Sumo Medial Staffing

The healthcare industry faces large near- and long-term challenges: financial constraints, a shortage in healthcare professionals, higher and higher labor costs and more, mean that hospitals and healthcare facilities often work in “reactive mode,” struggling to meet immediate staffing issues. 

The nursing shortage is just one of the challenges facing hospitals and other healthcare facilities, particular those in rural areas. Becker’s Hospital Review in December 2023 reported that 163 rural hospitals closed between 2010 and 2020. 

What’s more, 46 million people live in the country’s rural areas. The median age of rural populations is 43, which indicates an aging demographic, one that will need more and more care as they grow older. 

Yet an aging rural population isn’t the only thing adversely affected by a healthcare pro shortage:  

Forbes.com reported in March that the “National Center for Health Workforce estimates that 83 million American already live in an area without a primary care provider. In addition, according to the article, the county “is expected to be nearly 200,000 nurses short by 2031. 

That’s just seven years away

One way to navigate these issues is to partner with a locum tenens staffing agency. 

But not just any agency: you should look for one that understands the issues facing medical facilities, provides data-driven solutions and offers truly comprehensive staffing capabilities. 

Leveraging the knowledge and experience of a locum tenens agency can help healthcare providers make better staffing decisions, predict what the future might bring and help them create staffing plans that will help with medium and long-term needs. 

How a locum tenens service works for you

• An experienced locum agency uses its wide network of qualified healthcare pros, helping you quickly fill critical positions, as well as plan ahead for vacations, sabbaticals and even staff shortages due to retirements and quits. 
• In addition, an experienced locum staffing service offers valuable information into healthcare staffing trends, helping you predict potential staffing needs. Taking a look at things such as population demographics, the prevalence of certain diseases and even advances in healthcare technology, such a service can offer you strategies in allocating resources and workforce planning. 
• A locum agency can help you come up with long-term solutions to your healthcare staffing issues. A locum service can look at your situation, identifying areas to improve in recruitment as well as retention, helping you build a more sustainable workforce.  
• You also could find that you’re able to redirect monies to purchases and upgrades to needed medical technology.
• You be better able to maintain a positive workplace for your permanent team members because you’ll provide them with experienced, temporary colleagues, thus to lower their stress and workload.

The healthcare sector is, in many ways, moving through a chaotic moment. Staffing shortages. An agency populace. New tech disrupting old tech every day. 

Using the expertise of a proven locum tenens staffing service can help you meet not only your immediate staffing needs, but also help you position yourself for the long term. 

Learn more about how SUMO Staffing can help you staff your healthcare facility.