Medical facilities are facing more staffing challenges than ever right now. It’s no secret that there’s a growing shortage of qualified healthcare professionals, which is causing plenty of issues in its own right. Besides that, there’s a growing need for both general and specialized care. Many areas are seeing unprecedented population growth and increasing fluctuations in the demand for medical care as well.
On top of all that, the healthcare job market is growing ever more competitive. Many medical facilities are vying for the same candidates, which is increasing their recruitment costs and placing their HR teams under more pressure. At the same time, quite a few facilities that desperately need doctors, nurses, and other staff members can’t compete with other facilities, so they’re often left in the lurch. A VMS for medical organizations can help them solve their staffing challenges.
What Is a Healthcare VMS?
A VMS, or vendor management system, is a software platform that helps companies manage their temporary, contract, and freelance workforces. A healthcare VMS is a platform that’s designed specifically to help medical facilities manage their relationships with staffing agencies. Instead of using separate manual processes, medical facilities can use VMSs to consolidate everything into a single system and automate their processes.
These platforms allow users to request candidates, compare their profiles and credentials, manage temporary employees’ schedules, track their hours, and handle billing all in one place. In doing so, they can provide an array of benefits. Read on to learn more about them.
Improved Efficiency
One of the most significant benefits of a healthcare VMS is improved efficiency. When a hospital needs to fill a position quickly, they can send a request to multiple staffing agencies at the same time through their VMS. That increases their chances of finding a qualified candidate. It also enables them to compare candidates more effectively. Without a VMS, they may spend hours, days, or even weeks sorting through emails, phone calls, and applications, but a VMS makes the process much faster and easier.
Saving Money
Medical facilities can also save money by using a VMS. Staffing agencies may charge different rates for their services and their candidates. VMSs give medical facilities more in-depth looks at their rates so they can find the best prices without sacrificing true value. They can also help them find discrepancies, like overbilling, unauthorized charges, and deviations from the terms of their contracts to name a few.
Staying Competitive
Additionally, VMSs can help medical facilities stay competitive. They can help with determining fair rates for the staff members they need and aid in comparing the extra benefits other facilities are offering. In doing so, they allow hospitals and clinics to offer candidates the rates they’re looking for. On the other hand, if a medical facility isn’t financially capable of offering competitive salaries, a VMS may help them find other incentives to attract new talent.
Reporting and Compliance
VMSs can also help medical facilities with reporting and compliance. They’re subject to strict rules and regulations when it comes to hiring new staff members. That’s especially true of temporary team members. VMSs can keep track of certifications, license expirations, background checks, and many other factors to ensure users remain in compliance with industry regulations. These platforms also generate in-depth audit trails for reporting.
Solving Staffing Issues and Staying Competitive
Healthcare staffing is extremely competitive right now, and medical facilities are facing several challenges in this respect. VMSs can help them solve their staffing issues and stay competitive. By increasing their recruitment and hiring efficiency, helping them reduce costs, assisting with reporting and compliance, and enabling them to keep up with candidates’ expectations, VMSs can give them the upper hand.
