Recruiting quality employees can be a challenge for any organization, no matter its industry or size. But it can be especially hard for healthcare facilities due to talent shortages, hard-to-fill positions, a need to hire candidates with specific training or education, and cumbersome screening processes.

Challenges abound; however, thankfully, this is where healthcare recruitment firms and staffing agencies step in. 

Healthcare recruiters specialize in placing qualified medical technicians and staff in both temporary and permanent roles. Their expertise can cut down the time it takes to place new hires and guarantee a better fit. But which are the best healthcare recruitment firms out there in 2024? And how can healthcare institutions like yours identify the right medical staffing agency for your particular needs?

Keep reading as we explore the answers to these questions and more.  

10,000 ft. View of The Current Recruiting Landscape

As 2024 really gets underway, it’s evident that healthcare recruitment has undergone some significant changes in recent years. Like the rest of the world, it’s being dramatically impacted by rapid advancements in technology. Demographic shifts, changing healthcare needs, the rise in telemedicine, and diversity initiatives are also affecting the industry. 

The elephant in the room is obviously artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms. Both are reshaping recruitment processes, automating and streamlining how candidates are sourced, assessed, and matched to roles, which has generally been a good thing for both recruiters and job seekers alike. Virtual recruitment events and interviews are also becoming more commonplace, eliminating logistical barriers and making it easier in many instances for recruiters to reach candidates worldwide.

While AI and ML are speeding things up, at the same time the demand for healthcare professionals has risen, fueled by population growth, aging demographics, and global health challenges. Coupled with a shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in rural and underserved areas, recruiters are often scrambling to fill roles. They’re facing heightened competition as they try to secure top talent for their healthcare clients.

The rise of telemedicine and remote work is also affecting healthcare recruitment strategies. How so? Well, now recruiters are also seeking candidates who know how to provide virtual care with the use of video conferencing tools. Plus, many of these candidates are seeking flexible work arrangements, which was a less frequent ask in the past. In response to this, some employers are offering telemedicine and relocation incentives. There’s also been more of a focus on upskilling and reskilling existing healthcare professionals to help fill the gaps.   

Finally, in 2024 and recent years, more healthcare organizations have started prioritizing diversity in their workforce to better reflect the communities they serve and improve their patient care. As a result, many recruiters are actively searching for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and implementing more inclusive hiring practices.  

There are clearly a lot of moving parts in the healthcare recruiting space these days. AI and ML are shaking the industry up, and then there’s the rise in demand compounded by a shortage in workers, the growing acceptance of telehealth and desire for remote work options, and the increase in diversity initiatives. It’s an exciting but also turbulent time that requires healthcare recruitment firms to practice agility and resilience.

Why Work With A Healthcare Recruitment Company?

There are lots of reasons why healthcare organizations should consider partnering with a healthcare recruiting firm to satisfy their medical staffing needs rather than trying to go it alone. Let’s dive right into some of them below.

They are Experts at Leveraging Their Networks

We’re assuming that you probably don’t have tons of qualified candidates right at your fingertips. Healthcare recruiting firms, on the other hand, do. Cultivated over time, these networks are filled with medical professionals who are actively seeking new jobs - we’re talking registered nurses, physicians, and so on. Networks like these are goldmines for any organization in the healthcare industry that is trying to fill openings with skilled workers.

They are Incentivized to Place Quality Candidates

The best healthcare recruiting firms understand how important it is to incentivize their team so they’re rewarded for placing candidates who are an ideal, long-term fit. Unfortunately, some medical staffing agencies pay their recruiters commissions for hasty, low-quality placements. Be careful to select a reputable healthcare recruitment firm that motivates its team properly so your facility ends up staffed with dedicated healthcare professionals who will stick around for the long term. 

They are Knowledgeable and Experienced

Yet another reason to use a healthcare recruiting firm? They know what they are doing! Yes, most of us can figure out how to hire someone. But these firms specialize in it - they live and breathe it every day. They bring best practices to the table and devise winning healthcare recruitment strategies that help organizations achieve success. Leverage their specialized expertise and years of hiring experience.

They are Capable of Balancing Speed and Quality

It’s a delicate balance - moving quickly to fill positions but not so quickly as to sacrifice quality. Talent acquisition recruiters know just where that sweet spot is and how to hit it. Unlike some healthcare staffing services that (accidentally?) incentivize their recruiters to throw whatever they can at the wall in hopes it sticks, high-caliber recruitment firms reward team members who move with agility to score the permanent placement who is genuinely happy and will gladly want to stay. 

They Fully Vet All Potential Candidates

Healthcare executives can’t just hire anyone willy-nilly off the street. They must find highly educated and specially trained folks to fill their openings or risk their patients’ well-being. So partnering with a healthcare recruitment firm can be highly advantageous. Why? They thoroughly vet all candidates to ensure they are 100% qualified for the role and the perfect fit before onboarding them and bringing them to the attention of their clients - saving you time, money, and lots of aggravation!

How To Decide Who To Work With

Now that it’s clear why it’s better to work with an established recruitment firm instead of a healthcare staffing agency (hasty, commission-driven placements!) or an in-house human resources department (lack of specialized know-how!), let’s examine some of the criteria an employer might use to help them select the best option.  

1. They Have a Proven Industry Track Record

Look for a healthcare recruiting firm that’s an industry leader with a solid reputation and track record that speaks for itself. The right one will have years of experience in providing innovative and comprehensive recruitment solutions (like enterprise RPO, for example) that are customizable, scalable, and specific to healthcare organizations. Moreover, the recruitment firm you pick should have a talent acquisition process in place that’s tried and true.    

2. They are Obsessed With the Candidate Experience

Here’s the reality: whatever healthcare staffing or TA firm your organization opts to work with will ultimately reflect on you. Poor recruiter behavior (like ghosting candidates or acting confused about the brand) will only fuel candidate negativity and misperceptions about your organization - so beware and choose wisely!   

3. They Have Lots of References

Don’t dismiss this one. Why? Because listening to the experiences of others can prove highly valuable as you’re making a decision. Also, look for the recruitment firm to have plenty of references - both good and bad. After all, you want real feedback, and, realistically, not everyone is going to fall madly in love with their talent acquisition firm. Obviously, however, the good should always outweigh the bad.   

Common Roles That Are Placed

There are career opportunities galore in the healthcare industry. But which roles in particular do recruitment firms fill for their clients? While there are many, we’ll list several of the most common ones. 

1. Registered Nurses

A registered nurse (RN) is a licensed medical professional who provides patient-centered care, administers treatments, and collaborates with healthcare teams to promote well-being. RNs assess and monitor patients, administer medications, educate individuals and families about health conditions, and ensure the coordination of medical care. They help maintain and improve the overall health of patients across various healthcare settings.

2. Nurse Practitioners

A nurse practitioner (NP) has specialized training and education beyond that of a registered nurse. NPs can diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and provide holistic care to patients of all ages. They often work independently, collaborating with physicians and other medical professionals to deliver comprehensive and patient-centered healthcare services.

3. Physician Assistants

A physician assistant (PA) is a skilled healthcare professional who works under the supervision of licensed and qualified physicians. PAs diagnose illnesses, develop treatment plans, and provide patient care, including performing medical procedures, prescribing medications, and offering health education. Their expertise bridges medical knowledge with practical care, making them valuable members of the healthcare team.

4. Pharmacists

A pharmacist specializes in medication management. They dispense prescription drugs, provide patient counseling on proper medication usage and potential side effects, and offer advice on over-the-counter products. Pharmacists collaborate with other medical professionals to ensure safe and effective treatments and contribute to patient health outcomes.

5. Social Workers

A compassionate social worker is dedicated to improving lives by diagnosing and treating behavioral, mental, and emotional issues. Through active listening and resourceful problem-solving, they provide invaluable support to individuals and communities facing challenges. With empathy and professionalism, they can empower people to navigate difficulties and access services. 

6. Physicians

A physician is a skilled medical professional who diagnoses, treats, and prevents illnesses and injuries in patients. Through rigorous education and training, physicians acquire the knowledge and expertise to provide medical care, offer guidance, and promote overall well-being, fostering a healthier society.

7. Clinical Leadership

Clinical leadership refers to those who guide and influence their peers with the aim of delivering high-quality patient care. This type of leadership encompasses effective communication, strategic decision-making, and multi-disciplinary collaboration. Through their expertise and empathy, clinical leaders inspire excellence, improve outcomes, and drive positive change within healthcare organizations.

The 9 Top Healthcare and Medical Role Recruitment Firms In 2024

Finally, the moment has come where we divulge nine of the best healthcare recruitment firms for 2024. Before we jump into all the nitty-gritty details, here’s a list of them in their entirety:

1. MSH
2. CHG Healthcare
3. HealthTrust Workforce Solutions
4. All Medical Personnel
5. Triage Staffing
6. CompHealth
7. Weatherby Healthcare
8. Jackson + Coker
9. AMN Healthcare

Naturally, we have ourselves listed as number one - and for good reason! We have a ton to offer, and we can’t wait to tell you all about it. But, of course, there are lots of great healthcare recruiting firms on the market, and we encourage you to pick the one that will work best for your organization. With that said, away we go!

1. MSH

MSH is an expert at developing highly effective and creative recruitment strategies for healthcare companies. Past clients have included UnitedHealth Group, BlueCross BlueShield, and fast-growing palliative care company, Prospero. 

Not only does its team expertly identify and attract the most dedicated healthcare candidates around, they fill permanent roles quickly (within 42 days versus the national average of 120).

While most of the others on this list are fundamentally temp/locums agencies, MSH is a comprehensive recruitment firm that leverages advanced technology and innovative tactics to build teams and fill long-term positions in healthcare facilities. MSH recruiters dive deep into the brand voice, unique culture, and long-term goals of every client so they can collaboratively design and execute impactful and measurable recruitment strategies.

Solutions Offered: Healthcare, medical role, and physician staffing; Consultative planning; Enterprise and campus RPO; AI/ML hiring experience platform; Advanced metrics and reporting; Talent acquisition process design and management; Talent intelligence; Talent community builds; Candidate experience and engagement; DEI guidance; Vendor management; Employer branding and value proposition identification; Job profiling; New hire onboarding; SLA and EEO compliance.

2. CHG Healthcare

Founded in 1979, U.S.-based CHG Healthcare connects healthcare facilities with qualified professionals across various medical specialties. Like many other healthcare staffing agencies, its clients encompass a wide range of healthcare organizations, including hospitals, clinics, and medical centers. The firm follows a locum tenens model that encourages physicians to fill gaps and work wherever is needed most. 

Solutions Offered: Physicians, nurses, and advanced practice staffing; Strategic consultations; Locums strategies; Telehealth support; Allied health professionals; Technology solutions

3. HealthTrust Workforce Solutions

A subsidiary of HCA Healthcare, HealthTrust Workforce Solutions provides career opportunities to a variety of healthcare professionals. It aims to match the candidate’s lifestyle and preferences to the job type, which can include new graduate nursing apprenticeship programs, travel and per diem nursing jobs, local contract opportunities, locum tenens physician openings, interim leadership positions, and clinical instruction opportunities.

Solutions Offered: Allied health staffing; Clinical instruction and services staffing; Corporate staffing; Interim leadership staffing; Locum tenens and advanced practice staffing; Per diem and permanent placements; Technician staffing; Travel nursing and local contract nursing staffing

4. All Medical Personnel

A national healthcare temp agency that was founded in 1990, All Medical Personnel specializes in locum tenens, travel therapy, travel nursing, and allied health staffing solutions for businesses and government entities across the U.S. One of the largest medical staffing companies in the nation, the firm also offers pandemic staffing and an exclusive workforce solution called Amplify MSP. The agency makes temporary and temp-to-hire placements.

Solutions Offered: Locum tenens staffing; Travel nurse and therapy staffing; Allied & lab staffing; Pandemic staffing; Amplify MSP platform

5. Triage Staffing

Triage Staffing offers temporary placements in the five major divisions of acute care – nursing, radiology, lab, rehab therapy, and cardiopulmonary. The temp agency directly employs medical professionals as they work for health facilities, providing them with benefits and housing allowances. 

Solutions Offered: Temporary nursing, radiology, lab, rehab services, and cardiopulmonary staffing; Direct pay, housing help/allowances, and benefits for candidates

6. CompHealth

Founded in 1979 and owned by parent company CHG Healthcare, CompHealth is a full-service medical staffing agency that fills both locums/travel and full-time positions for healthcare organizations. One of the largest healthcare staffing firms in the U.S., the company negotiates pay and benefits on behalf of candidates and provides them with access to an online platform. 

Solutions Offered: Locum tenens staffing; Permanent healthcare staffing; Physician staffing; Nurse practitioner and physician assistant staffing; CRNA staffing; Therapy staffing; Pharmacy staffing; Medical lab staffing; Healthcare management

7. Weatherby Healthcare

Weatherby Healthcare has placed candidates in temporary (locum tenens) positions for 25 years. The staffing agency has hundreds of consultants on board who help candidates with credentialing, licensing, travel, and housing needs. The firm fills positions for around 60 physician medical and 30 advanced practice specialties and claims that it can fill openings within 10 days with fully vetted candidates.

Solutions Offered: Locum tenens staffing; In-house consultants; Billing assistance; Custom reporting; Kaizen and Lean consulting

8. Jackson + Coker

Jackson + Coker places physicians and advanced practitioners in jobs within both large and small healthcare facilities throughout the U.S. With more than 40 years of experience under its belt, the firm provides locum tenens and telehealth staffing. It advertises its attentive service, innovative tools, and responsive communication.

Solutions Offered: Locum tenens staffing, Virtual care solutions

9. AMN Healthcare

One word to describe AMN Healthcare is comprehensive. The firm offers both workforce staffing and talent management. It fills all kinds of roles, including travel, temporary, temp-to-hire, and permanent. Moreover, AMN serves various medical entities, even schools (placing OTs, PTs, SLPs, Social Workers, Behavior Analysts, Psychologists, Nurses, Teletherapists, and more.)

Solutions Offered: Nursing and allied staffing; Physician and advanced practitioner staffing; Medically qualified language interpreter staffing; Leadership staffing; Revenue cycle solutions staffing; Recruitment solutions; Managed services programs; Float pool management; Open talent marketplace; Consulting and talent advisory services; Vendor management systems; Scheduling and staff planning; Analytics; Virtual care

Choosing the Right Healthcare Recruitment Firm is Critical to Achieving Hiring Success

Healthcare facilities face lots of obstacles when it comes to staffing - arguably much more so than the average non-medical employer. Finding individuals who are properly educated, full of compassion for patients, and willing to take on exhausting shifts and taxing job duties can be quite the challenge! Fortunately, recruitment firms and staffing agencies that specialize in the healthcare industry can help employers fill these roles faster and with higher-quality candidates.

MSH stands out among all the rest. Recognizing that many healthcare employers struggle with low-quality applicants, the firm utilizes a comprehensive vetting process to single out top talent. Moreover, the MSH team does its due diligence, identifying the unique culture and needs of its clients, so it can quickly deliver competent candidates who will happily get the job done for whatever duration is needed.

‍Contact MSH today and get started building your dream healthcare team.