April 11th, 2011
Along with an improving economy and a declining national unemployment rate, there’s another positive indicator that bodes well for the U.S. healthcare industry. Temporary healthcare staffing is solidly on the rise, according to a recent report from Staffing Industry Analysts. In fact, the research firm projected an overall 4 percent increase in 2011 followed by another 9 percent rise in 2012.
So far, those projections appear to be right on target, based on All Medical Personnel’s experience this spring. Our company is finding stronger demand for temporary staffing, including locum tenens services, from hospitals, physician groups, medical laboratories, and other healthcare organizations.
There are a number of reasons for the gradual pickup in healthcare staffing. First is the aging of America. As the Baby Boomers grow older each year, they make more visits to doctors, therapists, and hospitals for healthcare services - a trend that will continue for at least another decade. Another driver is the growing interest in wellness and prevention services, as people of all ages strive to stay healthy. That increases the need for patient educators, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, and case managers for chronic conditions.
Like other employers, U.S. hospitals and healthcare organizations are also taking a “go slow” approach to hiring full-time staffers. They have a natural reluctance to add to those fixed costs until the economic upswing has gained more momentum. They are also concerned about revenue, including the relatively high levels of uninsured admissions. In the meantime, healthcare organizations of all sizes are taking advantage of the benefits of temporary staffing solutions provided by firms like All Medical Personnel.
http://www.allmedstaffing.com/medical-staffing-blog/locum-tenens/healthcare-staffing-rise-2011/