As the U.S. population ages and grows, the demand for healthcare services continues rising significantly. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 15% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. This fast growth is driven primarily by an aging population who require more medical care and an increased prevalence of chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. With more patients requiring care, there is a growing need for healthcare professionals to provide those services across the country.
Changing Models of Care Delivery
The healthcare industry is also undergoing a major transition as it shifts from fee-for-service to value-based care models that focus on preventative care and population health management. This means hospitals, clinics, and other care sites need to hire not just doctors and nurses but also non-clinical staff like nutritionists, behavioral health specialists, pharmacists, social workers and more. At the same time, the growing use of telehealth enables physicians and other practitioners to treat more patients more efficiently outside of traditional clinical settings. Telehealth requires specialized clinical and administrative staff to manage virtual care delivery. These changes significantly impact the types and numbers of U.S. Healthcare Staffing professionals that are required to serve populations under new care models.
The Growing Gaps in U.S. Healthcare Staffing
Despite rising demand, the healthcare industry continues facing shortages in key staff like registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists and more. According to analysis by the Association of American Medical Colleges, the U.S. could face a shortage of between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians by 2033. The nursing shortage is also projected to grow to over 260,000 registered nurses by 2025 based on analyses by groups like the American Nurses Association.
Several factors contribute to these staffing gaps including an aging existing healthcare workforce, a lack of training program capacity, burnout from the ongoing pandemic, and improved career opportunities and pay outside of clinical settings that draw professionals away. Filling these shortages presents difficulties for hospitals, clinics and other care providers trying to expand services in response to growing patient demand.
The Role of Staffing Agencies
To help address these staffing challenges, hospitals, clinics and other healthcare organizations increasingly rely on U.S. Healthcare Staffing agencies and vendors that can rapidly deploy temporary and permanent clinical and non-clinical professionals. Staffing agencies play an essential role in expediting the hiring process and filling hard-to-recruit positions across the country.
According to research from Staffing Industry Analysts, the U.S. Healthcare Staffing industry generated over $30 billion in revenue in 2021 and is one of the fastest growing segments of the broader staffing market. U.S. Healthcare Staffing firms recruit and employ professionals like traveling nurses, nurse practitioners, rehabilitation therapists, medical coders, medical social workers and more to place on temporary, temp-to-perm or permanent assignments with client facilities.
The agencies handle vital tasks like recruitment, credentialing, payroll, benefits administration and compliance with local licensing requirements - services that most healthcare organizations lack resources to provide on their own. Staffing also allows facilities flexibility to scale up staffing levels according to patient census fluctuations or temporary needs.
Emerging Trends in U.S. Healthcare Staffing Solutions
Within the growing market for staffing solutions, several trends have emerged in recent years:
- Increased demand for allied health professionals – Staffing agencies see growing business placement of professionals like laboratory technicians, medical coders, medical social workers, nutritionists and more to address clinician shortages and the expanding scope of care delivery roles.
- Permanent and hybrid placement models – In addition to temporary assignments, more facilities request long-term direct hires and "permatemp" partnerships where contingent workers can transition to permanent roles. This offers stability for clients.
- Telehealth staffing – Telehealth providers and virtual care networks require staffing of physicians, nurse practitioners and other clinicians for on-call coverage, consults and remote patient monitoring support.
- International clinician recruitment – Tighter domestic markets push more agencies to source professionals internationally, often sponsoring work visas, to place physicians, nurses and specialists from other countries.
- Enhanced technology solutions - Leading firms invest in applicant tracking, contract management and analytics tools to streamline workflow and gain insights into evolving market demand and pricing trends.
As the healthcare industry undergoes transformations, adequate and flexible staffing will remain critical to quality care delivery. U.S. Healthcare Staffing agencies are poised to play an even greater problem-solving role through creative solutions, strategic partnerships and leveraging of new technologies.
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