In healthcare, workforce challenges are nothing new. For years, many health systems have struggled to monitor their true staffing needs due to a lack of centralization and reporting limitations or VMS. Without this vital data, teams often feel like they’re flying blind, putting out fires and spending hours managing individual contract requirements and relationships.
Meanwhile, overworked teams and shifting generational expectations have led to disengagement, burnout, and even risks to patient safety. But how can teams work to fill gaps and have safer staffing ratios when they don’t have a clear picture of their full staffing needs? To improve workforce operations, efficiency, and patient care, leaders must have full visibility. How can that be achieved? Centralization is key.
The story of Community Health System (CHS) proves it’s possible to break the cycle, get full visibility into your needs, and predict and build a thriving clinical workforce. CHS was recently honored as one of Hallmark’s inaugural Changemakers.
CHS shared how they leveraged Einstein II, Hallmark’s workforce intelligence and staffing technology to overcome their workforce challenges, centralize their staffing operations and achieve full visibility into their staffing needs.
Don’t Just Outsource – Insource
At Hallmark, we believe in empowering healthcare organizations to move beyond the limitations of traditional staffing models. Our message is simple: Don’t just outsource staffing—insource. When last-minute cancellations or scheduling gaps arise, you shouldn’t have to rely solely on external agencies, which can feel difficult to manage individually. Instead, you can centralize your efforts to get a clear picture. And once you have that, you can build the most flexible, engaged, and cost-effective clinical workforce that is uniquely suited to your needs.
Community Health System exemplifies this approach. Faced with rising labor costs, a lack of transparency, and an overburdened workforce, they turned to Hallmark for a solution. By leveraging our Einstein II platform, CHS was able to optimize and centralize their staffing function.
Once they were able to centralize under one department, CHS seamlessly accessed Hallmark’s extensive network of 750+ agency partners to find the best clinicians at competitive rates via the VMS.
Real VMS Results: The CHS Centralization Success Story
What’s been most impactful thus far? According to Hannah Patch, Manager of Integrated Flex Staffing Resources at CHS, “The centralized staffing – pre-pandemic we were not so centralized. When the pandemic hit it became apparent, we needed to have more visibility and control over our labor. So, the strategy we took was centralizing all the staffing and pulling them all together.”
Later in the Changemaker interview, Patch explained how CHS transformed their staffing approach with Hallmark’s help, and the benefits they’re seeing today.
“What’s been the most impactful piece of this is the control we’ve been able to acquire as far as it comes to our contingent labor workforce.” She stated, “We worked on making proactive staffing solutions. It involved transitioning to a VMS, so we had more control and understanding of what types of positions were open for contingent labor”
Why is centralization so important? According to Patch, “If you don’t know how much contracted labor you have in your organization, you have a hard time understanding what your staffing needs really are.”
These insights reflect the tangible benefits of insourcing and optimizing workforce management.
From reducing costs to increasing staff visibility into their actual staffing needs, CHS demonstrated that it’s possible to create a more sustainable, flexible workforce model. Their story is a powerful reminder that with the right tools and strategies, healthcare organizations can overcome even the toughest workforce challenges.
The Hallmark Way: Your Partner in Workforce Centralization and Transformation
It’s time to rethink how you approach staffing. With the Hallmark Einstein II platform, you’ll gain access to the tools and insights you need to build a modern workforce that works for you. By focusing on external resources only when necessary, you can reduce costs, increase engagement, and protect patient outcomes.
Whether you feel like you’re in a pickle, your hair is on fire, or you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, Hallmark has your back. Just like we did for Community Health System. We’re here to help you break the cycle and create a brighter future for healthcare staffing. For more information about Hallmark, or to see other Changemaker success stories, visit www.hallmarkhcs.com