Pennsylvania is projected to have a shortfall of more than 20,000 nurses by 2026, the worst nationally.” – Hospital and Healthsystem Association of PennsylvaniaHA P Online. Hospitals, clinics, and other care facilities are grappling with significant workforce shortages. Maintaining consistent patient care has become more challenging than in the past. Traditional staffing models are no longer suitable for these dynamic healthcare challenges. 

However, this pressing issue has led many healthcare facilities in Philadelphia to turn to per diem (Temporary) staffing as their viable solution. Per diem professionals are more suitable for hospitals and high-traffic patient facilities because they offer flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and reliability without long-term commitments. 

For healthcare management in Philadelphia, per diem, staffing is imperative to navigate and overcome workforce challenges effectively. 

Per Diem Staffing

“Per diem” actually translates to “per day” in Latin. It refers to a payment model where employees are compensated on a daily basis rather than a fixed salary or hourly wage. It is used for temporary staff, freelancers, and contract workers who are hired as needed rather than on a permanent or long-term basis. Unlike other traditional full-time staff, per diem professionals offer:

Why Philadelphia Healthcare Facilities Choose Per Diem Staffing for Flexibility

Immediate Availability

They are available immediately to meet the demands of the healthcare industry. They can cover last-minute call-offs and peak care demand shifts to ensure continuity in patient care. 

Flexible Scheduling

Healthcare facilities adjust staffing levels in real-time, depending on the necessity and patient volumes.

Cost Savings

By utilizing per diem staffing solutions, healthcare facilities manage labor costs more effectively and avoid the financial burden associated with full-time benefits and overtime pay.

Philadelphia’s Growing Healthcare Staffing Crisis

If your healthcare facility is finding it increasingly difficult to cover shifts, you are not alone. The nursing and physician shortage is exerting immense pressure on healthcare institutions across Philadelphia. Notably, 14% of nursing positions remain unfilled across Pennsylvania, with projections indicating a shortfall of over 20,000 nurses by 2026. (WHYY). 

Moreover, turnover rates among home health aides have been reported as high as 65% annually, exacerbating staffing challenges. (Penn LDI)

These statistics underscore the urgency for innovative staffing solutions, and YTC Healthcare staffing provides precisely that. Our per diem staffing solutions are strategically designed to respond to such emergency staffing challenges.

Why Philadelphia Healthcare Facilities Are Embracing Per Diem Staffing

Healthcare is anything but predictable. Facilities have to pre-plan everything for their peak hours for better patient care. For that, per-day staffing solutions are the best they can have. Here are core reasons for turning Philadelphia healthcare facilities towards per diem staffing:

Flexibility to Meet Patient Demand

In the healthcare industry, patient volumes can fluctuate unpredictably. One week, the emergency department of the hospital may experience a surge, and the next week, the intensive care unit (ICU) might be understaffed. Traditional staffing models often lack the agility to respond to such variations. Per diem staffing allows healthcare facilities to adjust their staffing levels according to their requirements. 

For instance, during seasonal increases such as flu season, additional per diem nurses are placed in the healthcare facilities to manage the higher volume of patient load. Similarly, in the event of unexpected absences of staff, per diem professionals are brought in their place to maintain uninterrupted patient care. This flexibility maintains optimal staffing levels without taking the risk of overstaffing during slower traffic periods. 

Cost Effective Healthcare Staffing Solutions in Philadelphia

Mitigating Burnout and Increasing Staff Retention

Healthcare professionals are experiencing unprecedented levels of burnout that eventually result in increased turnover. There are different factors that contribute to this burnout, i.e., excessive workload, extended hours, and lastly, the emotional toils of patient care. 

Integrating per diem staff actually alleviates this workplace pressure. It helps distribute the workload more evenly, which prevents full-time staff from feeling overburdened at any point in their service. With per diem staffing, healthcare facilities provide necessary breaks without compromising the optimum patient care. YTC Healthcare provides per diem solutions in the healthcare industry to help facilities improve job satisfaction among their staff to maintain higher retention rates.

Cost-Effective Staffing Solutions

Maintaining a full-time workforce entails significant expenses, i.e., salaries, benefits, overtime pay, and other employee-related costs. In contrast to this, per diem staffing offers a cost-effective more efficient solution. 

For example, facilities pay only for the hours worked, eliminating the financial obligations associated with full-time employment benefits and perks. Notably, overtime costs are reduced, as per diem staff are scheduled to cover additional shifts without incurring overtime pay. This flexible model allows healthcare facilities to allocate resources more efficiently and spend financial investments where they are essential and needed.

How YTC Healthcare Becomes Philadelphia’s Premier Choice for Per Diem Staffing

YTC Healthcare specializes in providing customized staffing solutions designed to meet the unique challenges of Philadelphia’s healthcare landscape. We provide professional and certified healthcare staff as per diem to maintain the optimal care going on in the healthcare facilities. Here is why healthcare facilities trust us;

  • Highly Qualified Professionals

We connect you with the highly trained staff through an extensive talent pool, having per diem nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals. Our rapid per diem services ensure that your patient receives the highest standard of care.

  • Rapid Response

We do not just talk; we respond! Our extensive pool of talent enables us to fill shifts promptly. We do so often within hours to ensure that your healthcare facility remains fully staffed.

  • Customized Staffing Strategies

We just don’t put the random staff available to your facility. We collaborate with you to develop a staffing plan that aligns with your facility’s requirements and patient demographic. This step is to ensure that you and the staff both are comfortable at the workplace. 

  • Continuous Support

Our support team is available 24/7 to address any staffing emergencies. We also conduct random feedback calls to our clients to get their reviews and if they need any adjustments to their current plan to ensure operational continuity.

Per diem staffing is not just a temporary solution to staffing shortages. It has become a forward-thinking approach for workforce management to increase flexibility and patient satisfaction.

How YTC Healthcare Becomes Philadelphia's Premier Choice For Per Diem Staffing

Final Thoughts

The healthcare industry is changing, and healthcare facilities that embrace workforce flexibility will be the ones that thrive. Per diem staffing is not just a temporary solution—it’s a forward-thinking strategy that is going to empower healthcare leaders to maintain high-quality care without overburdening staff or breaking budgets.

If your long-term healthcare facility is struggling with staffing shortages, the solution is already here. It’s time to rethink traditional hiring models and invest in a more agile, cost-effective workforce strategy. Contact us, and we will fill your staffing shortages rapidly with our per diem staffing solutions.

Get in touch today, and let’s build a smarter future for healthcare staffing in Philadelphia.