When Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center experienced gaps in coverage, Crystal Beckford, vice president of patient care and chief nursing officer, knew she needed to establish a consistent pool of contingent workers to supplement her full-time staffing needs.
We sat down with Crystal to learn how Medely has helped Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center maintain a steady pool of contingent workers through Medely’s Talent Marketplace.
Staffing needs at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center
Before finding Medely, Crystal set out to address the needs of the medical community and adjust their staffing workflow to accommodate the growing desire for a more flexible schedule. “We were just trying to look at alternatives to the workforce and consider the ways that nurses wanted to work,” Crystal shared. “We’re addressing the nursing community right where they are.”
Crystal and her team sought to engage contingent workers at their facility. “We did some local discovery and investigation, and we came up with Medely. We reached out to Medely and took a call with them to discuss our needs and what we were looking for. Over time, we solidified our partnership and working relationship.”
Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center needed flexible coverage from per diem workers for single shifts while maintaining group closeness and consistency with repeat professionals. Crystal knew that the solution she used would have to include opportunities to establish long-term partnerships with contingent workers to maintain quality care and maximize efficiency in filling gaps.
With Medely, she’s been able to strengthen those relationships and build a dedicated favorites pool that allows for dependable coverage. “We’re seeing more shifts, but we’re seeing some of the same Medely people doing those shifts. Our ideal state is if we had anywhere from 20 to 30 pros from Medely doing consistent shifts and liked our hospital and the environment,” Crystal shared. “Not only have they been able to keep up with the staff, but they’re integrating very well. Our staff are starting to say, ‘hey, can that person come back?’ They’re making specific requests to the people that they’ve now become accustomed to and used to.”
Trusted nurses and health professionals at a moment’s notice
Staffing is always the number one priority in Crystal’s mind. With optimal staffing levels directly tied to patient outcomes, ensuring safe staff-to-patient ratios to keep up with fluctuations is critical. “I go to bed thinking about staffing and I wake up thinking about staffing, not just the numbers but also the appropriate skill mix and complexities to the staffing. Knowing Medely is a partner and can fill our shifts quickly, and we have really good professionals that are coming in, makes my job a lot easier,” Crystal shared.
The reduced mental burden of trying to solve staffing dilemmas 24/7 has been beneficial for Crystal. With a long list of responsibilities as VP of patient care and CNO, reducing even one task on her agenda allows her to refocus her energy on implementing strategies that support a thriving healthcare system, leading to increased revenue, patient satisfaction, and employee happiness.
The more that Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center has posted shifts, the more consistent professionals they’ve gotten to pick up shifts. Now, those favorites are a part of the daily rhythm of the center, integrating seamlessly with full-time staff and alleviating pressure off of Crystal to consistently orient new professionals to the facility. “People, in an expeditious way, orient to the department so that we can get them in and get them working,” Crystal shared. “I am finding them very professional. I’m finding them clinically astute. I am finding them customer service-oriented. We’re very satisfied with our partnership.”
As Crystal has established favorites, she’s thrilled that with Medely’s Talent Marketplace, nurses and health professionals are local, serving the same communities that they’re a part of. “Even if they don’t work for Luminis Health, they are community members,” Crystal shared. When pros are part of the same communities that they’re serving, it establishes a level of camaraderie and joint purpose toward administering successful patient care, contributing to healthier, more agile communities.
Positive outcomes at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center
With a consistent routine established for finding coverage, Crystal has noticed that staff turnover has reduced. “If you go to anyone at any given time and ask ‘what’s your greatest concern,’ it’s having enough staff. I think the positivity is coming that we can get our shifts posted and make sure that we have the shifts that we need staffed accordingly. I think that it immediately eliminates concerns from our permanent staff.”
Not only are they seeing a reduction in turnover, they’re also seeing a reduction in spend on staff in general. “We are seeing a continuous trajectory of lowering premium dollars, particularly at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center, because we’re able to use Medely more, which is a part of our top-tier strategy.”
With a 91% fill rate and the average shift filled within 64 minutes, Crystal knows that she can rely on Medely to find quick staffing when needed. “So far so good. We’ve had no challenges at all posting. It’s user friendly. We’re very satisfied with the platform and how we’ve been able to integrate it,” Crystal shared.
Ready to build a reliable contingent worker pool with Medely? Start your free profile here.
