How a Healthcare Staffing Platform Can Help Solve the Nursing Shortage

Back in May 2019, we highlighted the growing importance of healthcare staffing platform technology after Trusted Health announced a $20 million funding round. At the time, thousands of nurses were joining the platform every week because it promised something the industry had long been missing: genuine flexibility and relief from outdated, inefficient recruiting practices. This early momentum was more than just a trend; it was a strong signal that a new generation of healthcare staffing platforms could help address one of the nation’s most pressing challenges, the ongoing nursing shortage.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, it accelerated every element of this shift. The crisis not only intensified the nursing shortage but also created an unprecedented demand for smarter, faster staffing solutions. Hospitals and clinics suddenly needed a reliable way to match qualified nurses with open roles instantly, while nurses wanted more autonomy over their schedules and work settings. This is where the healthcare staffing platform model proved invaluable; it gave clinicians the power to choose assignments, provided recruiters with a streamlined process, and enabled facilities to fill critical roles quickly.

Within just a year of the pandemic’s onset, the industry was experiencing a dramatic trajectory of platform adoption. More healthcare organizations and recruiting agencies began investing in healthcare staffing platforms to automate job matching, credentialing, and communication, replacing time-consuming manual processes with technology designed for speed, accuracy, and scale. This rapid evolution demonstrated that the future of healthcare recruitment lies in digital innovation, where healthcare staffing platforms serve as the bridge between talent, technology, and patient care.

“It’s Less About a Shortage of Nurses and More About Nurses Wanting to Work”

At SIA’s 2022 Healthcare Staffing Summit, Barry Asin emphasized an important shift in perspective: the challenge isn’t always a shortage of nurses, but rather how and where they want to work. Burnout, fatigue, and inflexible systems have created a workforce that is increasingly seeking control over their schedules and work environments. Traditional hiring methods often failed to prioritize nurse experience or transparency, until the rise of healthcare staffing platform technology changed the game.

A healthcare staffing platform offers nurses a level of autonomy previously unheard of. Instead of relying on outdated systems or endless back-and-forth with recruiters, nurses can now set their own schedules, select opportunities that align with their personal and professional priorities, and gain instant access to transparent pay packages. This model shifts recruiters from being gatekeepers to becoming true guides, facilitating a more collaborative and positive staffing experience.

Transformative Impact of Healthcare Staffing Platforms

Several years into the pandemic, the results of this technology are undeniable. Not only do healthcare staffing platforms provide healthcare workers with what they actually want - flexibility, transparency, and control - but they also significantly enhance the efficiency of internal recruitment teams. For example, leading platforms like Aya Connect have seen meteoric growth, enabling recruiters to place up to seven times more nurses than the industry average.

Healthcare staffing agencies that have embraced these platforms are experiencing explosive growth. Agencies using healthcare staffing platform technology have reported year-over-year increases of 317%, compared to just 61% among agencies still relying on traditional models. This data underscores a major shift in how healthcare professionals are matched with jobs, as well as the growing expectation for tech-enabled staffing solutions.

The Rise of Per Diem Staffing Through Healthcare Staffing Platforms

Another significant trend emerging from healthcare staffing platforms is the rapid rise of per diem staffing. This model, powered by technology, makes it easy to fill last-minute or single-shift roles, perfectly matching the increasing demand for flexibility among nurses. The seamless experience of per diem staffing appeals to both healthcare facilities looking for quick coverage and clinicians who prefer flexible scheduling.

Investment in healthcare staffing platform providers reflects this shift. In the past few years alone, major funding rounds have validated the promise of this model:

• ShiftMed announced a $200 million funding round in February 2023.

• ShiftKey raised $300 million and made high-profile executive appointments.

• Clipboard Health secured $80 million in April 2022.

These figures show that the future of healthcare staffing is firmly rooted in platform technology, and investors agree.

Opportunities for Smaller Agencies to Leverage Healthcare Staffing Platforms

While the rise of healthcare staffing platforms has been dominated by larger organizations or disruptors able to build their own systems, cost-effective options are available for smaller healthcare staffing agencies as well. The Staffing Platform as a Service (SPaaS) model allows agencies to create their own branded healthcare staffing platform without the need for extensive internal development.

By partnering with SPaaS providers, smaller agencies can deploy on-demand, branded platforms that connect clinicians to jobs quickly and seamlessly. This approach ensures agencies stay competitive, offering the same tech-enabled experience that’s driving success at larger firms. For instance, ActivateStaff clients have successfully matched the 300%+ year-over-year growth seen by major players in the travel nursing, allied health, and per diem space by rolling out their own healthcare staffing platforms.

Why the Healthcare Staffing Platform Model Works

A healthcare staffing platform addresses three critical industry needs:

1. Clinician Empowerment: By allowing healthcare professionals to control their schedules, choose preferred roles, and view transparent pay packages, the platform improves job satisfaction and retention.

2. Recruiter Efficiency: Recruiters can focus on strategic relationship building instead of administrative tasks, placing significantly more candidates per recruiter.

3. Agency Growth: Agencies adopting a healthcare staffing platform can grow faster, scale operations without adding excessive overhead, and compete effectively with larger firms.

The Future of Healthcare Staffing Platforms

Looking ahead, the impact of healthcare staffing platforms on the industry will only continue to grow. As per diem staffing, flexible schedules, and technology-enabled recruitment become the norm, agencies without a platform strategy risk falling behind. Whether it’s large-scale disruptors like ShiftKey or smaller firms using SPaaS models, the message is clear: platform technology is no longer optional, it’s essential.

To stay informed about the evolving landscape of healthcare staffing platforms, agencies can participate in webinars, download whitepapers, or book strategy meetings to explore their options. As technology advances, these platforms will continue to shape how healthcare professionals find work and how agencies achieve sustainable growth.

Per Diem & On-Demand Staffing

Why it matters Per diem work has exploded in healthcare because clinicians increasingly want flexible, last-minute options without long contracts. Facilities also benefit when sudden census spikes or call-offs happen.

How healthcare staffing platforms enable it

• Instant shift posting: Hospitals can upload a single shift or multi-shift requirement to the platform in seconds.

• Smart notifications: Qualified nurses nearby receive alerts via the mobile app.

• Automated credential verification: The platform automatically checks license, background, and certifications before a clinician can accept.

• Integrated payment: Nurses can be paid faster, often after shift completion.

Agency benefits

• New revenue streams from high-margin per diem shifts

• Lower recruiter workload because the platform automates outreach

• Better fill rates for clients who struggle with last-minute call-offs

Clinician benefits

• Freedom to choose when and where to work

• Transparent pay and quick onboarding

• Ability to pick up extra shifts without leaving a full-time job

Data-Driven Insights

Why it matters Healthcare staffing agencies operate in complex, fast-moving markets. Without : -time analytics, they risk losing revenue opportunities.

What healthcare staffing platforms provide

• Dashboards showing fill rates, time-to-fill, and bill/pay rates

• Predictive analytics to anticipate seasonal demand and upcoming credential expirations

• Revenue segmentation per client, per specialty, or per region

Business impact

• Make evidence-based decisions on which clients to prioritize

• Adjust pay packages or recruiting strategies quickly

• Identify underperforming markets or specialties and pivot resources

Keywords naturally used: healthcare staffing platform, real-time VMS updates, automate VMS data syncing

Compliance & Security at Scale

Why it matters Healthcare staffing agencies handle some of the most sensitive data in the job market: HIPAA-protected health information, Social Security numbers, and bank details.

How healthcare staffing platforms solve it

• Encrypted credential storage ensures data is safe at rest and in transit.

• Automated alerts notify agencies of expiring licenses or background checks, keeping them audit-ready.

• Role-based access controls ensure only authorized staff see sensitive data.

• Secure API integrations with payroll and vendor management systems keep workflows seamless without exposing private data.

Impact

• Reduced risk of costly HIPAA breaches

• Improved trust with clinicians and clients

• Faster, cleaner audits and reduced liability

Cost-Effective Solutions for Smaller Agencies

The challenge Building your own healthcare staffing platform from scratch costs millions and requires a full engineering team. Smaller agencies risk falling behind.

The solution: Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)

• Agencies can subscribe to a white-label platform (like Vars Health offers).

• Branding, workflows, and credential rules are customized to the agency.

• Clinicians see the agency’s name and logo, maintaining brand equity.

• New features roll out automatically, saving on development costs.

Business case

• Launch in weeks, not years

• Compete directly with the largest staffing firms

• Offer mobile self-service and advanced matching without building infrastructure

Future of Healthcare Staffing Platforms

AI & Predictive Scheduling Platforms will predict staffing needs using historical census, weather patterns, and local events, minimizing last-minute scrambling.

Integrated Upskilling Micro-credentialing inside the platform will let nurses upskill while maintaining full-time or per diem work.

Blockchain Credentialing : Immutable digital credentials will allow instant verification across facilities, reducing fraud and onboarding delays.

Cross-Industry Integration Healthcare staffing platforms will plug directly into vendor management systems, supply chain tools, and telehealth solutions to create a truly unified workforce management ecosystem

Recruiter Role Evolution

From transaction to relationship With repetitive tasks automated, recruiters become consultants who:

• Advise nurses on career progression

• Help facilities plan workforce strategy

• Negotiate pay packages based on real-time market data

Recruiter productivity gains

• More placements per recruiter (often 4-7× industry average)

• Lower turnover because the job is more strategic and less administrative

• Stronger client retention through consultative selling

  
  

Integrations & APIs

Why it matters Disconnected systems cause lost time, duplicate data entry, and candidate drop-off.

How healthcare staffing platforms handle it

• ATS + VMS Integration: See job orders in real time and push candidate submissions back to VMS automatically.

• Payroll & Compliance Tools: Timesheets and credentials flow directly to back-office systems, reducing billing delays.

• Job Boards: Post once, distribute everywhere, and track source performance.

Results

• Streamlined workflows for recruiting agencies

• Faster onboarding and payment for clinicians

• Better client satisfaction through fewer errors