Case Study: Stabilizing A Hospital Medicine Program

The Opportunity

A Healthcare Organization (HCO) in Florida experienced significant vacancies and high-cost locum tenens. In response, they partnered with Send-it Healthcare, an innovative platform offering a unique marketplace for healthcare providers, to address their staffing needs efficiently and cost-effectively.

Model

Send-it Healthcare's model revolves around a technology platform where healthcare providers create detailed profiles showcasing their credentials, references, and reviews. These profiles are complemented by self-managed calendars, ensuring transparency and accessibility. Once registered, providers become visible on the Send-it Marketplace, accessible exclusively to contracted healthcare organizations.

Through this platform, HCOs can seamlessly access a pool of vetted providers, each with transparent hourly rates that include a nominal fee covering scheduling support, credentialing, and insurance requirements.

Approach

Send-it Healthcare targets local, regional, and national providers who are attracted to the freelance environment and value accountability. Providers on the platform embrace feedback and ratings through the management system. The allure lies in the freedom it offers without buy-outs or ownership, coupled with low, transparent fees.

Results

The impact of this partnership was significant. Five physicians were successfully onboarded and approved to work at the facility. Among them, three were local, one regional, and one national. The categorization is based on proximity to the site and associated travel costs.
Comparing Send-it providers to other locums at the site revealed substantial savings. The average hourly rate for Send-it providers was $24 cheaper ($228 versus $275), and the average savings on travel costs per shift was $193. These two factors contributed to an average monthly savings of $37,816 for the HCO (over $453K annualized).

Additional benefits:

1. Improved hospital KPIs- The provider rating system attracted quality providers who understood the value of performing well for the HCO.
2. Reduced burden on support services- With a streamlined platform and a insight into the pool of providers, the administrative burden significantly decreased.
3. Recruitment bench- The HCO was exposed to a pool of providers that have the potential to become full-time providers.
4. Improved schedule support- With a bench of local and regional providers, the HCO experienced continuity and flexibility in staffing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the partnership between the Florida Healthcare Organization and Send-it Healthcare has proven to be a highly effective solution to the staffing challenges faced by the organization. By leveraging Send-it's innovative marketplace, the HCO not only achieved substantial savings on locum tenens costs but also experienced improvements in key operational areas, such as provider quality, recruitment, and administrative efficiency. The seamless integration of technology, transparent pricing, and flexible provider options has positioned Send-it Healthcare as a valuable partner in addressing both immediate staffing needs and long-term workforce strategy. As a result, the HCO is better equipped to meet the demands of its patients while maintaining fiscal responsibility and operational excellence.