Hospitals and health systems require the following foundational tool to quickly and effectively recruit, engage, and deploy contract clinical resources: a vendor management system (VMS) capable of managing this procedure.
However, hospitals are not tech companies. This kind of technology can be difficult to implement, but it doesn't have to be. Organizations can easily outsource this task and develop a viable and dependable healthcare staffing vendor management procedure that meets their needs while providing access to a large pool of qualified candidates with the right platform.
However, not all VMS platforms are the same. They are not all able to achieve the same level of success. The presence of essential characteristics, functions, and features is essential for an efficient VMS. When evaluating and selecting a vendor management system, the 5 most important success factors to look for are as follows:
The vendor management system ought to be created, developed, and supported by a business that shares the health system's interests.
Neutrality is crucial. Vendor neutrality is not a feature of a VMS owned by an agency or Managed Service Provider (MSP). The financial goals of its owner(s), which may or may not coincide with those of the hospital or health system, drive its design and functionality. Even if it costs the hospital or health system money or time, these non-neutral healthcare staffing vendor management platforms are likely to favor that agency or MSP.
Instead, a pure-play technology company whose sole business model is provisioning technology ought to develop and continuously support the VMS technology that hospitals use. To put it another way, the hospital or health system should be the sole focus of their business incentive, not their own competing interests.
The vendor management system should be able to analyze and report on any data that is in the system, and the hospital or health system should be able to access all of that data.
Decisions are only as good as the information they have, and health systems are only as successful as the decisions they make. In order to improve access to labor supply and increase the likelihood of quickly locating and deploying suitable candidates, clarity and transparency are essential. By facilitating unrestricted bidirectional communications with agencies and aggregating all relevant information in a single system, good healthcare staffing vendor management creates a single source of truth.
The vendor management system should substantially reduce the load of the staffing function with automation and AI. This feature provides total visibility into onboarding workflow, credentialing, orientation, time management, and invoicing, among other things.
Even with an in-house VMS, the hiring manager will still have to deal with a lot of back-and-forths, which just makes the hospital staffing team's already long hours even longer. Manual communication with agencies or their MSPs (Managed Service Providers) regarding open roles to communicate requirements, evaluate candidates, schedule interviews, and more could be part of these efforts.
In fact, a significant portion of the hospital's staffing workload will be completely automated with the right vendor management system.
There are no delays caused by intermediaries because interviews can be scheduled and coordinated directly through the VMS right away. Similarly to this, a high-quality virtual management system (VMS) will automate the process of gathering and evaluating required credentials and certifications.
Candidate credentials should be largely collected, stored, and tracked by the vendor management system itself.
Background checks, competencies, immunizations, certifications, drug screens, and other requirements for all clinical staff employed by hospitals must be kept current. The nurse's file needs to be complete, accurate, and up-to-date in case the authorities request it. Because it is so easy for hospitals to overlook credentials that are about to expire or to fail to verify that a nurse possesses the necessary certifications prior to their deployment, this process is typically time-consuming and fraught with errors.
All of the system's documentation will be tracked by a good VMS solution. It can often automatically collect information from agencies and send automated alerts to the right people when it's needed.
Last but not least, the healthcare staffing vendor management ought to be simple to set up and use rather than hindering staffing function enhancements. This is frequently the greatest worry of the healthcare system or hospital: managing and utilizing the system will increase their workload, adding labor, expense, and frustration to an already difficult position.
Interoperability with other systems, such as HR and scheduling systems, payroll systems, and compliance systems, for instance, is essential. The VMS will only be able to eliminate the need to manually transfer all information if it connects to all relevant systems. In a similar vein, the vendor management system ought to be adaptable to the particular requirements of the health system, such as the production of the precise reports that it requires or the management of a variety of distinct regions or locations.
From a single portal over which the hospital or health system itself maintains complete control, a system with the above five essential features, such as Vemsta, can result in significant enhancements to the overall function of workforce management. For additional information, contact Vemsta.
Let’s be honest—healthcare staffing has been stuck in the middle for way too long. Vendor Management Systems (VMS) swooped in a few years back, promising to make life easier, especially for smaller agencies hustling for steady work. Sure, they helped at first. But soon enough, agencies found themselves boxed in. Relying on VMS meant handing over control, losing those direct connections with hospitals, and taking orders from Healthcare Managed Service Providers (MSPs) instead of calling the shots themselves.
But things are finally changing. Smart, modern staffing software is flipping the script. Now, agencies can actually own their relationships and run their businesses their way—no more playing by someone else’s rules.
At first glance, VMS looks like a lifeline for up-and-coming agencies. No cold calling for job orders, right? You just log in and get access to what’s already out there. But there’s a catch - a big one. Every interaction with a facility goes through a healthcare managed service provider, which means agencies get filtered info, slow feedback, and zero real connection with the people who actually need their help. You never really “own” the client, and honestly, you can feel it.
Things only got tougher after COVID-19. Agencies grew fast during the chaos, but when things settled down, bigger players scooped up the best contracts, leaving smaller shops scrambling for leftovers. Now, those same agencies are stuck chasing low-value jobs that barely keep the lights on.
So, what now? How do smaller agencies compete without bowing to the old gatekeepers?
Speed and trust—that’s what makes healthcare staffing work. The best agencies don’t just rely on tech or people; they blend both. The new wave of staffing platforms isn’t about replacing humans. It’s about making them faster, smarter, and way more effective.
Modern platforms let agencies work directly with hospitals—no middlemen, no hoops to jump through. Suddenly, smaller agencies can use the same tech as the big guys. That’s a game changer.
This is where solutions like Vemsta come in. They put agencies back in control, with total transparency, real agility, and the direct access you need to actually compete.
The old healthcare staffing VMS model? It’s all about keeping distance. Agencies feel like outsiders, always waiting for slow updates and never truly understanding what a facility needs.
Modern staffing platforms tear down those walls. Now, agencies and hospitals can talk directly, share updates in real time, and move at the pace healthcare demands. Here’s what that actually means:
When the crunch hits—last-minute shifts, flu season surges—this direct line saves the day. Facilities post a job, agencies match a candidate, and approvals happen while you’re still sipping your coffee.
Today’s software doesn’t just throw resumes at walls and hope something sticks. Intelligent algorithms dig into candidate skills, experience, credentials, and preferences to make matches that actually make sense. That means faster placements, happier clients, and nurses who stay on the job.
When you fill roles quickly (and with the right people), clients trust you. They come back. That’s how you grow.
No more last-minute scrambles to fill shifts. With healthcare staffing agency software, agencies and healthcare facilities can actually create their own roster of trusted, pre-vetted nurses. You end up with a network of people you already know and trust—folks who’ve proven themselves on the job. So, rather than repeating every time, you refer to your talent pool. The outcome? Consistently high quality and a smoother hiring process, every single time.
Let’s be real, staffing shouldn’t feel like running on a hamster wheel. The right technology gives agencies their independence back. It lets them build actual relationships with healthcare facilities, instead of just plugging holes. This isn’t about filling jobs for the sake of it. It’s about finding smarter ways to grow. Vemsta isn’t another forgettable tool—it’s a whole new way to handle staffing.
Agencies get out from under old, restrictive systems, connect with more clients, and score better job orders. Healthcare facilities finally get more control and honest communication. And nurses? They get the freedom and support they deserve, plain and simple.
Tired of feeling stuck? There’s a smarter way to handle staffing. Reach out and see how Vemsta can finally start working for you.
 in Healthcare Workforce Management.webp)
The complexity of healthcare organizations is at an all-time high. With staffing shortages, labor costs skyrocketing, and continuous regulatory changes to adhere to, overall management of the workforce is one of the growing headaches for hospital administrators. That's where Vendor Management Systems (VMS) comes in, not as yet another tech solution to add to the pile, but as the central nervous system that can actually navigate the chaos.
Having a VMS is like having a universal remote for managing your external staffing vendors! Instead of managing relationships with each of your many staffing agencies through phone calls, emails, and spreadsheets working separately, a hospital staffing software is a single platform that allows you to post job needs, receive competing bids from pre-vetted agencies, and track and monitor everything from candidate submissions to final invoices.
Healthcare organizations today are spending massive amounts on contingent labor. Contract labor expenses have skyrocketed from just 2% of total labor costs in 2019 to 11% in 2022. That's not just a budget line item - it's a crisis that's forcing hospitals to make impossible choices between financial sustainability and adequate staffing. The traditional approach of managing multiple staffing vendors manually creates what industry experts call "rogue hiring" - when departments bypass HR to engage vendors directly, leading to inconsistent quality and inflated costs. Meanwhile, the average hospital nursing staff now consists of 12% contingent nurses, making effective vendor management not optional, but essential.
Remember the last time you had a critical shift to fill at 6 PM on a Friday? With traditional methods, that means calling multiple agencies, comparing rates, and hoping someone has qualified staff available. A hospital staffing software flips this script entirely. Post your need once, and pre-vetted agencies compete for the placement. You get faster fills, competitive pricing, and complete visibility into who's bidding and at what rates.
Industry data shows hospitals using a VMS can reduce vendor management costs by up to 25%. This isn't just about negotiating better rates - though the competitive bidding process certainly helps with that. It's about eliminating the hidden costs of manual processes: duplicate invoices, overpayments, and the administrative time spent managing vendor relationships.
In healthcare, compliance isn't negotiable. A healthcare staffing agency software ensures all contingent workers meet licensing, credentialing, and certification requirements before assignment. This automated credentialing process doesn't just reduce risk - it eliminates the nightmare scenario of discovering compliance issues after someone's already working in your facility.
Modern VMS platforms aren't just databases - they're sophisticated technology solutions built for healthcare's unique challenges. Advanced scheduling tools handle everything from shift planning to last-minute coverage needs. Real-time timekeeping integrates with your payroll systems. Analytics dashboards give you instant visibility into fill rates, vendor performance, and cost trends.
Healthcare ROI isn’t just about saving money. A Vendor Management System (VMS) drives value in four key areas: cost reduction, quality improvement, process efficiency, and risk reduction. Costs drop through streamlined workflows and competitive vendor rates. Quality rises with better visibility into vendor performance. Efficiency improves as staff spend less time on admin and more on patients. Risk is reduced with stronger compliance and credential tracking.
Real results prove it: Ardent Health Services gained $2.5M in revenue in one year using healthcare staffing VMS, while Logan Physicians Practice added $400K through faster credentialing.
Healthcare can’t keep managing contingent staff the old way. By 2026, 6.5 million workers will leave while only 1.9 million step in—the gap is alarming. A Vendor Management System (VMS) isn’t just about cutting costs; it’s about survival. Today, a healthcare staffing agency software streamlines. Tomorrow, it powers strategy with AI-driven candidate matching, predictive staffing, and real-time credential checks.
The real question: can healthcare afford to delay? In an industry where patient care depends on the right staff at the right time, a VMS isn’t optional—it’s the line between chaos and control.
Summary: Healthcare staffing is complex, but it doesn’t have to be chaotic. Discover how healthcare workforce management software helps hospitals and agencies streamline scheduling, cut overtime costs, ensure compliance, and keep staff happier.
The healthcare industry is among the fastest pacing industries in the world. Time is always limited from patient care to compliance obligations. For many hospitals, clinics and staffing agencies, filling shifts and managing schedules is an ongoing and repeated pain.
Schedules can change as a result of nurses calling off sick, account overlaps in shifts, compliance rules change, and before you know it, you find managers looking more like paper pushers than patient caregivers.
This is where healthcare workforce management software can help lift a burden off your already stretched out shoulders and enable you to grow as quickly as the changing environment. It has gone from a "nice to have" to necessary technology to run operations smoothly, control costs, and ensure compliance in trade where failing to do so can lead to consequences.
Healthcare is not like other industries where work is more predictable. A clinic can’t simply turn away patients because a nurse is missing. In hospitals, someone has to be on call 24/7. On top of that, there are rules around working hours, overtime, staff certifications, and patient-to-staff ratios. Often, scheduling is still handled using spreadsheets or old legacy systems. That means more paperwork, delays in approving shifts, and managers burning extra hours fixing mistakes. The biggest downside? Staff get frustrated and patients may face delays in care. Furthermore, manual scheduling just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Workforce management software is built specifically to tackle these issues. Instead of managers juggling Excel sheets or endless calls to fill a shift, the software automates much of this process. It provides real-time scheduling, tracks compliance automatically, and even integrates with payroll and HR systems.
If you think about it, it's like moving from driving a manual car in city traffic to cruising with an automatic. Less stress, fewer mistakes, and more time to work on actual management instead of administrative hassle.
The best part is flexibility. Role-based scheduling, tracking specific skill sets, or role assignment to certain procedures—it’s all handled in a few clicks.
While scheduling is at the core, good management software goes beyond just filling shifts. Here are the practical upsides it brings:
Too often, some employees are overworked while others sit underutilized. Smart software balances workloads fairly, tracking hours across all departments.
Labor is the largest cost in healthcare. With proper workforce management tools, overtime can be reduced, agency spending can be tracked, and unnecessary costs can be avoided.
Healthcare workers are under enough pressure already. Giving them predictable schedules, easy ways to swap shifts, and clarity about their hours helps retain staff in a competitive market.
Staying compliant with healthcare rules is non-negotiable. Workforce management systems automatically flag when a nurse without the right certification is slotted for a shift or when someone is about to exceed legal hour limits.
For staffing agencies, the software is not just a convenience—it’s an edge in the market. Agencies thrive on speed: the quicker they can fill roles, the stronger their reputation with hospitals and clinics. This is where healthcare staffing agency software makes all the difference. It lets agencies keep track of available talent, match them with openings instantly, and communicate faster with both clients and staff. The result is fewer missed opportunities and more contracts closed.
Some agencies also work with what’s called a healthcare staffing VMS (vendor management system). This platform streamlines how hospitals request staff, how agencies supply them, and how contracts are handled.
Not all systems are made equal. Healthcare organizations and agencies should look at:
The healthcare sector faces constant pressure—from staff shortages to rising patient needs. Old-school scheduling methods are not only inefficient but risky. Embracing modern solutions like healthcare staffing agency software is no longer optional—it’s a competitive necessity. By adopting the right system, healthcare leaders can focus less on chasing signatures and shuffling rosters, and more on what really matters: delivering quality patient care while building a satisfied, loyal workforce.
