Story Ideas

Economic and Business Models in Healthcare: How Healthcare Staffing Plays a Role

Who's in Demand? - What types of physicians are in the greatest demand today? Merritt, Hawkins & Associates, an AMN Healthcare company, tracks physician demand trends through its annual Review of Physician Recruiting Incentives. Executives with Merritt, Hawkins & Associates can discuss the trend and the types of incentives being used to recruit physicians in a wide variety of medical specialties.

Doctors and Dollars - Physicians have a significant impact on the financial status of their affiliated hospitals. Merritt, Hawkins & Associates, an AMN Healthcare company, quantifies this impact through its Physician Inpatient/Outpatient Revenue Survey, which shows the amount of revenue generated by physicians in a variety of medical specialties. Merritt, Hawkins & Associates' executives can discuss survey results and the broader topic of physician/hospital relations.

Forecasting Staffing Needs Effectively - In today's challenging environment of fluctuating census and limited nursing resources, accurately forecasting staffing needs can have a profound effect on a hospital's financial and clinical operations. Nursing staff surpluses mean excess carrying costs, while staff shortages can result in patient diversion and lost revenue opportunities. An AMN Healthcare expert can discuss strategies for optimal staffing.

Nurse-to-patient ratios - What financial impact has the mandated ratio had on California's healthcare staffing needs and what are other states doing about healthcare staffing? An AMN Healthcare expert can speak on the impact this law has had on California's healthcare staffing needs.

Where Have All the Doctors Gone? - According to current estimates, the U.S. may be short some 200,000 physicians by the year 2020, a doctor dearth that will have dramatic implications for healthcare delivery. What are the causes and the current and projected effects of the shortage, and what can be done to bring physician supply in line with patient demand? Executives with Merritt, Hawkins & Associates, an AMN Healthcare company, have tracked the physician shortage for years and have written the widely-recognized book "Will the Last Physician in America Please Turn Off the Lights?" They can address one of the most important challenges facing the healthcare industry today.

The Travel Healthcare Industry - The shortage of nurses and other healthcare providers has hospitals employing greater numbers of temporary healthcare professionals. What are companies like AMN Healthcare doing to make healthcare job opportunities more attractive to temporary providers? AMN Healthcare experts are available for comment on the growing shortage of healthcare professionals and the travel healthcare industry.

Determining Physician Need - How many physicians does a community need? What metrics are used to demonstrate community need for physicians, and how does demonstrating community need help hospitals comply with federal physician recruiting regulations? Executives with Merritt, Hawkins & Associates, an AMN Healthcare company, can provide guidelines for determining community need for physicians and can discuss the elements that comprise a community needs assessment plan.

Technology and nursing - Bar-coded medication and electronic record keeping are technological advancements nurses are now starting to use. How has nursing curriculum changed and how are technological advancements improving healthcare? An AMN expert is available to comment on continuing education for nurses as well as training for student nurses.

The Travel Nursing/Locum Tenens Lifestyle

Living as a Traveling Nurse - Nursing is a portable profession offering opportunities to see the country while continuing to work in the healthcare field. An AMN Healthcare expert is available to comment on the benefits of travelers and how the flexibility of travel nursing is helping recapture nurses. Travel nurses are also available for interviews.

Have Stethoscope, Will Travel - A growing number of physicians, both young and old, are electing to work on a temporary basis. Known as "locum tenens," these doctors travel from location to location on temporary assignments while working as independent contractors. Executives with Staff Care, Inc., an AMN Healthcare company, can address why more physicians are choosing to work as temps and the implications this holds for healthcare delivery.

Global Impact on Healthcare

Going International - How nurses from other countries and U.S. hospitals benefit from coming together: Quality staffing for hospitals and a great career opportunity for international nurses. An AMN Healthcare expert is available to comment on screening and training necessary for recruiting healthcare professions from other countries.

Traveling healthcare professionals help disaster victims all over the globe - What impact do worldwide disasters have on meeting healthcare staffing needs? An AMN Healthcare expert is available to comment on nurses currently working in areas impacted by disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia. Nurses and doctors are also available for interviews.

Providing care for elderly ethnic Americans - There's a growing trend towards a need for transcultural nursing as America's melting pot society ages. How are today's doctors, nurses and student nurses being trained/prepared to care for individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds? An AMN Healthcare expert is available to comment on continuing education for nurses and the training process for traveling healthcare professionals.

AMN Healthcare Leadership

Women in leadership roles - From a small town in Nebraska to the president and CEO of the nation's largest healthcare staffing agency, Susan Nowakowski has been one of the driving forces behind the company's major strategic and operational initiatives. Ms. Nowakowski is available to comment on leading the 11th largest public company in San Diego, discuss the challenges she's faced, as well as offer insight on U.S. healthcare staffing needs.

For information on images to accompany articles about AMN Healthcare, please contact Don Cowan at (866) 756-6635.