John ShortAs 2014 begins, it’s time to look ahead at some issues the travel industry will face in the coming months.
One of the most significant challenges facing travel professionals is the task of fitting into healthcare’s changing workforce.
Many experts agree that the nursing shortage in the country has already challenged staffing requirements, and will only intensify.
As the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) begins to take hold on the U.S. healthcare system, the future demand for healthcare travelers is expected to grow even more during the next few years as more baby boomers retire and the country’s older population expands.
To meet the growing demand, travel nurses will likely be employed in various locations, including acute care hospitals, outpatient departments and clinics, home care sites, and skilled nursing settings.
With a high concentration of newly insured Americans living in metropolitan and urban areas, it will be necessary for providers to enlist the assistance of mobilized healthcare professionals to meet the anticipated surge in census in these population centers where career opportunities can be found.
Rural areas also will require an experienced, highly specialized contingent workforce to ensure patients continue to receive quality care.
Another component of ACA that will impact on travelers in 2014 is employer mandated coverage.
Instead of hiring staff directly, it’s likely that contract employees will be integrated more since hospital budgetary constraints urge that the cost associated with employee benefits and wages be channeled to independent staffing firms versus taking on such additional expense.
Read how travel nurses are in position to benefit as hospitals mullmandatory overtime.
On the other hand, this year will be a test as economy continues to search for steady ground. Community-based hospitals and clinics will look for every possible way to trim costs, which might slow the use of travelers in those environments.
Healthcare travelers will face many challenges in 2014, ACA is chief among them. No matter whether you support the implementation of ACA, it will continue to shape the landscape of the healthcare industry for years to come.
Mobile professionals armed with skills and expertise that providers are seeking will see the most job opportunities.
John Short is a marketing executive/recruiter for Fortus Travel Healthcare Resources, a recruiting firm that serves the healthcare industry.
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