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.
The Challenge: Centralizing and Standardizing Workforce Management
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.
Finding the Right Partner
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:
- Trio’s strong industry reputation for responsive service, reliability, and deep workforce expertise.
- Technology-enabled transparency through Trio, enabling reporting, rate control, and centralized communication.
- A compliance-first model to reduce risk and standardize engagement across departments.
- Intentional alignment with the system’s goals: maintaining quality while reducing cost, improving hiring agility, and streamlining operations.
“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
The Solution: A Modernized, Efficient Staffing Strategy
To achieve the system’s goals, Trio implemented a phased approach designed to quickly reduce complexity and deliver measurable value:
- Rate rationalization and cost control through Trio’s real-time analytics and centralized vendor management.
- Streamlined timekeeping, invoicing, and compliance processes, reducing administrative burden on staff.
- Focused reduction in contractor headcount while maintaining fill rates and quality.
- Direct hire enablement for roles that historically remained contingent.
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.
Results: Cost Savings, Improved Efficiency, and Talent Quality
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:
- 14% decrease in contingent labor usage (92 down to 79)
- 78 average placement rate, down 20% from 98 at go live
- 16% decrease in average bill rates
- 28% decrease in assignment cost per hour
- $370,000 estimated annual savings from 4 direct hires
Through the partnership with Trio, the health system also achieved fewer vendor disruptions, clearer rate expectations, and improved hiring manager satisfaction.
Looking Ahead: A Future-Focused Collaboration
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:
- Per Diem and Internal Resource Model (IRM) – designed to reduce dependence on travelers and tap into local talent pools.
- Trio Shifts Launch – providing self-scheduling and shift-level workforce flexibility.
- International Staffing Support – expanding the talent pipeline with skilled global professionals.
- Non-Clinical IT Talent Support – expanding the system’s reach into critical, non-clinical roles.
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.
Discover how Trio Workforce Solutions can help you build a smarter, more sustainable workforce that focuses on quality, accountability, and long-term sustainability.