care Act. As a business owner, it is certainly instructive to take a look at the possible outcomes as the Republican-controlled Senate joins a Republican majority in the House.
One of the tenets of the Affordable Care Act struck down by the Supreme Court was the States’ mandated expansion of Medicaid. This segment of the legislation was seen as an “over-reach” of states rights. The choice for expansion was returned to the individual states. A map showing the states’
Amidst the back and forth, the delays, and the political posturing surrounding the Affordable Care Act, DON’T FORGET THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT PENALTIES for employers for non-compliance. The penalties are only for employers of 50 or more FTEs, but if your firm suddenly hits the 50 FTE threshold, penalties can accrue
Amidst the uncertainty, delays, and administration of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a valid question remains as to the reimbursement effects on hospitals nationwide. Given the outreach of the plan to assist in providing insurance to millions who currently can’t afford coverage, a quick assessment would assume an increase in reimbursements to
As discussed previously, gross margins are the fuel that drives the healthcare staffing industry. Cash flow, growth, and debt financing are all greatly impacted by the slightest change in basis points. Assuming you are in the ballpark of industry standards for pricing and pay rates, there are two items that
The state of California has been one of the earliest and most aggressive adopters of the Affordable Care Act. The desired outcome of the legislation is to reach into a population previously uninsured and provide health insurance for those individuals. On a macroeconomic basis, this translates into a larger pool
One of the major tenets of the Affordable Care Act was state-by-state expansion of the Medicaid program to cover the poorest residents on a state-by-state basis. The law was originally written to withhold Federal reimbursement for Medicaid payments if states did not comply with the expansion of coverage. The Supreme
As the Affordable Care Act continues through it’s implementation benchmarks, it would be naive to believe that the culture of healthcare will not be changed forever as we have known it in our generation. For better or worse, Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” metaphor for the marketplace will move the provider
Most start-ups in the staffing industry are organized under the umbrella of an S-corp or an LLC. The reasons most opt for these choices rather than a C-corp are the single pass-through taxation applied to the S-Corp and LLC. Income from a C-corp. passed through to an individual is taxable
Approximately 60% of the hospitals in the US were created within the legal context of not-for-profit status. This tax-exempt status has been enjoyed by healthcare facilities around the country as Government subsidies were awarded after World War II for mostly religious-affiliated entities providing care in local communities. One of the
Congress finally executed a last minute legislative response to the impending tax increases and spending cuts that were scheduled to become law Jan. 1, 2013. It is too soon to evaluate this stopgap measure since legislators only received the final draft of over 100 pages a few minutes prior to
Much debate is occurring on Capital Hill concerning the so-called “Fiscal Cliff”. The “Fiscal Cliff” per se was a negotiating tool between Democrats and Republicans to once again kick the proverbial debt-ceiling debacle further down the road. The deal with the devil was simple and relatively quick. “Since we can’t
This year most major retailers have started to warm to the notion that shoppers enter their brick and mortar sanctuaries with their smart phones in hand ready to cross-reference every conceivable retailer’s price. Prior to Black Friday of 2011, some retailers went as far as to ban cell phone use
“As financial officers around the country try to make sense of the new staffing dynamic, the VMS will once again be front and center.”-Tim Teague, BlueSky MSS Tim Teague, President of BlueSky Medical Staffing Software, is blogging in conjuction with the Staffing Analysts at the Staffing Stream. “The Staffing Stream is
The recent healthcare staffing summit in Las Vegas provides interesting insight into the unique world of tempory labor in the healthcare sector. Co-incidentally, the day after the summit ended, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a “Re-do” of the numbers released on unemployment. Not surprisingly, the second set of numbers
The recent surge in the national polls for Presidential candidate Mitt Romney reminds me of times I have struggled in the staffing industry. After a previous failed bid for President, and consistently trailing in every poll nation-wide, the Romney campaign is now experiencing for the first time in over 4
According to the Labor Department, household spending on vehicles, apparel, entertainment, and eating out decreased between 2007 and 2011. Telephone services, largely fueled by the growth of “smart phones” and higher priced data plans have increased during the same period by over 10%.
As the November election draws near, the political pundits across the country do their best to project alternate futures based on their respective party platforms. On one side there will be the continued implementation of the Affordable Care Act that has been largely affirmed through the recent Supreme Court ruling.
I was reminded after my recent blog quoting Dr. Peter Buerhaus of Vanderbilt University, that he has written two more articles concerning the shortage. Findings show a 62 percent increase in the number of 23- to 26-year-olds who became registered nurses between 2002 and 2009, a growth rate not seen
In the July/August 2009 Health Affairs, Dr. Peter Buerhaus and coauthors found that despite the current easing of the nursing shortage due to the recession, the U.S. nursing shortage is projected to grow to 260,000 registered nurses by 2025. A shortage of this magnitude would be twice as large as any
Many of the onerous regulatory concerns of employers are triggered when certain FTE thresholds are met. The ObamaCare legislation for employers is triggered by one set of FTE rules, but execution of penalties or (taxes) is dependent on another set of FTE calculations. It is not unusual in heavily regulated
As we all watch the world’s greatest athletes compete in London, from across the globe, it’s often easy to think only of the competition that unfolds daily. In reality, when these athletes perform their sport, those few seconds or minutes are the culmination of years of daily preparation. As young
Vendor management systems have been a part of US commerce for decades, starting with the Ford Motor Company and moving across all other industries. Such systems were not invented with the advent of electronic data managements, but they have evolved to maximize the use of technology. These vendor mangement systems
The recent ruling by the Supreme Court to uphold the major tenets of the Obamacare plan will not serve to quell the long and contentious debate over how to fund healthcare. On the contrary, the court bypassed the individual mandate issue by calling it a “tax”, but moved to eliminate
The somewhat surprise affirmation by the Supreme Court this past week for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) has levered up the game of “chicken” that many states are playing with the state sponsored exchanges and Medicaid changes. With the wheels of bureaucracy continuing to creep forward with
My prior blog explained some of the anomalies of the last recession and how it severely impacted revenues in the healthcare staffing industry. If a worst-case scenario happens this year, and the US is faced with a double dip recession, the staffing industry will not be hurt as badly as
As the potential Greek exit from the Euro unfolds and other European economies find themselves on shaky ground, recent employment and GDP figures in the US increase the potential for a double dip recession.
Countless stakeholders across the country are waiting in anticipation for the result of the current challenge in the Supreme Court of the constitutionality of Obamacare. Pundits have second-guessed what the decision may be, and what impact any ruling may have on the populace in general, and the industry specifically.
As the number of unemployed workers remains high along with another new graduating class from colleges around the country, the number of applicants per job posted is reaching historic levels in all professions. In many industries, including the healthcare staffing industry, the sheer volume of applicants has resulted in a
No matter how many viable candidates are in your database, the law of supply and demand will always mandate amount of revenue you can generate. In short, the more candidates you have to place (supply), the more clients (demand) you will need to service. Obviously any successful healthcare staffing firm
The recent initial public offering of the popular social network firm FaceBook provides a cautionary tale for healthcare staffing firms around the country. How in the world does the public offering of a previously private social networking company relate to the staffing industry? Three ways. Expectations, expectations, and expectations.
As a follow-up to our last blog, “Building a Vendor Management System in Healthcare Staffing,” describing a brief history and current state of Vendor Management Systems in the healthcare staffing industry, we will take a look at some of the operational nuts and bolts in its application in the healthcare
…. Are they really legal? During the course of candidate sourcing in the healthcare staffing industry, legal signatures are required for binding documents between prospective employees and the employer. The volume of paperwork in healthcare staffing credentialing and contracting is typically much greater than in other non-healthcare related fields. The
In our last blog, we discussed the impact unemployment claims have on insurance rates for State Unemployment. Another major area of concern for healthcare staffing agencies is the worker’s compensation premium that is experience rated as well.
The decision to begin the process of Joint Commission Certification for a healthcare staffing agency has faced all firms since the organization began certification for staffing firms a little over 7 years ago. The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies more than 19,000 health care
One of the most important aspects of successfully moving a start-up healthcare staffing firm from incubation to ongoing success is the ability to effectively manage margins. Tracking the true cost of labor is a cornerstone of all successful staffing companies. Every staffing firm should have their own benchmarks for margin
The segments of the nursing population that choose contract labor over permanent placement represent a substantial percentage of the workforce. One of the most important questions healthcare staffing firms has to answer, is how can we attract someone to a temporary assignment that is used to permanent placement.
Participants in the delivery of healthcare have long been primary targets in litigation surrounding complaints of medical malpractice. Good Samaritan laws that can provide some protection from damages resulting from unintentional harm fly out the window as soon as a licensed provider of care becomes involved.
The healthcare staffing industry has seen a steady increase through 2011 and 2012 after several months of slow demand.
Per diem medical staffing comprises a portion of the total healthcare staffing in the US. Per diem medical staffing consists of those assignments that are not contracted for long segments of time. Unlike per diem medical staffing, travel contracted staffing typically commits a caregiver to a pre-determined schedule that can
Moving contingent workforce processes to a vendor management system (VMS) is a significant undertaking.
Under the Affordable Care Act – (Part One) It seems a majority of organizations are safely under or over the minimum FTE requirements for complying with the ACA. This blog is not comprehensive, but will give you a few guidelines to untangle some of the regulation.
Our team scoured the internet, pooled experience, called upon all available resources. The results of that effort is this collection of real worries that keep a Chief Nursing Officer or Nurse Manager awake at night.
With the nursing shortage in the United States, Hospitals and healthcare systems are saving cost and managing risk by moving their MSP in-house to manage hiring agencies and temporary staffing teams. Does this mean the new nurse graduates are going to be able to reach their future employers directly? Or
Staffing Agencies and Hiring Managers at Hospitals Directly Benefit from Proper Applicant Tracking Systems Applicant tracking systems, or ATS, help recruiters and human resource professionals acquire candidates, process them through job applications and interviews, healthcare credentialing and credential management, background checks and drug screenings, competency testing and formal agreement to
Recruitment in the current health care industry requires smart, innovative strategies.
Metrics are an important part of managing health care staff.
Our team is fairly active on the American Staffing Association’s forums, and during the last few days we were able to assist with some industry questions that could prove helpful for others. With that in mind, our team wanted to add it to our blog. Hope it helps!
Our team is sometimes asked if we are a solid replacement for human resource information systems. The answer can be a little muddled, but sometimes the answer is yes. However, HRIS is still an important piece of any business operation workflow. Instead of letting our audience struggle to find a
During a Healthcare Staffing Summit 2020 discussion our founder Tim Teague participated in, a question arose regarding direct sourcing and how temporary staffing agencies, MSPs and others that provide staffing services are handling their clients’ requests to assist in direct sourcing.
SIGNIFICANT HEALTHCARE LABOR MANAGEMENT COSTS CHALLENGE HEALTH SYSTEMS Labor costs are one of the largest expenses for most hospitals, so tight management of staffing and contract labor spend is essential to maintaining financial health. Dennis Patterson, chairman of The Collaborative for Healthcare Leadership, discusses eight ways hospital CEOs can cut
A robust VMS provider will offer advanced software that enables benefits like cost savings, reduced complexity and improved efficiency across the board.
We are glad to announce our sponsorship and participation in this year’s Healthcare Staffing Summit by Staffing Industry Analysts. President and Co-Founder of BlueSky, Tim Teague, is speaking as an expert panelist during the summit. Invited to discuss the topic Next Generation Healthcare VMS and MSP, Tim Teague and the
What’s your revenue for hiring out temporary and permanent candidates? As a staffing company, you must know precisely how much profit you’re making on your temporary or permanent healthcare openings before you place someone on an assignment. You likely see the markup for your placement, but do you know how
The MSP (Master Services Provider) penetration in U.S. companies that have over 1,000 employees has grown to 60% since 2014 according to Staffing Industry Analysts. The benefits to the client include: Greater exposure to candidates from larger talent pools Operational efficiencies from reducing multiple vendor reconciliations to one More
Social media might get the headlines, but research shows that email is still the best way to engage candidates.
Many hospitals, clinics and medical facilities have been notoriously slow to adopt technologies such as social media tools and texting. But that could be changing. Modern healthcare is beginning to catch up to ways tech can be used as a tool to improve patient outcomes.
Recently our team was able to join a conversation about a process that certain states have not experienced before. We thought it would be helpful to provide the answer to the question that resonated the most. If you have any specific industry questions or want to continue the discussion, let
Artificial intelligence, smart candidate matching, automated onboarding… the keywords are limitless but the concept is the same. Software can help reduce inherent bias in the hiring process.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 18, 2020 — BlueSky Medical Staffing Software has released a powerful version update to its clinical talent management system. With hospitals facing financial challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic like increased costs, revenue losses and staffing shortages, locum tenens physicians, travel or temporary nurses and their employer agencies
Especially now, traveling medical professionals provide a critical part of the healthcare we receive today. Why is it that there are so many traveling nurses though? It seems like there would be a middle-ground to find a local professional and mitigate the costs associated with bringing one in from out-of-state.
In a prior post, we discussed the phenomena of nurses swapping cities simultaneously to work for 13 weeks, then returning to their respective cities. It doesn’t occur to the requesting healthcare facilities, the source of all job orders, that at the same time they are pulling travel nurses from other
Aya Healthcare Statement Regarding AMN’s Practices and Recent Court Ruling SAN DIEGO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Aya Healthcare has been successful in preventing AMN Healthcare from using unlawful contractual restraints to limit employee mobility in the travel nurse industry. AMN originally sued Aya and our employees in an attempt to prevent
This Gilbert staffing agency gets nurses and doctors to the front lines of the COVID-19 battle. In a typical week at AB Staffing Solutions, the Gilbert firm that places travel nurses and physicians in clinics and hospitals across the country, the company would find temporary professional homes for an average
What’s the current status of nurse staffing? IT’S A CENSUS YEAR FOR THE US. As hospitals stretch to meet the growing demand for census requirements, it is instructive to take a long-term view of the impact on the healthcare-staffing segment of the industry. History is usually helpful in predictive analysis.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–BlueSky Medical Staffing Software’s newest product, RapidHireTool.com, a Pay Package Calculator for Recruiters, has debuted this week in limited markets amidst one of the most challenging periods for the healthcare industry.
One of the biggest health IT related news items to come out was the announcement by Vice President Mike Pence that HHS was issuing a regulation to permit doctors to practice across state lines. State Medical Licensure is something that has baffled many of us that have worked in healthcare.
HIMSS Announces Cancellation of the 2020 Global Health Conference & Exhibition March 05, 2020
The Challenges of Healthcare Recruiting: Ineffective Onboarding Process Today’s healthcare talent shortages allow doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, and other medical professionals to be selective about where they work – and for how long.
A monopoly in motion as Healthcare Staffing Agency purchases locum tenens software provider. SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — CHG Healthcare, the nation’s largest privately held healthcare staffing company, announced today the acquisition of LocumsMart, the leading locum tenens vendor management system (VMS).
Health System Difficulties with Technology Hospitals and health systems are being forced to adapt to ever-changing technology systems in the name of pursuing the best care for their patients. However, many healthcare professionals say that the healthcare system is one of the slowest in embracing new technology as it emerges,
How Will Voice-User-Interface Help Shape Personalized Healthcare? If you’ve been following the trends over the past year, you’ve likely heard that the healthcare industry is on the cutting edge of Voice User Interface (VUI) technology. VUI is an exciting breakthrough for healthcare professionals that uses speech recognition to understand spoken
There’s nothing worse for a recruiter than to submit the perfect nurse candidate to a job just a minute too late. It doesn’t matter if she was absolutely terrific for the job. When a staffing agency moves too slowly, the opportunity is lost.
How to Ensure Your Healthcare Salaries are Competitive: Learn the keys to addressing employee staffing to help enhance your ability to hire the best candidates and reduce existing staff turnover. With healthcare hiring staying at a high level, it’s essential for HR professionals, healthcare recruiters and hiring managers to understand
It’s no secret that healthcare recruiting is changing rapidly, thanks to technology. And that’s good news for healthcare recruiters and hiring professionals looking to identify and onboard the most highly skilled medical professionals available.
Many healthcare recruiting agencies and medical organizations understand that modern software solutions are critical to success. However, some have yet to implement an advanced VMS platform. Given that the staffing industry is more competitive than ever, now’s a good time for industry leaders to reassess the technology’s virtues.
The economy seems to be moving along nicely, but automation, AI and other technological developments have some workers concerned about their future job security. Innovation has certainly affected the world of healthcare staffing, but most of the changes have been positive for medical recruiters. The truth is that longer life
No doubt the hot job market and growing healthcare industry bode well for medical recruiting agencies. However, basic economics dictates that supply always catches up with demand. While great staffing companies always stay busy, it’s still important for organizations to differentiate their services from those of competitors.
Healthcare recruiting is a business and an important one for that matter. Not only does the enterprise fund a highly-productive industry of recruiters and staffing agencies, but it also ensures that hospitals, nursing facilities and other practices secure desperately-needed care providers. However, it’s important that recruiters never lose sight of
A hotly-debated question in the healthcare industry is whether an employee’s education is more important than experience or vice versa. But this generalized query may be an oversimplification. Real-life tends to be much more nuanced than theoretical speculation. Perhaps the most honest answer is, “It depends”.
It’s no secret to healthcare workers that aging baby boomers are changing the care delivery landscape given limited medical resources and staffing shortages. The industry seems hyper-focused on the demographic shift and what it means to hospitals, facilities, and physician practices. But what about the other end of the equation?
As a premier technology brand, Apple is known for industry disruption and innovation. The launch of the iPhone led to the rapid proliferation of smart phone users and a host of new competitors like Samsung. Now, the proverbial 800-pound gorilla has set its sights on the healthcare industry.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been the talk of 2019 when it comes to healthcare recruiting. The technology still seems futuristic to many, but the fact is it’s already being leveraged by many companies large and small. There are many ways it can help teams improve the efficiency and effectiveness of
“Upskilling” is a hot topic in today’s rapidly changing corporate world of technological advancements. Articles are published daily predicting the demise of entire workforces due to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). While many healthcare workers serve in hands-on positions like nursing, they’re not entirely immune to the changes.
It’s no secret that many nurses and healthcare workers are passionate about their work and find it very rewarding. But, some medical professionals have carved out an even more unique career path that affords special opportunity. These folks work as travel nurses.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, salary often isn’t the most important consideration for medical professionals weighing job options. Obviously there’s a limit. Pay rates must be competitive within the industry. However, studies suggest that non-monetary benefits actually go further with prospective hires than marginal pay differences.
Nurse and medical professional shortages are a very real problem in today’s healthcare industry. There’s no doubt that many employers and recruiting agencies are confronted with major staffing challenges. However, this reality is not an excuse for making subpar hires.
The U.S. job market is still very hot, and healthcare jobs are in abundance. However, that doesn’t mean you should take anything for granted. As a prospective or recent nursing graduate, there are steps you can take to improve your odds of securing that dream career.
Most medical organizations know branding is very important when it comes to sales and marketing efforts. However, did you know it’s also critical for effective nurse and employee recruitment? Healthcare candidates are in high demand, and successful companies should view them similarly to customers.
Sometimes trends aren’t noticeable in real time. Only in hindsight do we see change was taking place. In terms of medical staff recruitment and hiring, it seems history may prove 2019 to be a pivotal year.
Job interviews are stressful for most nurse and healthcare candidates. Applicants often feel like they have one chance to “prove” their worth and must make the most of it in rushed circumstances. However, successful job seekers are wise to remember they’ve actually been preparing for the interview for quite some
It’s no secret that word-of-mouth employee referrals are crucial for healthcare staffing agencies. The old saying, “birds of a feather flock together,” often rings true. And, great healthcare professionals tend to form tight networks. Many agencies offer great sign-on benefits and bonuses. For example, the well known travel nurse agency
Accurately accessing a candidate’s or employee’s credentials is important in most industries. However, it’s perhaps most critical in healthcare. The consequences of hiring an incompetent nurse or therapist can be dangerous; putting both patients and the company at risk.
There’s a lot to love about being a nurse! The job affords many opportunities and great pay. However, one tough reality for many healthcare professionals is the “typical” 12-hour shift. Although nursing can be quite flexible, it often is not a nine-to-five job.
Workplace diversity isn’t exactly a new concept in 2019. Most of us are aware of the benefits to having a multicultural staff that reflects the overall community. However, there are a few specific reasons why it may be even more critical than generally acknowledged. This is especially true in the
Healthcare and nursing organizations realize many benefits from the implementation of staffing software solutions. Many companies seem to appreciate such technology. However, they sometimes underestimate the importance of staying current with the latest innovations. All technology becomes obsolete over time, and businesses that don’t keep up with the changes will
There’s no doubt that nursing is one of the hottest jobs of 2019. However, it’s more than just high-paying and in-demand.
Nurse recruitment is a competitive business for healthcare organizations. It’s easy for managers to focus only on filling immediate job openings. However, this is folly and ultimately hurts staffing efforts. Instead, wise managers should remember that nurses and healthcare workers inevitably move from job to job over the years. Companies
Did you know that millennials now form nearly one-third of the U.S. workforce and significantly fill the ranks of nurses? With such collective power, they correspondingly exert great influence over the healthcare industry. Hospitals and nursing facilities that work to address the needs and desires of a millennial workforce are
As technology plays a bigger role in all business, it’s easy to only focus on tools that increase revenue. Bringing more money into an organization is very important. However, it’s also critical that nursing and healthcare agencies save money on the back end. When you think about it, “a penny
Aspiring Medical Assistants are understandably excited by their new passion. They’ve found a great career opportunity that allows them to help others. It may also be a stepping-stone to further advancement within the healthcare industry, including becoming a nurse or doctor. However, it is important to remember that special abilities
Liability exposure and costs associated with workers’ compensation claims are major factors for most healthcare companies. Many view nurse-staffing partnerships as a way to help mitigate risks. To some extent that’s true. However, relying on an outside recruiting firm to hire healthcare workers does not completely absolve a company from
Henry Ford is famous for having invented the assembly line. By creating systems that were simple yet efficient, he proved that quality cars could be mass-produced. Effective healthcare staffing agencies follow a similar methodology. Although they’re not working with steel components and heavy equipment, they do implement an “assembly-line”-type strategy
Today’s healthcare recruiters and nurse staffing firms are blessed with plenty of client job openings thanks to a very strong economy and aging patient population. However, they also face increased competition as new agencies open shop daily. It seems that everyone wants in on the action.
Nursing is a great career for people seeking challenge, reward, and boundless opportunity. While all nurses are in high demand, travel nurses are particularly desirable in today’s changing healthcare landscape. Many professionals relish the idea of exploring the country or world while earning a great income and serving the needs
BlueSky Medical Staffing Software is pleased to announce that we are participating in the annual NAPR/NALTO Convention in La Jolla. We encourage all attendees to visit our booth to hear the latest developments in medical staffing and VMS software solutions specific to placing locum tenens! Or, just stop by to
In case you haven’t noticed, the U.S. job market is the best it’s been in years. That’s great news for the economy, job seekers and recruiters alike. However, with every plus comes a drawback. Hot job markets prove a double-edged sword for recruiters—especially when staffing nurses and healthcare workers. On
It’s important for staffing agencies to have strong relationships with their healthcare provider partners.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the top challenges staffing firms are facing today, and how a shift in strategy can help find the best possible applicants for open positions.
Employee referrals can be a great way to tap into your active clients for additional, expert talent.
Each year, the American Staffing Association hosts Staffing World, an annual conference that brings together some of the biggest names in the industry to providing innovative new strategies and information for attendees.
Locum tenens, roughly translated, means “to hold the place of,” and this strategy can be particularly beneficial for physicians, as well as staffing agencies.
A health epidemic increases staffing demands, and healthcare staffing agencies must be able to support institutions with the necessary workforce resources.
A vendor neutral VMS allows stakeholders to make the best staffing decisions to support their facility.
Staffing agencies must ensure that their tools, capabilities and services match health care providers’ needs.
Sixty percent of organizations are losing time and money by using manual processes for job entry, candidate matching and submission.
Recruitment teams need the right technological capabilities to eliminate time-consuming, manual processes and boost efficient filling of open positions.
Vendor management requires specific tools and capabilities.
There are a few ways organizations can streamline their credential verification and management.
Doctor’s offices to hospitals and beyond must ensure that their medical staff have the proper, verified credentials to practice.
Use these strategies to source quality candidates for your open positions.
More Access To Talent
Locating the right physician for a health care organization can be a long, time-consuming process. Worse, after going through a candidate search and hiring an individual, it may turn out the person isn’t the best fit for the position. This means going back to the drawing board and wasting more
The health care industry is one of the fastest-changing sectors today, and the way in which appropriate candidates are found to fill available hospital and health system positions is no different. Technology has considerably changed the way health care organizations find employee candidates, and there are a few main staffing
As vendor management systems take an increasing market share in acute care settings, hospitals are becoming further removed from the nationwide talent pool. Although the use of a MSP (Master Service Provider) removes many of the administrative hurdles in assignment of temporary labor, it also creates another wall between the