As we enter 2025, healthcare systems face a daunting reality: a worsening shortage of clinicians and providers, mounting financial pressures, and unsustainable labor costs. Despite identifying labor costs as a top concern, many health systems continue to rely on large, agency-led Managed Service Providers (MSPs) that perpetuate inefficiencies and inflate costs. The healthcare staffing market, particularly in travel nursing and allied health, is heavily saturated by these large MSPs. Of particular importance is the relationship between the largest MSP’s and the largest staffing agencies. In most cases, the largest staffing agencies in the healthcare staffing space are also the owners of the largest MSP’s. Estimates suggest that 70-80% of all travel nursing orders are managed through MSP’s. This backdrop creates a system where the largest players control both the staffing supply and have significant influence over rates.
This is the status quo in healthcare workforce management. As innovation and change management inside large health systems can sometimes feel overwhelming or out of reach, the status quo may feel “easier.”
Maintaining the status quo is the greatest barrier to innovation in healthcare workforce management. The time is now for healthcare leaders to evaluate their current partnerships and consider innovative solutions that deliver efficiency, flexibility, transparency, and long-term value.
The healthcare staffing market—particularly in travel nursing and allied health—is dominated by large, agency-led MSPs. These organizations often prioritize their financial interests over client outcomes, leading to:
If labor costs are a top concern, it begs the question—are the largest, agency-owned MSPs truly delivering the greatest value to their clients? Or, do their own interests prevail over yours? This is an important consideration in thoughtfully evaluating MSP partners and options.
1. Advanced Technology Solutions
Does your partner provide technology that aligns with your organizational goals? Innovative workforce technology should:
2. Transparent Reporting and Actionable Insights
Access to real-time, transparent reporting is essential for informed decision-making. Your MSP should offer:
3. Consultative Partnership
A valuable partner acts as a strategic advisor—not merely a service provider. They should:
4. Proactive Innovation and Solutions
Is your MSP partner driving innovation? An innovative partner should:
5. Clinical Excellence
Does your MSP demonstrate a rigor around providing a service that improves clinical quality? They should:
Trio Workforce Solutions has implemented these principles to help healthcare organizations navigate workforce challenges effectively. By leveraging advanced technology, promoting transparency through actionable data, and fostering collaborative partnerships, we aim to address issues such as rising labor costs, extended time-to-fill, and limited workforce visibility. Our approach also supports more flexible opportunities for clinicians, aligning with the evolving needs of the healthcare industry. The following case studies highlight how these strategies have been applied to achieve meaningful results.
Case Study: Improved Integration, Enhanced Efficiency
A leading practice management group with over 5,000 clinicians across 700 facilities, lacked visibility and insights into their physician workforce spend—particularly with 1099 contractors. Trio Workforce Solutions consolidated the practice’s entire physician enterprise—Locums, 1099, and internal contracts—into a single, integrated platform. Through this partnership, the practice gained:
This consultative partnership empowered the practice to optimize their workforce strategy and enhance financial performance.
Case Study: Clinical Flexibility, Decreased Costs
Norman Regional Health System faced escalating contract labor costs. By partnering with Trio Workforce Solutions, they achieved over $10 million in annual savings, a 73 percent reduction in travel agency costs by implementing an external per diem staffing solution. Leveraging Trio Shifts, an integrated shift-based mobile application, Norman Regional built and tapped into a pool of local contractors, reducing reliance on costly 13-week travel contracts. This consultative approach aligned staffing strategies with organizational goals, demonstrating how innovative solutions directly impact cost savings and operational efficiency.
As healthcare systems grapple with rising labor costs and workforce shortages, and as new innovative approaches have emerged, the time is now to question the value your MSP partner delivers and implement new solutions. Consider:
It’s time to break free from outdated, high-cost workforce solutions. Partner with a solution provider that prioritizes your success and puts control back into your hands through advanced technology, transparent insights, and proactive strategies.
Challenge the Status quo. Reimagine your workforce strategy. Choose innovation and a partner that empowers it. Contact us today to get started.
Bambi Gore is the Chief Clinical Officer at Trio Workforce Solutions, where she leads initiatives focused on improving workforce strategies and delivering quality patient care through innovative staffing solutions.