Sadiant
The need for nurses has been high even before the pandemic, with the Texas Department of State Health Services predicting that Texas will face a shortage of most nurse types by 2032.
But an app based in Fort Worth is looking alleviate that need — Sadiant, a portal launched in 2016, connects hospitals with nurses on an on-demand basis. The portal has more than 250 nurses in its system, serving three hospitals and 100 clinics in the Fort Worth-Dallas area. Hospitals short a nurse simply get on the portal, find one nearby, and schedule them for a shift.
Think of it like an "Uber" for nurse staffing, says Sadiant CEO Casey Robertson.
"We look at the Metroplex, and there are thousands of nurse licenses in that area. There are travel nurses coming from outside the Metroplex, it's very expensive, and there's a long-term commitment involved in that ... if we can maximize the number of nurse licenses in an area, then we can save hospitals money," Robertson says.
Sadiant recruits nurses via platforms like Indeed, Google Ads, and social media. The company handles the background check, license verification, and drug screening before bringing the nurse on board.
Robertson says Sadiant often works with nurses who are semi-retired but still want to work a few shifts a week, as well as nurses who work full time but want to pick up extra hours.
Unlike Uber, nurses are W2 employees, not contractors, and hospitals have more selectivity about whom they work with.
"So if Nurse A worked there last Monday and they did a great job, and you want Nurse A to come back this Monday, you can choose that," Robertson says.
Outside the Metroplex, Sadiant is available at other facilities throughout Texas and Southeast Tennessee. The company is also expanding to Phoenix and has plans to become a national brand.
"Even without the pandemic, there's going to continue to be a shortage of nurses," Robertson says. "We feel like we can really maximize the number of nurses in various areas and make sure the nurse-to-patient ratios are great. We're going to continue to give nurses the opportunity to work a flexible schedule, which we hope can extend some careers, reduce burnout, and really just create a better health care setting for all involved."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sadiant is also offering nurses who can conduct temperature screenings at businesses, in an effort to avoid HR issues that may arise should a staff member without a medical background be tasked to do the job.
More information can be found at sadianthealth.com.