In this episode of the MGMA Business Insights Podcast, Sr. Editor and Host Daniel Williams is joined by Amy Otto and Kyle Hadley of LocumTenens.com to explore how transition management can help healthcare organizations maintain continuity of care during periods of staffing change.

Together, they unpack why transitions — whether driven by rising subsidies, expiring contracts, workforce shortages, or service line realignment — represent high‑risk moments for patient care, finances, and staff morale. Drawing on real‑world examples from anesthesia and radiology, the conversation highlights how proactive, structured transition management transforms chaos into stability, protects patient access, and positions organizations for long‑term operational success.

Key Takeaways

[01:50] Rising costs and loss of control often trigger transition discussions
Leaders most often explore transition management when facing escalating subsidies, outsourcing dissatisfaction, or limited transparency from practice management groups — especially in critical service lines like anesthesia and radiology.
[03:32] Transitions are no longer rare events — they are the new normal
Staffing changes, leadership shifts, and service line realignments are happening across healthcare. Without proactive planning, organizations risk higher costs, staff burnout, and disruptions to patient care.
[05:00] Reactive transitions drive higher costs and operational friction
When transitions aren’t managed proactively, organizations experience increased turnover, reduced productivity, credentialing delays, and financial inefficiencies that compound existing workforce stress.
[06:12] Effective transition management turns disruption into stability — by design
A structured, customized transition playbook aligns leadership, clinicians, operations, contracting, and credentialing—ensuring patient volumes continue uninterrupted while change happens behind the scenes.
[09:14] The discovery phase is the most critical step
Successful transitions begin with upfront evaluation: reviewing staffing models, coverage requirements, contracts, credentialing status, scheduling workflows, and stakeholder impact — before urgency takes over.
[14:20] Stabilization requires centralized oversight and clear accountability
Streamlined scheduling, onboarding, credentialing, and communication — managed through a single, coordinated process—reduces confusion, shortens timelines, and eases frontline staff burden.
[16:14] Data builds trust and reduces anxiety during change
Transparent reporting on coverage, fill rates, patient access, quality indicators, and financial performance reassures teams that care continuity is protected and progress is on track.
[20:32] Success means patients never notice the transition
True success is achieved when staffing stabilizes, financial performance normalizes, clinician confidence returns — and patient care continues seamlessly, without disruption or delay.

Resources

LocumTenens.com – Transition management and clinician staffing solutions
Contact Amy Otto on LinkedIn
Contact Kyle Hadley on LinkedIn
Locum Tenens Physician Staffing Playbook (MGMA)

This episode is brought to you by Greenway Health.

Healthcare practices today need more than incremental improvements — they need a smarter, more connected way to work. That’s why Greenway created Novare — the first natively AI-enabled platform designed to reinvent the legacy EHR.

Built with AI at its core, Novare helps unify clinical, financial, and patient engagement workflows — reducing administrative burden and helping providers focus more time on patient care. From ambient documentation to intelligent agents, Novare brings purposeful automation to the entire ambulatory workflow.

To learn more about Greenway Health and Novare, visit greenwayhealth.com.

Healthcare Staffing Transitions: How Leaders Protect Patient Care During Workforce Changes