Last Updated on October 16, 2023
Offering a wealth of operational benefits and cost-savings opportunities, managed services providers (MSPs) have become a go-to solution in healthcare delivery. But for those who remain uninitiated, what is MSP in healthcare, exactly? And at a time when many leaders are focused on the challenges of staffing, how does it help improve workforce efficiency?
What Is MSP in Healthcare, and How Does It Work?
As the name suggests, healthcare MSPs specialize in managing the workforce-related services used by facilities and other provider organizations (like home health). The idea is to streamline all of these complex processes into a single, manageable line item. It’s all centered around the main task of ensuring the availability of clinical staff and making staffing as efficient as possible.
And today, the need for MSP in healthcare has never been greater. The scope and responsibilities of healthcare organizations grow more complex every year. For instance, the growth of AI and more sophisticated technology, changing regulatory requirements, expanding of patient needs and expectations are just a few reasons why.
On top of that, the difficult labor market has made clinical recruitment a greater challenge than ever before. Many providers are turning to contingency staffing to help fill their workforce needs. Providing travel nurses and other essential workers, contingency staffing has become a key workforce ingredient for many organizations.
But at the same time, contingency staffing is yet another task to manage. With the competition for talent more intense than ever before, sourcing, recruiting and onboarding temporary staff on top of full-time workers can cost considerable time and expense. And that can mean a loss of critical operational readiness.
Healthcare MSPs work to meet these challenges by taking on the burden of workforce management for employers. That includes time-intensive tasks like IC compliance and payroll services, vendor management, supply chain management, resource planning, and much more. Additionally, they offer a ready, continuous, easy-to-utilize supply of contingency workers to help shore up staffing gaps.
How Does MSP in Healthcare Help Drive Workforce Efficiency?
By optimizing all of the complex tasks of workforce management and contingency staffing, healthcare managed services help providers save money and run more efficiently. On top of that, healthcare MSPs offer even more advantages to further drive workforce efficiency.
Simplified Recruiting and Sourcing
First and foremost, a reliable healthcare MSP can ensure that you always have access to the staff you need with a nationwide pool of clinical workers. This offers everything from interviewing and hiring to onboarding and contract extensions. A MSP is a single, easy-to-manage source for all work arrangements, including temp and travel workers, per diem nurses, and more.
> Pro Tip: In addition to nurses and allied clinicians, choose an MSP partner that also offers therapists, pharmacists, interim management, and a variety of other clinicians.
Efficiency Through Automation
Timesheet approvals, contract management, assignment extensions, and other time-intensive tasks can be automated and delivered simply and reliably by implementing a healthcare MSP. This saves valuable time for you and your administrative team, while delivering the type of resource optimization that leads to measurable cost savings.
Regulatory Compliance
MSP in healthcare can also help make sure your processes, technology, and security measures are up to date and in line with regulatory requirements, including HIPAA. You’ll also be better prepared for any potential audits. This means avoiding fines, penalties and operational downtime — not to mention freeing up valuable time for administrative staff.
> Pro Tip: Make sure to choose a healthcare MSP with Joint Commission Gold Seal Certification.
Business Intelligence
Healthcare managed services can also provide you with regular insights into the workforce metrics that matter most. Getting updates on key performance trends helps you better plan for the future and achieve continuous improvement. It also helps ensure that you get the most effective results from the contingency workers you utilize.
Employee Engagement and Retention
By ensuring a reliable, easily managed source of temp workers, a healthcare MSP can help you give your full-time staff the support they need to do their jobs at the top of their capabilities. This helps improve workforce efficiency across the board. It can also help promote retention and engagement of your full-time staff by reducing the risk of burnout and turnover.
> Pro Tip: Choose an MSP that’s known for the quality of its recruiters. Your contingency staff will always have a reliable source to answer questions and help them smooth over any challenges.
Flexible, Customized Workforce Solutions
Finally, it’s important to remember that a quality MSP partner will also customize its approach. This means working with you to determine what aspects of workforce management best align with your larger strategic needs and initiatives.
Get the Best of MSP in Healthcare with CareerStaff
Specializing in nimble workforce solutions to healthcare clients of all types, CareerStaff is a leading healthcare MSP offering decades of industry experience. In addition, with subject matter experts supporting nursing, allied, therapy, pharmacy, and interim management, CareerStaff delivers solutions that drive real workforce efficiency and value.
Ready to put the benefits of healthcare MSP to work for your organization? The CareerStaff experts are standing by to help you meet your workforce needs. Contact us to request a consultation today!