Spring is not only a great time for cleaning out your home but also the perfect time to find ways to reduce administrative burden by streamlining your process of finding qualified temporary healthcare staff. One of the best ways to do this is to partner with a trusted Managed Service Provider (MSP).

Our experts break down the four factors to keep in mind when looking for a trusted MSP to partner with, but before we get to them, we should first answer:

What is a Managed Service Provider (MSP)?
An MSP is an outsourced agency that a hospital or healthcare system hires to manage the contingent healthcare workforce in its entirety. The MSP acts as an interface between the facility and other third-party staffing suppliers, creating a single point of contact, single contract, and consistently streamlined processes.

In this model, the MSP finds, procures, and credentials temporary healthcare staff before they reach the facility, eliminating the time-consuming burden of talent acquisition and compliance for the facility's administrative staff. Utilizing an MSP means purchasing an all-inclusive service designed to protect your most valuable commodity, your time.

But you should be careful with who you choose to be your partner. Some MSPs are untrustworthy, putting profit before quality, which can cause price-gouging, unreliable caregivers, and overpromises.

Here are four factors to keep in mind when choosing an MSP to partner with:

Joint Commissioned Certified
One colossal time sink is replacing a nurse or allied health professional that didn't work out. You need trustworthy and reliable caregivers at your bedside.

When you partner with an MSP that is Joint Commission Certified, they help to ensure that your facility is staffed with top quality and ethical healthcare professionals. Having Joint Commission certification is an achievement not held by most. To reach and maintain Joint Commission certification, a company must meet a high level of scrutiny and show that they are ethical and have a keen eye for detail and record keeping.

So, tidy up the loose ends this season by finding an organization that puts ethical staffing at the forefront, ultimately creating solutions and opportunities that support a more sustainable workforce.

Vendor Neutral
Does your current agency not have access to a national vendor network? This is a red flag that the agency may not be vendor-neutral and perhaps a sign that it's time to change. When an agency is not vendor-neutral, the number of caregivers available to your hospital is significantly reduced.

When you choose to work with a vendor-neutral MSP, the company doesn't automatically push out your existing agencies–instead, offering to bring the agency into the MSP's already extensive network–ensuring that your needs come first. This allows a larger talent pool and more flexibility with candidates.

Nurse-Owned and Nurse-Operated
Placing quality, dependable caregivers at your bedside is the most important thing an MSP can do. But when an MSP is owned and operated by people who have never worked in the healthcare field, how can you expect them to know what makes for an exceptional nurse or allied health professional?

When you partner with an MSP that is nurse-owned and nurse-operated, you unlock irreplaceable, first-hand experience. In addition, having nurse voices in executive positions ensures that a deeper understanding and care is brought to the company and your healthcare organization.

The Right Fit!
Differentiators that align with your hospital's culture are essential to the success of staffing your facility with great caregivers. Take time to look into what matters most for your hospital and find an MSP that mirrors your values and brings unique qualities to enhance your hospital.

Some qualities that could define an excellent staffing partner are strong educational partnerships, dynamic services that meet your needs, transparent pricing, and clinical professionals on staff to answer important questions. So do not settle this Spring; check out all the options and find what fits best for your hospital’s needs.

We encourage you to keep these factors in mind when looking for an MSP. Taking the time to really know the MSP you're partnering with will go a long way to ensure you make the correct choice.

Your time is valuable, and with Davin Healthcare, we alleviate the administrative burden by having one point of contact for all your staffing needs. We have a dedicated team of professionals who are experts in finding top-quality candidates at the bedside. Clean it up by working smarter, not harder!

If you're interested in a consultation to see if we're the right fit for your hospital, fill out the form below, and we will be in contact.