Shifting to an Insourced Staffing Model? Insights for Healthcare Leaders

With physician shortages and rising patient demand, healthcare leaders are exploring insourcing certain specialty service lines to enhance long-term sustainability. A key consideration is how to navigate this transition seamlessly while maintaining continuity of care.

The Potential Benefits of an Insourced Service Line

For some healthcare organizations, bringing certain service lines in-house can enhance efficiency, alignment, and long-term stability.

Key Benefits of an Insourced Staffing Model May Include:

• Enhanced Internal Leadership Oversight: Direct alignment with organizational goals and the ability to drive strategic initiatives within the specialty service line.
• Increased Operational Efficiency: Full control over staffing, scheduling, and workflows, ensuring seamless integration across departments and improved patient throughput.
• More Predictable Staffing Costs: Greater budget stability with fewer fluctuations.
• Stronger Provider Alignment & Commitment: Enhanced alignment between the providers in different departments and with hospital leadership.

A Healthcare CEO's Perspective on Transitioning to an Insourced Model

During Becker's CEO + CFO Roundtable, Medicus led a compelling panel discussion with four prominent healthcare leaders, who provided insights into the staffing strategies they leveraged to stabilize their clinical workforces. Among them was Mason Van Houweling, CEO of University Medical Center (UMC) in Las Vegas, who discussed how UMC successfully insourced two key service lines.

Like many health systems nationwide, UMC was combating increasing provider burnout and ongoing physician shortages, particularly within its anesthesia and radiology service lines. As one of Nevada's only Level 1 trauma centers, these challenges led to UMC's decision to transition these specialties from an outsourced to an insourced staffing model.

The Measurable Impact:

• Enhanced Operational Efficiency: After transitioning to an insourced staffing model, UMC expanded OR hours, added weekend schedules, and introduced new procedures. As Mason Van Houweling noted, "Our ORs are busier than ever; we're on time, we're extending hours, and we're completing procedures we had never done at UMC before.".
• Accessed National Physician Talent: With a more stable clinical workforce, UMC was able to expand its services and attract specialists from across the country, strengthening its workforce with highly skilled talent.
• Maintained High Standards of Care: By insourcing, Mason and his team were able to ensure that quality remained a top priority. He explained, "By taking ownership of the staffing and process, we could set our own standards.".

UMC's decision to bring two of its key service lines in-house delivered measurable benefits. However, in order to execute its change management with minimal disruptions, UMC partnered with the Medicus Transition Program.

Since then, Mason Van Houweling has referred to Medicus as their "Cavalry," noting, "Not only once, but twice, they've come over the hill and helped University Medical Center. And we're so far better off because of it.".

Shifting to an Insourced Model with the Medicus Transition Program

Transitioning to an insourced staffing model can offer significant long-term benefits; however, it is a complex process that can take around 18 months. During this time, healthcare leaders must balance staffing needs, administrative complexities, and recruitment efforts while ensuring uninterrupted patient care. Without the proper change management support, staffing gaps and operational disruptions can arise.

Leveraging the Medicus Transition Program provides the structured and comprehensive support needed to assist healthcare organizations through the transition. The Medicus Transition Program's project-based consulting approach is designed to provide organizations with the stability and reliability necessary to maintain efficiency and minimize potential care disruptions.

Key Benefits of the Medicus Transition Program Include:

• High-Quality Providers: Medicus evaluates each locum tenens provider to ensure alignment with the facility's clinical and cultural requirements, supporting seamless integration into existing healthcare teams.
• Comprehensive Scheduling Support and Management: Medicus handles every aspect of the interim healthcare staffing process, from licensing and credentialing to onboarding and orientation. In addition, Medicus takes full accountability for locum tenens scheduling, prioritizing permanent staff's preferences and ensuring there are no gaps in coverage.
• Proprietary Workforce Technology: The MedicusIQ app provides healthcare leaders with access to real-time reporting and analytics, staff spending, provider submittals, and more.
• Strategic Exit Plan: Medicus remains a committed partner until the insourced program is fully staffed. For facilities in need of additional recruitment support, Medicus partners with Optimum Permanent Placement Services to secure high-quality, long-term hires.

For healthcare leaders considering the shift from outsourced to insourced staffing models, having a dedicated transition partner can streamline the process. The Medicus Transition Program offers a detailed, action-oriented plan that aligns with each healthcare organization's strategic goals. By supporting operational stability and ensuring continuity of care, the Medicus Transition Program equips organizations with the resources necessary to achieve clinical workforce stabilization.

Interested in learning more about how the Medicus Transition Program can help stabilize your clinical workforce? Complete the short form below to connect with Medicus.