It’s no secret that hospitals provide a critical healthcare safety net for the millions of low-income Americans and those who are uninsured. Retaining high-quality nursing talent at hospitals in low-to-moderate income areas isn’t just a “nice to have” – it can be a lifeline for those living in areas facing persistent social and economic challenges.
That’s why we’re proud to announce today that a quarter of Incredible Health’s hospital partners operate in low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities. While nearly all hospitals struggle to retain healthcare workers, the problem can be especially acute for “safety net” hospitals. Safety-net hospitals typically serve uninsured and Medicaid patients whose treatment costs aren’t fully covered and are often located in LMI communities.
By connecting these hospitals with much-needed permanent nursing talent, Incredible Health is taking an active role in solving the gap. Our mission is to help healthcare workers live better lives and find and do their best work.
One especially interesting data point: many nurses are highly motivated to work within these communities. In fact, 27% of permanent nurses hired through Incredible Health relocated to hospitals located in LMI communities. This suggests that the issues hospitals in LMI communities face in hiring are not one of disinterest but rather limited awareness of the opportunities. That makes the high number of hospitals in LMI communities on Incredible Health particularly valuable for nurses. Because Incredible Health works with more than 700 hospitals nationwide, nurses have access to an active hiring marketplace with permanent jobs across the U.S., enabling them to automatically get matched and find what they’re looking for.
The opportunity to single-handedly change a patient’s care experience is a key factor in why many nurses choose the profession in the first place. So, it’s no surprise that nurses want to work in LMI communities. Take RN Jennifer P. for example. Jennifer works at a safety net hospital located within an LMI community.
“I wanted to be a nurse because I saw an opportunity to help people,” she said. “Incredible Health was like my guardian angel in helping me to find a position in a community I care deeply about. Now, I have an amazing retention bonus, great pay, and a new facility just 30 minutes from home.”
Over 700 hospitals are valuing Incredible Health’s software and services, including those operating in LMI communities and in safety-net hospitals. “Harris Health System is dedicated to improving the health of those most in need in Harris County, Texas, through quality care delivery, coordination of care and education,” said Omar Reid, Chief People Officer and Executive Vice President at Harris Health System.
“Our partnership with Incredible Health has helped us hire even more permanent, experienced, and specialized nurses rapidly throughout our facilities, supporting our mission to deliver quality care to our community.”
By connecting nurses who want these jobs with the hospitals that need them, Incredible Health is solving a critical gap. Incredible Health supports these hospitals by providing:
- Large talent pool, that’s pre-screened and custom-matched: Health systems can access thousands of qualified nurses from within and outside their communities who match to the health systems’ roles.
- Record speed-to-hire rate: The hiring timeline for nurses hired via the platform is 20 days versus the national average of 80 days.
- Critical cost savings: Incredible Health saves each hospital location it works with at least $2M annually in travel nurse, overtime, and HR costs – which is particularly critical for safety-net hospitals that operate on lower margins.
- Higher retention rate: Retention of permanent nurse talent is difficult across health systems, with the national nurse turnover rate at 23%. Nurses hired via Incredible Health have a 15% higher retention rate than the hospital’s baseline retention rate.
If you’re a nurse looking for a career at a hospital serving LMI communities, see here.
