Welcome to Locums Digest 68!
Last week, we released our long-awaited, much-ballyhooed annual recap of the year that was in locum tenens! Yes, it’s February 2024, and yes, most publications release their recaps before the ball drops on NYE. But there was so much to cover, and our randy recap isn’t something we could hand over to ChatGPT and pray for the best — our robot overlords are not infallible. We took our time with it, dotted our I’s, crossed our T’s, and we’re pretty proud of the story we put out. Be sure to read it!
Healthcare Hiring Boom: New Data Shows Healthcare Accounted for 25% of New Jobs Created in 2023
Healthcare employment surged last year, marking the highest growth rate the industry has seen in over three decades, as per an analysis by research company Altarum of Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Becker’s Hospital Review broke down the data, saying that last year, the healthcare employment segment outpaced other industries that saw pretty substantial sectors well. Healthcare expanded by 3.9% in 2023 compared to other industries, which saw 1.5% growth. Healthcare accounted for one-fourth of all the new jobs created in the economy last year.
On the whole, healthcare hasn’t seen growth like this since 1991, when the industry segment saw a 4.8% growth rate. There was a combination of things that contributed to the growth, according to the report. First was an increase in demand for healthcare services because of things we’ve noted before, such as an aging population that requires more complex care. The report also attributes the growth to a return to normalcy from pre-pandemic care and hiring to replace workers who left because of burnout during the “Great Resignation” of 2021-2022.
Some of the report’s other findings:
- Hospital employment rose by 3.7%, adding 192,700 jobs since February 2020, while ambulatory care jobs grew by 9.2%.
- Although recovering, nursing and residential care employment remains 4.6% below pre-pandemic levels, possibly due to closures, lower resident counts, and staffing shortages.
There was slightly slower growth in healthcare in December 2023, but January 2024 saw a resurgence in growth, adding 70,300 healthcare jobs. The healthcare sector’s robust employment growth reflects significant shifts in workforce trends. With so many new jobs concentrated in healthcare, the industry’s trajectory could signal a promising, though complex, path forward in addressing current and future healthcare needs.
La Vida Locum
As Recruiting Competition Heats Up, Hospitals Lean on Workforce Management Solutions
A report from Healthcare Workforce Solutions on the State of Healthcare Staffing in 2024 shows that hospitals’ struggle with staffing shortages has made recruiting even more competitive. Agencies and hospital recruiters are all competing for the same candidates in the same labor pool, and the industry average time to fill positions is now 49 days. HWL showed that reliance on contingent and travel staff has surged recently, prompting concerns about exploitation and its impact on existing employees’ morale and turnover rates, even though those same healthcare organizations have increased salaries for full-time staff.
HWL also reports that staffing solutions are more popular with hospitals that need tailored strategies to meet their unique “regulatory compliance, patient-centric care models, and flexibility requirements.” Inflation and increased overhead costs also burden healthcare facilities, necessitating strategies to contain costs without compromising care quality.
Innovative Solutions for Cardiovascular Care in Underserved Areas
The American College of Cardiology suggests there’s a shortfall of around 500 cardiologists per year — they say that practicing cardiologists are retiring faster than graduating fellows are coming in to fill the vacancy. LocumTenens.com points to why adding locum tenens cardiologists can help current healthcare staffing and cardiovascular specialist shortages. Locums give healthcare facilities more flexibility while offering the same level of expertise as permanent cardiologists. Locum tenens cardiologists offer quick, reliable solutions and long-term integration into healthcare facilities.
Telecardiology is also a powerful tool, particularly in underserved areas that need access to telehealth to connect cardiovascular specialists with patients efficiently and securely. Advanced practice providers such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners are also stepping in to manage routine care, which helps ease the workload on cardiologists and combat burnout.
Locum Leaders
Medstaff Names its Next President, Winnow AI Adds Leadership Staff Post-Aya Acquisition and More From Our Locum Leaders
Mark Stinnett Takes the Helm at Medstaff: Medstaff National Medical Staffing recently appointed Mark Stinnett as its president. Stinnett previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Medstaff and brings 33 years of experience in healthcare staffing and management to his new role. Stinnett currently serves on the board of directors for the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations. Throughout his career, Stinnett has also held executive positions in sales and operations within locum tenens and government procurement sectors.
“Stepping into the role of President signifies a personal milestone and a collective triumph for our team,” Stinnett says. “Embracing upcoming challenges with enthusiasm, our strength lies in diverse thinking and adaptability. Trust, transparency, and our shared mission bind us together, ensuring a promising future."
Ringo Appoints Darin Meadows Over Sales Solutions: Ringo LLC, a VMS provider catering to the healthcare industry, appointed Darin Meadows as the new Business Development Director for its Sales Solutions division. Meadows has over two decades of experience in sales leadership within large-scale workforce solutions. Meadows previously led the VMS/MSP sector at Cross Country. He now spearheads Ringo’s sales and technology initiatives tailored for the healthcare sector.
Throughout my career, I have always focused on client needs and building relationships as I grew revenues,” Meadows states. “My passion is working with people to help lessen complex business issues with simple solutions that align with their overall business needs.”
Barton Chooses Katie Kuhl as VP of Talent Strategy: Katie Kuhl, a healthcare staffing industry professional with over 16 years’ experience, has been appointed Vice President of Talent Strategy at Barton Associates. Kuhl brings extensive experience in talent and human resources. In her new role, Kuhl will lead Barton Associates’ internal talent efforts and new corporate culture initiatives.
“I am thrilled to join Barton Associates and contribute to their mission of providing exceptional healthcare staffing solutions,” Kuhl says. “I look forward to working with the talented team here to create a culture that values and supports our employees, ultimately driving success for our clients and the patients they serve."
Jerry Limonta Leaves Locums for Winnow AI: Jerry Limonta, who has more than 14 years of launching and scaling companies in the locums and workforce solutions industry, announced on LinkedIn that he is returning to the “permanent recruitment side of the industry” as the Director of Business Development for Winnow AI. Aya Healthcare acquired Winnow at the end of last year. Winnow AI integrates artificial intelligence with business intelligence, targeting passive physicians who are more likely to relocate. Most recently, Limonta worked as the EVP for Syncx. He is also the founder of the “Inside Physician Recruiting” blog and podcast.
Making the Rounds
Physicians and Nurses Tell Hospitals What Would Reduce Burnout in New KLAS Report
Burnout rates among physicians and nurses are slightly decreasing but still remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to a recent KLAS Arch Collaborative report. The report states the high burnout rate is largely due to staffing shortages, which 56% of physicians noted. Physicians also listed efficiency concerns and hospital organizational issues as some of the top issues affecting burnout. The report claims the more severe these issues are, the more likely clinicians are to leave their organizations.
The KLAS report compiled data from 20,000 physicians and 32,000 nurses, and what they found was a strong desire for improved staffing, better leadership alignment, enhanced electronic health record efficiency, and improved pay. Staffing shortages, bureaucratic tasks, chaotic work environments, and overall control contributed to burnout among clinicians. Burnout is consistent across work environments, but it varies by organization type, the report says, with community health systems experiencing the highest rates because of increased turnover and workload.
APPs Stepping in to Help Healthcare Facilities Manage Physician Shortage
A surge of retiring physicians coincides with the aging Baby Boomer population’s increasing medical needs, leading to a brewing healthcare crisis. There’s now a critical shortage of doctors to meet the rising demand for healthcare services. Despite efforts made to address the issue, such as leveraging nurse practitioners and physician assistants, hospitals still need help to match healthcare services with patient needs.
Advanced practice providers are proving to be hospitals’ solutions to the physician shortage, providing faster access to care and handling routine health concerns, allowing physicians to focus on more complex cases. The number of APPs has doubled in the past decade, with projections for continued growth. While APPs aren’t the sole solution to the physician shortage, they are crucial in addressing the healthcare industry’s evolving needs.
