In the heart of downstate Illinois, one health system has built a reputation as more than just a healthcare provider, it’s a cornerstone of the community. With two hospitals, 57 clinics, a regional cancer center, and a newly opened hospice house, the health system has long stood for innovation, quality, and compassionate care. The organization’s Magnet designation and consistently high patient satisfaction scores reflect not only clinical excellence, but a deep-rooted culture of trust, service, and agility.
The success of this thriving system also brought increasing workforce challenges. Rapid growth, rising patient volumes, and a fragmented approach to contract staffing created inconsistent bill rates and contributed to skyrocketing agency costs. With multiple vendors operating independently, limited transparency, and no formal managed service provider (MSP) structure in place, leadership recognized that something had to change; not just to contain costs, but to protect the culture and care standards that made the health system exceptional.
That’s when it turned to Trio Workforce Solutions and AHSA. What began as a conversation about cost containment quickly evolved into a strategic partnership designed to transform the way the organization approached workforce planning, putting structure, insight, and control back into the hands of its leadership.
Creating a centralized managed service provider (MSP) model was critical. In the current model, the organization worked directly with nine staffing agencies, each with its own billing, compliance, and contract terms.
Leadership realized that bill rates had drifted significantly out of range, some exceeding $40–$50 per hour above the market average. There was also limited visibility into the true cost or performance of contingent labor.
The lack of standardization created friction in nearly every area: cost containment, candidate quality, compliance monitoring, and vendor accountability. Time that leaders wanted to spend on patient care and strategic planning was instead being diverted to navigating agency confusion, chasing rate details, and managing vendor sales interruptions. It was clear a better structure was needed.
After a thorough RFP process, the health system selected Trio Workforce Solutions/AHSA to help lead the evolution of its workforce strategy. Leadership valued the unique blend of technology and service that Trio delivered. Several other factors which influenced their decision included:
“The team has been a strong partner in our transition to MSP services. What began as contractor and direct hire engagement has grown to additions of internal resource pool, per diem, international staffing support. The implementation was supported and easy. The partnership is marked by excellent service and support continues to strengthen.” — Director, Human Resources
To achieve the system’s goals, Trio implemented a phased approach designed to quickly reduce complexity and deliver measurable value:
In the first year, the health system successfully renegotiated rates with suppliers, eliminating inflated costs and aligning bill rates to market levels. At the same time, direct hire recruitment was launched, an important component of the system’s plan to reduce reliance on contingent labor.
Over the first year of the partnership, the health system achieved a reduction in placement rate, bill rates, and cost per hour. The transformation was both measurable and meaningful:
Through the partnership with Trio, the health system also achieved fewer vendor disruptions, clearer rate expectations, and improved hiring manager satisfaction.
The partnership between the health system and Trio Workforce Solutions continues to evolve. The two organizations are now working together to roll out additional resources and improvements to the system’s workforce model. Near-term initiatives include:
Trio remains committed to supporting the health system in building a future-ready workforce that delivers excellence in care, sustainability in operations, and a seamless experience for leaders and staff.
If your organization is navigating rising labor costs, inconsistent vendor relationships, or a lack of visibility into your contingent workforce, you’re not alone. You can retake control with a trusted partner by your side.