*Please disregard the earlier blog communication which cited an incorrect facility partner. We apologize for any inconvenience.

As the year comes to an end, HealthTrust Workforce Solutions would like to take a moment to thank you for your continued partnership. Throughout the uncertainty that 2020 has brought us, one thing is certain - our appreciation for our valued vendor partners. While this year has presented us with unprecedented challenges and has tested each of us personally and within our businesses, we know we are stronger together because of it.

Due to the continued spiking numbers with COVID-19 across the country and our prioritization of patient care, our 2020 Annual Updates deadline has been extended to March 31, 2021.

PLEASE NOTE: This does not include the flu requirement, which is required now.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding of this important matter of compliance.

HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers, today announced that it collected 13,523 pounds of unused and expired prescription medications during its “Crush the Crisis” opioid take back day enterprise events, more than twice as much as it collected last year. The events, which took place at 95 HCA Healthcare facilities across 18 states on October 24, 2020, in alignment with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, were aimed at educating communities on the dangers of opioid misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of expired and unused prescription medications.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the U.S. is seeing a significant increase in opioid usage, with 40 states reporting an increase in opioid-related mortality, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). “Crush the Crisis” called on communities across the country to address this timely issue. The events collectively disposed of an estimated 9.3 million doses of medication, eliminating the adverse possibility of potential misuse.

“Communities across the country came together in the midst of this global pandemic to properly dispose of expired and unused medications and make a difference in our battle against the opioid epidemic,” said Dr. Michael Schlosser, chief medical officer of HCA Healthcare’s national group and vice president of group operations, Clinical Operations Group. “Thank you to the DEA, local law enforcement agencies, hospital volunteers and all the many participants who showed up to help ‘Crush the Crisis.’”

The concept of “Crush the Crisis” was spearheaded by Sara Stedman, an orthopaedic nurse in HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Division, when she organized a single take back event at TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee in 2017. Last year, “Crush the Crisis” was rolled out nationally, spanning 100 locations across 16 states, with 5,887 pounds of medication collected.

“The idea for ‘Crush the Crisis’ came to me after I witnessed the devastating effects that opioid abuse can have on an individual and his or her family,” said Stedman. “Thanks to the backing of HCA Healthcare, it is truly remarkable to see how this simple idea has evolved into a national movement that’s helping to bring greater awareness to the dangers of opioid misuse and why it’s important to safely and properly dispose of these unused and expired medications before they fall into the hands of someone who may abuse them.”

A total of 95 facilities across 18 states around the country participated in “Crush the Crisis” events by partnering with local law enforcement agencies to collect unused and expired prescription medications. HCA Healthcare facility events with the greatest amount of medication collected include:

• Ocala Health in Ocala, Florida collected 1,097 pounds
• Chippenham Hospital and Johnston-Willis Hospital in Richmond, Virginia collected 847 pounds 
• Brandon Regional Hospital in Brandon, Florida collected 714 pounds
• Lee's Summit Medical Center in Lee’s Summit, Missouri collected 700 pounds
• Medical City Arlington in Arlington, Texas collected 527 pounds
• Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center in Panama City, Florida collected 499 pounds

Please click here for more information on HCA Healthcare’s “Crush the Crisis.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) November 2020 Hiring Situation indicated that job growth is stalling, with only 245,000 new jobs gained last month. Payroll employment is still 9.8 million short of pre-crisis levels—at November’s pace, it would take until 2024 to return to pre-crisis employment levels. The unemployment rate edged down to 6.7%.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is comprised of eight hospital campuses plus numerous health centers, physician practices, rehabilitation locations, ExpressCARE sites and other outpatient care locations in seven eastern Pennsylvania counties. Effective today, December 7, 2020, they will begin to engage with HealthTrust Workforce Solutions as their Managed Services Provider (MSP) to support consistent protocols for initiating and managing their Locum Tenens line of business needs via Workforce 2.0 VMS.

We are proud to share that our President and CEO, Brendan Courtney, has been recognized with a 2020 South Florida Business & Wealth Apogee Award!

Throughout COVID-19, healthcare staffing firms have risen to meet the increased demand for nurses and healthcare workers in the United States. However, according to a recent Staffing Industry Review, COVID-19 has also brought forth a surge in bill rates for staffing firms due to increased competition to attract staff and fill vital roles. Also, nurses and healthcare workers are becoming increasingly exhausted as COVID-19 has provided both physical and emotional challenges.

This Thanksgiving we would like to take a moment to demonstrate our gratitude and thank each of you for your hard work and dedication to our MSP Program this year. We are grateful for your dedication and the continued impact that you make on patient care delivery.

We are thankful that the HWS MSP Program is made up of incredible partners who work hard each day, creating both career opportunities for healthcare professionals and ensuring the delivery of patient care across the country. In times of uncertainty, it is important to remember that we are all a part of something so much bigger than our ourselves and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others every day is something we all should be truly grateful for.

Although the holiday might look different this year, we hope that you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

While 2020 has tested each of us and our communities in many unprecedented ways, we invite you to comment on what you are grateful for this year.

HWS MSP Staffing Partner Meredith Coley Reid, Program Director at Aya Healthcare, recently welcomed her baby boy,

Please join us in congratulating Meredith and her husband C.J. on the birth of their beautiful son.  It won’t be long before he will be placing healthcare professionals just like his mom!

Welcome back from maternity leave Meredith, we're glad to have you back!