How Direct Staffing Partnerships Improve Clinician Pay, Speed, and Support

Over the past several years, Vendor Management Systems (VMS) and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) have become popular tools for healthcare facilities streamlining healthcare staffing. On paper, the model offers convenience: a single point of contact, centralized billing, and oversight across multiple staffing agencies and facilities, and predictive spending and financial forecasting.

But beneath that convenience lies a cost and it’s one that affects not just your staffing budget, but the quality of care your facility receives.

At ATC West Healthcare Services, we’ve seen the long-term impact of the VMS model, and more importantly, what healthcare facilities gain when they work with a trusted staffing agency directly.

Here’s why direct partnerships are not only more efficient but better for your clinicians, your patients, and your bottom line.

1. A Percentage of Your Budget Goes to the VMS—Not to the Clinician

When staffing agencies work through a VMS/MSP, they are often required to pay a percentage (or flat fee) to the platform for every shift worked by a clinician. This markup doesn’t come from the facility. It’s taken out of the agency’s margins, which often leads to lower pay rates for nurses and allied health professionals.

Lower pay can have a direct impact on:

• Recruitment success (clinicians opt for higher-paying assignments elsewhere)
• Retention (high turnover when clinicians feel undercompensated)
• Morale and engagement on your unit

💡 Direct agency partnerships allow more of your investment to go into clinician compensation—attracting better talent and reducing turnover.

2.Loss of Direct Relationship Hinders Speed and Flexibility

In a VMS model, all communication between your facility and the staffing agency is funneled through a third party. That may sound efficient but in reality, it creates delays, miscommunication, and missed opportunities to solve issues quickly.

When you work with ATC West directly, you get:

• Real-time access to recruiters and account managers
• Faster response to last-minute needs or call-outs
• Streamlined credentialing and onboarding
• A direct line to people who know your facility, your culture, and your expectations

⚠️ The more layers between you and your staffing partner, the harder it is to be nimble and in healthcare, timing is everything.

3.You’re Relying on a Middleman to Advocate for Clinicians They Don’t Know

One of the most overlooked flaws in the VMS model is the disconnect between clinicians and the people responsible for advocating for them. In most cases, VMS coordinators don’t have a personal relationship with the clinicians they’re placing which can result in:

• Poor communication around scheduling or performance
• Lack of support for clinicians in the field
• Slower resolution of interpersonal or clinical concerns
• Increased burnout due to lack of engagement or responsiveness

At ATC West, our recruiters maintain ongoing relationships with our clinicians, from onboarding through contract completion. That personal connection allows us to catch and resolve issues early, address concerns quickly, and ensure your staff feels heard and supported.

🤝 When your staffing partner knows their clinicians, and your facility, everyone wins.

The Bottom Line: Direct Partnerships Drive Better Outcomes

While VMS/MSP platforms promise efficiency, the reality is that they create distance where connection is needed most. In healthcare, staffing is personal. It’s about trust, communication, and partnership.

When you work directly with ATC West Healthcare, you get:

✅ More competitive clinician pay (better talent and retention)

✅ Faster communication and responsiveness

✅ Stronger alignment with your facility’s culture and values

✅  A true staffing partner—not just a vendor

Looking to Optimize Your Staffing Strategy?

Let’s talk. ATC West Healthcare partners with hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities across California to deliver flexible, responsive, and clinician-focused staffing solutions, without the limitations of a VMS model.

Contact Us Today (hyperlink to info@atc-west.com email) to learn how a direct partnership can reduce costs, improve care, and strengthen your workforce.