October 10, 2024

Case History: Delivering Seamless IT Staffing for a Healthcare Organization

Written by: James Krouse, Eastridge Chief Marketing Officer

In the rapidly evolving healthcare sector, staying technologically up-to-date is crucial. Digital transformation is reshaping the industry, with healthcare organizations relying heavily on advanced technologies such as electronic health record (EHR) systems, telemedicine platforms, and AI-powered diagnostics. However, hiring highly skilled IT professionals who can manage these complex systems and navigate the stringent onboarding processes in healthcare is a challenge for many organizations.

One healthcare organization faced a significant hurdle during a critical and time-sensitive electronic records management project. The organization needed to hire over a dozen skilled IT professionals to work on the project but encountered delays due to the complex healthcare-specific onboarding requirements. That’s when the team at Eastridge Workforce Solutions stepped in, led by Rio Wagner, a Senior Account Manager with over 23 years of IT staffing experience.

“The onboarding process required for hospitals and healthcare can typically take weeks to complete,” said Rio Wagner. “Our client needed a large team of IT techs ready to go in a matter of months.”

The Challenge

This project required a specialized workforce that not only possessed the technical know-how to manage the EHR system but also understood the healthcare sector's strict compliance requirements, such as HIPAA regulations and patient data security. From comprehensive background checks to system-specific training, onboarding in the healthcare industry presents a level of complexity that can slow down even the most well-prepared teams.

Moreover, the project’s timeline was non-negotiable. Any delay in hiring or onboarding would directly affect the project's success. The healthcare organization had previously tried to fill these roles through its internal resources and other vendors but found the process too slow and ineffective.

“They tried using their own internal resources and other vendors, but their pipeline of candidates just wasn’t where it needed to be,” said Wagner. “Time was really of the essence on this project, but so was quality.”

Healthcare Tech Trends Compounding the Challenge

The healthcare industry’s increasing reliance on digital tools has led to a surge in demand for IT professionals. However, certain trends have made hiring in this field particularly challenging:

The Digital Transformation of Healthcare: Healthcare organizations are under pressure to adopt new digital technologies, such as EHR systems, AI-powered diagnostics, and remote patient monitoring. According to a 2022 survey by Deloitte, 92% of healthcare executives believe digital transformation is a top priority for their organizations . This has resulted in an overwhelming demand for IT professionals with specialized skill sets to manage these complex technologies. As more healthcare providers rely on these systems, they need skilled IT professionals who not only understand tech but also how to maintain compliance with healthcare regulations like HIPAA.
Cybersecurity Concerns: With the rise of digital health tools, healthcare organizations are prime targets for cyberattacks. In fact, healthcare was the sector most targeted by ransomware attacks in 2022 . Protecting sensitive patient data has become paramount, and organizations need to hire IT professionals who specialize in cybersecurity. However, finding pre-screened, highly skilled cybersecurity experts is challenging in today’s competitive market, where demand far exceeds supply.

Given these industry-wide challenges, the healthcare organization needed an experienced staffing partner that could provide the right talent quickly while ensuring all compliance and onboarding requirements were met.

The Solution

Eastridge Workforce Solutions was well-equipped to meet the client’s needs, thanks to its proactive recruiting efforts and specialized onboarding team with deep healthcare experience. Wagner’s team leveraged their strong pipeline of pre-screened IT candidates to match the project's requirements quickly and efficiently.

“We were very fortunate to already have a strong pipeline of these techs who were vetted and ready to work,” said Wagner. “Our team of onboarding specialists has extensive experience in healthcare, so we were able to walk the candidates through the process step by step.”

Eastridge’s proactive recruiting methods ensured that they could meet the client’s immediate needs. By maintaining a pool of pre-screened IT talent, including software developers, systems administrators, and cybersecurity professionals, Eastridge helped the healthcare organization navigate the complexities of healthcare onboarding without sacrificing speed or quality.

Results

One of the key differentiators in this project was the staffing partner’s commitment to communication and transparency. Wagner emphasizes the importance of keeping the client informed at every stage of the process: “I gave them an update every day on where we were with the candidates that we were putting through the process,” said Wagner.

This approach ensured that the client was always aware of the progress and allowed the team to troubleshoot any issues immediately, minimizing potential delays.

As a result of this transparent and collaborative process, Eastridge was able to staff the project with over a dozen highly skilled IT professionals within the client’s tight timeframe. The project was completed on schedule, and the client was highly satisfied with both the quality of the candidates and the open communication throughout the hiring and onboarding phases.

“The client really appreciated the speed at which we were able to come up with candidates and the transparency throughout the onboarding process,” said Wagner. “They always knew where they stood with our team, which made for a great partnership.”

Key Differentiators

One of the most significant factors in the staffing partner’s success was its specialized approach to IT staffing. Wagner, who has spent over two decades in the IT staffing space, stresses the importance of having a team that understands both the specific needs of the client and the candidates’ unique skill sets.

“Our recruiters have deep experience in IT, often coming from technical backgrounds themselves, like software development or systems administration,” said Wagner. “This allows us to provide a consultative approach to clients, offering more than just resumes—we offer tailored solutions that align with their specific needs.”

Additionally, Wagner’s team takes a proactive approach to recruiting, constantly building a pipeline of talent to meet future client demands. “Even when we don’t have a current opening, we’re always doing proactive recruiting,” said Wagner. This preparation allowed the team to be ready for the healthcare organization’s urgent project without missing a beat.

Conclusion

The staffing company was able to meet the IT talent needs of this leading healthcare organization with precision and speed. Through proactive recruiting, a specialized understanding of healthcare onboarding, and an unwavering commitment to transparency, the team exceeded client expectations and completed the project on time.

This case study highlights the importance of strategic partnerships when filling highly specialized roles in sectors like healthcare. With the healthcare industry’s growing reliance on technology and its increasing vulnerability to cyber threats, organizations need staffing partners who understand the unique challenges of hiring for complex IT roles. By working with an experienced staffing partner, healthcare organizations can ensure that they have the talent they need to stay ahead in an evolving digital landscape.