Wander Staffing, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), specializes in providing exceptional healthcare staffing solutions to government entities, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), and Indian Health Service (IHS). Founded in 2018 by a retired Army officer, Wander Staffing is committed to improving the well-being of underserved communities, with a mission centered on delivering high-quality healthcare to military members, Veterans, and their families. This case study highlights Wander Staffing’s success in addressing critical staffing challenges for the VA through its work on Medical Disability Examinations (MDES).
What is the Department of Veterans Affairs?
The Department of Veterans Affairs is a cornerstone of support for American Veterans, dedicated to providing comprehensive medical care, benefits, and services to those who have served in the armed forces. The VA plays a vital role in ensuring Veterans receive the medical assessments and support needed for a dignified transition to civilian life. Through its MDES program, the VA evaluates Veterans’ medical conditions to determine disability benefits—a process requiring precise, reliable, and timely medical expertise.
The Challenge
The VA’s nationwide MDES initiative under Section 504 of the Veterans Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 faced significant staffing challenges:
- High Stakes and Specialized Roles: The program required over 50 Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) across 31 locations in 15 states. These roles demanded rigorous qualifications, including active medical licenses, unique credentialing, security clearances, and targeted training.
- Geographic and Recruitment Hurdles: Over 50% of the locations, including rural and remote areas like Shiprock, NM, were hard-to-fill positions due to a limited local talent pool and retention challenges.
- Operational Pressures: Any staffing delays risked disrupting the VA’s ability to deliver timely medical evaluations for Veterans awaiting disability determinations.
The Solution
Wander Staffing leveraged its expertise and robust operational framework to meet the VA’s staffing needs efficiently. Key actions included:
- Proactive Recruitment:
- Deployed a targeted recruitment strategy, identifying highly qualified NPs with specialized skills to meet the program’s demands.
- Utilized an extensive database of over 300 providers to rapidly fill positions, especially in hard-to-recruit locations.
- Streamlined Onboarding:
- Coordinated an expedited onboarding process that prioritized security clearances, credentialing, and orientation for rapid deployment.
- Achieved near-complete onboarding for 50 providers across 31 sites within the project’s initial rollout phase.
- Continuity Management:
- Demonstrated resilience by addressing unexpected challenges, such as a provider resignation, by securing a replacement within 24 hours and reassigning patient schedules without service disruption.
- Maintained consistent communication with the prime contractor to resolve potential issues swiftly.
- Comprehensive Support:
- Provided hands-on management, ensuring all staff adhered to the VA’s operational requirements.
- Implemented a Quality Control Plan to uphold excellence in service delivery.
The Impact
Wander Staffing’s contributions to the MDES program yielded transformative outcomes:
- Operational Excellence:
- Successfully staffed over 50 providers in record time, achieving 100% compliance with the VA’s requirements.
- Maintained uninterrupted services across all 31 locations, ensuring Veterans received timely and reliable medical assessments.
- Client Satisfaction:
- The VA reported exemplary performance, with no unfavorable ratings for Wander Staffing’s operations.
- Enabled seamless service continuity, even in the face of personnel turnover, bolstering the VA’s ability to serve its beneficiaries effectively.
- Community Impact:
- Addressed healthcare shortages in underserved areas, improving accessibility and outcomes for Veteran populations in remote and rural communities.
This case study underscores Wander Staffing’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its ability to address complex staffing challenges with precision and efficiency. Through innovative recruitment strategies, proactive problem-solving, and a Veteran-centered mission, Wander Staffing delivered critical support to the VA’s MDES initiative. By fostering relationships built on trust and results, Wander Staffing continues to be a vital partner for government healthcare programs.
Learn more about Wander Staffing here.