The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that job growth dropped to the slowest pace seen this year, adding just 194,000 new jobs in September and marking the second consecutive month of decline. The unemployment rate dropped to an 18-month low of 4.8%, partially offset by those leaving the labor force. August payrolls were revised to show a revised job gain of 366,000, up from the originally reported 235,000. Overall employment remains 5.0 million jobs below the pre-pandemic peak in February 2020.

As you may have heard, HCA Healthcare is in the process of divesting Redmond Regional Medical Center to AdventHealth effective October 1, 2021.

As a result of this transaction, HealthTrust Workforce Solutions will no longer be the primary MSP provider for contract labor at this select facility. That said, we have outlined what to expect throughout this transition and the associated grace periods.

State of New York Governor Kathy Hochul released a comprehensive plan to address preventable staffing shortages in hospitals and other health care facilities statewide.

 "We are still in a battle against COVID to protect our loved ones, and we need to fight with every tool at our disposal," Governor Hochul said. "I am monitoring the staffing situation closely, and we have a plan to increase our health care workforce and help alleviate the burdens on our hospitals and other health care facilities. I commend all of the health care workers who have stepped up to get themselves vaccinated, and I urge all remaining health care workers who are unvaccinated to do so now so they can continue providing care."

As we continue to grow our MSP program with a focus on operational and service excellence, we are pleased to announce the development of HCA Healthcare Group MSP Program Directors. Please join us in welcoming Ashley Ishak and Bill Demestihas to our team!

It’s hard to imagine but today marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people — more than 400 were police officers, firefighters and first responders. September 11, 2001 — 9/11— stands as the deadliest foreign attack in the United States.

Recently, the Colorado State Board of Health issued a new state-wide public health order that will require healthcare providers working in Ambulatory Surgery Centers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination effective September 30, 2021, and healthcare providers in a hospital setting to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination effective November 1, 2021.

The COVID-19 Delta variant likely tampered with job growth last month, according to the August 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Hiring Situation. In August 235,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy, the fewest jobs in seven months and less than half of the average monthly job growth of 586,000 that has been seen this year. The unemployment rate dropped to a 17-month low of 5.2%, down from 5.6%, a 16-month low. Employment is up by 17 million since April 2020 but down by 5.3 million, or 3.5%, from its pre-pandemic level in February 2020.

While the healthcare sector overall lost 4,900 jobs in August, hospitals marked the second consecutive month of job growth, adding 3,200 jobs. Job losses occurred in nursing and residential care facilities (-6,900) and in ambulatory care settings (-1,200). Ambulatory care has typically been the largest job-producing segment within healthcare’s economic rebound. Overall, 513,400 healthcare jobs have been lost since the start of the pandemic in February 2020, with nursing homes accounting for the majority of job loss (-383,200). Hospitals lost 84,800 jobs and ambulatory care settings lost 45,300 jobs during the same time period.

HealthTrust Workforce Solutions is excited to announce an additional offering now available to our vendor partners. We will now offer candidates who are contracted at an HCA facility Red Cross Certifications for ALS, BLS, and PALS.

On Monday, Aug. 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. As a result, LVHN’s COVID-19 vaccination policy will take effect Tuesday, Aug. 24. All new contract starts effective Sept 9th must have a completed vaccine series.  All existing LVHN non-employed partners must complete the vaccine series by Oct. 19. Those who are not vaccinated by Oct. 19 will not be permitted to work or conduct business inside an LVHN facility.

HealthTrust Workforce Solutions is excited to share some upcoming changes to the way we onboard Vendor Partner Candidates for HCA! These changes will allow for quicker initiation speeds, proactive and improved communication, and ultimately result in expedited processing to Full Placement.