As U.S. healthcare facilities face unprecedented staffing challenges, innovative thinking and tailored solutions will be essential in meeting patients’ needs. There are no quick or easy fixes. Still, MedPro Healthcare Staffing Senior Vice President, Workforce Solutions Dan Barren believes by taking a unique approach, evaluating our clients’ entire clinical labor pool, and focusing on internal employee retention and recruitment strategies, MedPro Custom Solutions can right-size contingent labor utilization and save our clients money.
Michigan Born and Raised
Barren was born and raised in Sandusky, Michigan, a small farming community north of Detroit. The youngest of three kids, he watched his father, Big Dan, work his way up the company ladder at a rubber factory for auto parts.
“Dad was my foundation. He would come home covered from head to toe in soot. Mom would make him strip down on the front porch before coming inside. He worked every day, never calling in sick or taking a vacation because he knew he wanted more.” Big Dan put himself through college while working full-time and helping raise Barren and his two sisters. “He worked his way up from a job I wouldn’t have lasted a day in and became head chemist.” His father’s work ethic would be the foundation for Barren’s own as he set out into the world of staffing.
“I Knew I Loved It”
Barren didn’t dream of becoming a workforce solutions expert. “I don’t think anybody wakes up when they’re seven years old and says, ‘I want to go into healthcare staffing.’” But his family’s influence would set him on his career path. Barren’s sister, Tracy, managed a staffing firm branch that hired mostly displaced day workers for tasks such as housekeeping and construction. Workers came in at 5 a.m. for their assignment and were paid at the end of the day. Barren started as a driver, picking up workers in a 15-passenger bus and taking them to and from their jobs all hours of the night. “Somehow, that ignited my love for staffing,” he said. He quickly moved up the ladder, working in customer service, running his own branch, and later handling IT technical staffing.
Eventually, a family friend asked Barren if he wanted to team up and open their own company. Barren had zero experience in healthcare staffing but jumped in. They grew their company over the next five years with Barren working HR, credentialing, recruiting sales, and more, learning all aspects of the business. “My most important lessons were learned through failing miserably.” The experience provided him with a real-world educational foundation for future success. “There is no way I would be sitting here today without that experience. I kind of fell into staffing, but I knew I loved it.”
MedPro Custom Solutions
Twenty years later, Barren is ready to build MedPro Workforce Solutions into a juggernaut. Barren sees an enormous opportunity to utilize MedPro’s strengths and market and develop its attributes to excel at something the competitors fail to do. “Other companies fill holes and offer ancillary solutions while focusing on generating more revenue. MedPro is client-focused.” With three strong MSPs, Barren believes MedPro is poised to take on more. Barren pointed out that MedPro isn’t publicly traded and beholden to shareholders. “We work small, nibble, and gritty. The road is going to be long and winding, but we’re in it for the long haul. That’s how we separate ourselves from the rest.” In addition to commitment, several attributes set MPCS apart from the competition. Our certifications by The Joint Commission, dedication to technology, relationships with organizations such as the American Staffing Association, and being nurse-led with a clinical team are huge differentiators. Barren was well aware of the company’s reputation when he met CEO Liz Tonkin at an SIA conference last year. “She has this pull. Her confidence and industry knowledge are unmatched and motivated me to interview with the company. Once I met the leadership team, I was sold.”
Barren is not a sales guy. His goal isn’t to get a potential client to bite. His focus is on providing solutions and solving problems. MedPro won’t be the right fit for every client and vice versa. But MedPro will focus on areas where we can excel to bring quality results. Cost is a pressing concern for facilities right now. Hospitals are closing departments or shutting down entirely, in some cases due to a lack of financial and or labor resources. MedPro can decrease dependency on contingent labor and increase a facility’s permanent labor by utilizing our knowledge in employee retention, recruitment strategies, staffing optimization, and incorporating our foreign-educated healthcare professionals through MedPro International. “Patty [Jeffrey] and Rosemarie [Aznavorian] do a phenomenal job. That speaks for itself. That’s not right for every potential client, but it’s an avenue for success for our clients to reach their goals.”
Trust is key. Barren emphasized an organization has to understand that they must make the right vendor choices to achieve their goals. By examining current assets, retention rates, the cost of that retention, turnover rate, and facility culture, Barren can educate a facility on what works so they can retain their talent. All facilities are fighting for the same nurses, but by listening, building trust, developing a solution, and executing a plan, MedPro can help facilities achieve their goals. “When they put their trust in you, and you come through for them, that’s the excitement I live for. That’s the reward of my job.”
When analyzing market trends, Barren sees a big gap in long-term care. New consolidated requirements, in addition to the challenges of the work itself and compensation, are creating a dire need among facilities for guidance. Float pools, assisting nursing education and skill advancement, international talent; Barren hasn’t figured out the best solutions, but he’s got some ideas.
Tools for Success
Dan’s father showed him what he could accomplish through hard work. The goal wasn’t money or prestige but success for yourself and your family. “He told me if I was ever hiring or managing people to focus on their work ethic and attitude because those are two skills you cannot teach.” Today, Dan and his wife Jessica of 19 years are setting an example for their children, Seth, Jane, and Willa.
He’s also found a second family in MedPro. “I’ve never worked for an organization where the individuals are so warm, welcoming, and helpful.” MedPro is an established presence in international and domestic staffing, but now the company is setting its sights on workforce solutions. Barren believes half the battle will be establishing recognition. The team will have to work ten times as hard as our competitors just to get a conversation. But with our talent, capability, and technology, we can achieve our goals. “I’m confident in my abilities, and with Liz’s leadership and the tremendous expertise of our executive team and our knowledgeable recruiters, we have all the tools to succeed.”
MPX+
Founded in 1983, MedPro Healthcare Staffing is a Joint Commission-certified provider of temporary and contract healthcare staffing services to facilities across the United States. Travelers can access MedPro’s premium jobs through the MedPro Experience+ (MPX+) app. MPX+ puts the power in travelers’ hands. Users have 24/7 real-time access to jobs, applications, credentials, assignment details, and more. They’ll get custom job alerts, one-click apply, and can access their timesheets and view details such as base pay, overtime, and meals per diem.
Download MPX+ at Google Store: https://lnkd.in/esAmN5MM or iPhone App Store: https://lnkd.in/eUuEJmXt