As the healthcare industry continues to grow, there is an increasing need for more qualified nurses, therapists, and other clinical professionals. Staffing agencies are a valuable tool to help combat this problem by providing facilities and workers with solutions that meet their needs.

For facilities, partnering with an agency can give them access to more qualified candidates who are ready to work from day one. It also reduces the administrative hassle involved in recruiting and hiring these candidates.

1. Access to More Qualified Candidates

The ability to find and vet candidates with the right skills and qualifications is one of the main staffing challenges facing healthcare facilities. It’s an issue that can put a lot of stress on hospital HR departments, practice managers and doctors who have to deal with these tasks in addition to their regular duties.

To help with this, hospitals are turning to medical staffing agencies, which have pre-vetted nurses, therapists and clinicians who are ready to fill positions. This saves hospitals a significant amount of time in finding and onboarding the new employees they need, helping them to prevent burnout among existing employees and ensure patients receive the quality care they deserve.

2. Reduced Administrative Hassle

Physician practices and other health care provider organizations spend a substantial amount of time, effort, and resources on administrative tasks. These tasks can include billing and insurance-related (BIR) activities, quality measurement and reporting, documentation, medical review, patient scheduling, staffing, and other tasks.

These administrative tasks result in a significant increase in the time physicians and their staffs spend on nonclinical activities, diverting them away from clinically important activities that are necessary for providing excellent patient care and improving outcomes. They also lead to increased physician burnout and stress.

As the health care system continues to change, ACP has long identified reducing excessive administrative tasks as an important objective. As a result, ACP has maintained significant policy and has participated in many efforts with this goal in mind.

3. Less Training

One of the perks of partnering with a staffing agency is that you get access to top-notch talent across the country. This can be a boon to small and rural hospitals in particular.

In terms of measurable benefits, one of the most important is reduced training costs, which in turn reduces staff turnover and increases morale. Additionally, a top-notch agency can provide you with a wide array of healthcare professionals from seasoned nurses to physical therapists to clinical scientists.

In a time when there is a shortage of qualified health care providers, the technology that enables one to attract and retain the best nurses, doctors, and other frontline personnel has never been more critical. It is also no secret that the healthcare industry is a labor-intensive business, which means retaining and attracting the best and brightest requires an investment in tools, technologies, and training programs aimed at ensuring your workforce is ready for a changing healthcare landscape.

4. More Flexibility

Adding flexible work options to nursing staff is an important way to increase their satisfaction and productivity. It can also help recruit and retain nurses who may otherwise be hard to attract.

As baby boomers age out of the workforce and there are fewer graduates to replace them, it’s becoming more difficult to find qualified healthcare workers. That’s why healthcare organizations have to be creative in their recruiting strategy.

Healthcare staffing companies can provide a wide range of flexible employment opportunities that enable staff to work in ways that best meet their needs. This includes shift-length options, job sharing, remote work (previously almost unheard of in the nursing field), and more.

5. Less Stress

Occupational stress is a major cause of poor mental health among healthcare workers. Several factors contribute to stress including heavy workloads, long shifts, high pace of work, chronicity of care, and moral conflicts.

This has been an issue of concern for healthcare providers since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This has prompted a renewed focus on reducing workplace stress among healthcare professionals.

One benefit of working with a staffing agency is less stress for employees. Agencies typically offer flexibility in scheduling for their candidates, allowing nurses to pick and choose their work hours. This can be particularly beneficial for those with family or other personal obligations who require more flexibility in their day-to-day schedule.