Gilbert – Across the country, healthcare providers are being deployed to various COVID-19 hot spots. As a result, Arizona companies, like AB Staffing Solutions are working 24/7 to get healthcare providers to the front lines in the COVID-19 crisis.
Since mid-March, AB Staffing Solutions, a Gilbert company, has sent over 200 registered nurses, physicians and respiratory therapists to areas hit hard by the novel Coronavirus in a race to save lives.
According to the company’s President, Evan Burks, “Our mission is to get the providers where they are needed as quickly as possible. In this situation, we don’t have time to waste.”
Since 2002, AB Staffing Solutions has been supplying travel nurses, physicians and allied health professionals to hospitals and clinics throughout the United States. Over the past five years the privately-held company, which employs 75 at their company headquarters in Gilbert, has placed thousands of healthcare providers via their national database of 200,000 healthcare professionals.
The company works extensively with Federal Government healthcare facilities, including those operated by the V.A., Indian Health Services and the Department of Defense (DOD), in addition to commercial hospitals. They recently donated 20,000 KN95 masks to several of their Indian Health and Tribal Clients in Arizona and other states due to the shortage of protective gear at many facilities.
Burks said that before the Coronavirus pandemic they would typically see requests for labor and delivery registered nurses (RNs), medical surgical and telemetry RNs, family practice physicians and a variety of other healthcare specialties. Now they are getting urgent requests for “emergency room RNs, intensive care unit RNs, pulmonologists and respiratory therapists.”
Travel nurses and other providers typically work assignments averaging 13 weeks in length at locations throughout the country. COVID-19 Crisis Response healthcare providers are working shorter contracts, roughly two to eight weeks in length, at a higher pay scale. Assignments include travel expense, lodging, per diems for food and other benefits.
While the travel nursing industry often appeals to individuals seeking adventure, the Coronavirus pandemic is now motivating healthcare workers who simply want to help.
“Providers are reaching out to us. They want to help by going directly into COVID-19 epicenters where they are needed the most during this pandemic,” added Burks.
To get providers to destinations quickly, AB Staffing has worked actively to expedite the credentialing process. Credentialing is the process of establishing the qualifications of licensed medical professionals and assessing their background and legitimacy. What would normally take multiple weeks is now only taking the company a matter of days to complete.
Once a Crisis Response position is filled, the company arranges travel and lodging. In some cases providers are asked to get on a plane the next day.
“Some facilities are in such dire need that we have to act fast while making sure all healthcare providers are qualified and will provide quality care,” he said.
Burks, a Certified Public Accountant, joined the quickly growing staffing company in 2011. The A.S.U. graduate has been leading organizations at the executive level for over 30 years and is active in various nonprofit organizations, including the Arizona Healthcare Executives and Arizona Humanities.
“Our goal is to create the best possible experience for our providers, assist healthcare facilities and also serve our communities. We are here to help.”