Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Summary
Episode: Scaling Smarter: How Partnerships and AI Are Transforming Healthcare Staffing
Release Date: July 28, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host Lucas Vaz engages in a comprehensive discussion with Ben Murtis, CEO of Ingenivus Health. The conversation delves into the evolving landscape of healthcare staffing, highlighting the critical role of strategic partnerships and artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing current workforce challenges.

Guest Introduction

Ben Murtis brings a wealth of experience in healthcare strategy, finance, and operations. With a background encompassing staffing in healthcare services, practice management, life sciences, and clinical research, Ben has successfully led multiple mergers and acquisitions, driven industry-leading growth, and steered a company through an IPO. Since joining Ingenivus Health as CFO in 2021 and ascending to CEO in 2022, Ben has focused on building a robust workforce solution platform aimed at supporting healthcare systems and communities nationwide.

Current Trends in Healthcare Staffing

The healthcare sector is navigating a complex set of staffing challenges exacerbated by recent legislative changes and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ben outlines how these factors have disrupted traditional workforce models:

• Pre-COVID Workforce Model: Traditionally, healthcare systems maintained a workforce composition of approximately 70% permanent staff, 15-20% PRN (pro re nata or as-needed), and 10-15% contingent workers.

• Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic upended this balance, leading to increased shortages, higher turnover rates, burnout among clinicians, and more frequent labor actions. Health systems have since struggled to revert to pre-pandemic staffing levels amidst these new challenges.

Ben emphasizes the importance of adaptable workforce strategies in the face of these disruptions:

“Healthcare systems are navigating these challenges with partnerships becoming critical to delivering not just quality of care, but acceptable profitability.”
— Ben Murtis [02:49]

Importance and Impact of Partnerships

Strategic partnerships between healthcare systems and workforce solution providers like Ingenivus Health are pivotal in overcoming staffing hurdles. Ben shares several success stories that illustrate the tangible benefits of such collaborations:

1. Cost Reduction: Ingenivus Health has achieved over a 25% reduction in bill rates and a more than 30% decrease in year-over-year spending for certain healthcare systems.

2. Operational Efficiency and Culture Improvement: By creating internal resource pools, Ingenivus has not only enhanced operational efficiency but also fostered a positive workplace culture and improved quality of care.

3. Permanent Staffing Conversion: Ingenivus successfully converted over 150 nurses from contingent to permanent staff within a year through innovative program design.

“…these are the examples of what can truly be accomplished when partnership is put at the forefront of workforce solution planning.”
— Ben Murtis [05:39]

Enhancing Clinician Experience and Culture

The well-being and satisfaction of clinicians are central to effective healthcare delivery. Ben discusses the evolving expectations of healthcare professionals and how addressing these can mitigate turnover and shortages:

• Flexible Opportunities: Clinicians increasingly seek flexible work arrangements that accommodate their personal and professional lives.

• Skill Development: Opportunities for career growth and skill enhancement are paramount for retaining talent.

• Appreciation and Value: Clinicians desire to work in environments where their skills are recognized and valued.

Ben underscores the dual benefit of tailored workforce solutions:

“These solutions are not just solutions for the clients, but they are solutions for the clinicians as well. And when we do that together, it's one that works for all.”
— Ben Murtis [07:57]

Role of AI and Digital Innovation in Staffing

Artificial intelligence and digital tools are revolutionizing healthcare staffing by enhancing efficiency and matching capabilities between clinicians and healthcare systems. Ben highlights several key applications:

• Predictive Assessments: AI-enabled tools analyze clinician preferences to predict suitable job orders, increasing the likelihood of successful placements.

• Client Support: These tools provide healthcare systems with actionable insights to fill roles with the right personnel at optimal costs, thereby minimizing coverage gaps and maximizing profitability and quality of care.

• Internal Efficiency: AI reduces administrative burdens for Ingenivus employees, allowing them to focus on creating value rather than repetitive tasks.

“AI is going to continue to drive healthcare... ensuring that we're using these tools to help clinics, both our clients and our clinicians, have the outcomes that they're looking for.”
— Ben Murtis [11:14]

Future Priorities and Outlook

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, Ben outlines Ingenivus Health’s strategic priorities to lead the future of healthcare staffing:

1. Customized Solutions: Developing tailored workforce solutions that integrate Ingenivus Health’s diverse capabilities across travel nursing, allied health, and physician staffing to meet the unique needs of urban, rural, and other healthcare settings.

2. Adaptive Delivery Models: Refining delivery models to respond to legislative changes impacting Medicaid and other areas, ensuring cost-effective and creative solutions for clients.

3. Clinician Ecosystem Expansion: Building a robust ecosystem for clinicians, supported by advanced recruitment technologies and AI to deploy the right talent to the right opportunities efficiently.

Ben expresses a strong commitment to addressing the uncertainties in the healthcare landscape by being a reliable partner to both healthcare systems and clinicians:

“We're here to be part of the solution and we take that responsibility very seriously... delivering exceptional outcomes to our clients.”
— Ben Murtis [14:53]

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a heartfelt acknowledgment of healthcare professionals as essential heroes, underscoring the collective effort required to sustain and enhance the U.S. healthcare system. Ben’s insights illuminate the transformative potential of strategic partnerships and AI in overcoming staffing challenges, ultimately ensuring quality patient care and system profitability.

“It's not said enough these days.”
— Ben Murtis [18:17]

For more insights and discussions on healthcare trends, visit the Becker’s Healthcare podcast page at beckershospitalreview.com.