Staffing Healthcare Expansions: The Power of RPO with JB Tanner and Taryn Coates

A Quick Update from Elevate Care: What’s Next in Season 4

After a brief pause, Elevate Care is back—with intention and a bold new direction. In this special update, host Kerry Perez shares what’s been happening behind the scenes and why the team took time to rethink how the podcast shows up for today’s healthcare landscape. As the challenges facing clinicians, leaders, and organizations continue to evolve, so does our approach to bringing you meaningful, relevant conversations. Season 4 of Elevate Care brings an exciting new format designed to go deeper into the topics that matter most. From workforce strategy and clinical care to technology, operations, and emerging models of care, you’ll hear directly from leaders on the front lines—sharing honest insights into what’s working, what’s changing, and what it takes to truly elevate care today. Expect more dynamic conversations, a lineup of expert hosts, and even more in-person interviews from across the country. What to expect this season: * New episodes dropping biweekly * More focused, expert-led conversations * Episodes tailored to specific challenges across healthcare * Honest dialogue about what’s working—and what isn’t * Real-world insights from leaders on the front lines * And something new for Season Four: we’re on the road Season 4 launches soon—so stay tuned and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss what’s next. Sponsors:  We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Elevate]   Learn how AMN Healthcare's workforce flexibility technology helps health systems cut costs and improve efficiency. Click here [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/amn-insights/technology/whitepapers/how-workforce-flexibility-technology-helped-health-system-save/?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Retention_NuvanceCase_2025_Campaign_ElevateCare&LO=Partner_PPC] to explore the case study and discover smarter ways to manage your resources! Discover how WorkWise is redefining workforce management for healthcare.  Visit workwise.amnhealthcare.com [https://www.workwise.amnhealthcare.com/?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=Content&utm_campaign=client__workwiseads_elevatecare_2025&LO=Content_Website] to learn more. About The Show:  Elevate Care delves into the latest trends, thinking, and best practices shaping the landscape of healthcare. From total talent management to solutions and strategies to expand the reach of care, we discuss methods to enable high quality, flexible workforce and care delivery. We will discuss the latest advancements in technology, the impact of emerging models and settings, physical and virtual, and address strategies to identify and obtain an optimal workforce mix. Tune in to gain valuable insights from thought leaders focused on improving healthcare quality, workforce well-being, and patient outcomes. Learn more about the show here [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/].   Connect with Our Hosts: Kerry on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrycperez] Nishan on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nsivathasan] Liz on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/etcunningham]     Find Us On: Website [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ElevateCarePodcast] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5R2oWLZXYfjtPGW7o5Kpuo] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-care/id1710406359] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amnhealthcare/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/amn-healthcare/] X [https://twitter.com/amnhealthcare/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/amnhealthcare/]   Powered by AMN Healthcare [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Staffing Healthcare Expansions: The Power of RPO with JB Tanner and Taryn Coates

In this episode of Elevate Care, AMN Healthcare leaders JB Tanner and Taryn Coates to explore how Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) offers a strategic, scalable solution for health systems navigating new builds and expansions. JB and Taryn break down a recent major project with a Southwest health system. The organization was planning a $200 million tower edition, requiring over 400 hires in just eight months. By leveraging a dedicated RPO team, they successfully recruited highly specialized pediatric roles while maintaining strict regulatory compliance. The results speak for themselves: 95% of critical roles filled ahead of deadlines, time-to-fill dropped from 78 to 47 days, and the health system saw $2.3 million in labor savings. Tune in to learn how an RPO partnership can seamlessly integrate with your internal talent acquisition team to drive efficiency, secure top talent, and keep your next expansion project on track and under budget. About the Guests JB Tanner is the Vice President of RPO at AMN Healthcare. With extensive experience in talent acquisition strategy, JB specializes in helping healthcare organizations build scalable recruitment processes that drive long-term success. LinkedIn/JBTanner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jb-tanner-amn/] Taryn Coates serves as the Vice President of Business Development at AMN Healthcare. She leads recruitment teams through complex hospital expansions, ensuring alignment with strategic timelines and organizational goals to deliver high-quality patient care. LinkedIn/TarynCoates [https://www.linkedin.com/in/taryncoates/]. Sponsors:  We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Elevate]   Learn how AMN Healthcare's workforce flexibility technology helps health systems cut costs and improve efficiency. Click here [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/amn-insights/technology/whitepapers/how-workforce-flexibility-technology-helped-health-system-save/?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Retention_NuvanceCase_2025_Campaign_ElevateCare&LO=Partner_PPC] to explore the case study and discover smarter ways to manage your resources! Discover how WorkWise is redefining workforce management for healthcare.  Visit workwise.amnhealthcare.com [https://www.workwise.amnhealthcare.com/?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=Content&utm_campaign=client__workwiseads_elevatecare_2025&LO=Content_Website] to learn more. About The Show:  Elevate Care delves into the latest trends, thinking, and best practices shaping the landscape of healthcare. From total talent management to solutions and strategies to expand the reach of care, we discuss methods to enable high quality, flexible workforce and care delivery. We will discuss the latest advancements in technology, the impact of emerging models and settings, physical and virtual, and address strategies to identify and obtain an optimal workforce mix. Tune in to gain valuable insights from thought leaders focused on improving healthcare quality, workforce well-being, and patient outcomes. Learn more about the show here [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/].   Connect with Our Hosts: Kerry on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrycperez] Nishan on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nsivathasan] Liz on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/etcunningham]     Find Us On: Website [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ElevateCarePodcast] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5R2oWLZXYfjtPGW7o5Kpuo] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-care/id1710406359] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amnhealthcare/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/amn-healthcare/] X [https://twitter.com/amnhealthcare/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/amnhealthcare/]   Powered by AMN Healthcare [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Unlocking Workforce Agility: Building Sustainable Strategies with Flexible Labor Pools with Jackie Larson

In this episode of the Elevate Care podcast, we sit down with Jackie Larson, Senior Vice President of Client Experience at AMN Healthcare, to explore how healthcare leaders can take greater control of their workforce strategies. Are you ready to move beyond traditional staffing models and embrace a future of true agility? Jackie breaks down the evolving "flavors" of float pools—from internal agencies to innovative gig-based models—empowering leaders to make choices that align with their unique needs. By deeply understanding the data behind contingency demand, organizations can move from reactive filling to proactive strategy. We discuss how optimizing these diverse resources allows you to save costs, support your core staff, and navigate any operational challenge. This conversation is an invitation to rethink how we deploy talent. Whether it is leveraging technology for seamless integration or building trust through transparency, the path to a resilient workforce is within reach.  About Jackie Larson Jackie Larson serves as the Senior Vice President of Client Experience at AMN Healthcare. With extensive experience in workforce optimization, she is dedicated to helping health systems build sustainable, flexible staffing strategies. Her expertise spans the full spectrum of labor management, from traditional float pools to cutting-edge gig economy solutions. Jackie is passionate about empowering organizations to understand their unique data, optimize their labor mix, and achieve financial and operational excellence through strategic innovation. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 02:13 – The Spectrum of Labor Pools 05:34 – Innovation and the Gig Model 10:21 – Selecting the Right Strategy 13:34 – Understanding Demand 16:11 – The ROI of Optimization 23:06 – Technology and Integration 26:50 – Future Trends Sponsors:  We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Elevate]   Learn how AMN Healthcare's workforce flexibility technology helps health systems cut costs and improve efficiency. Click here [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/amn-insights/technology/whitepapers/how-workforce-flexibility-technology-helped-health-system-save/?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Retention_NuvanceCase_2025_Campaign_ElevateCare&LO=Partner_PPC] to explore the case study and discover smarter ways to manage your resources! Discover how WorkWise is redefining workforce management for healthcare.  Visit workwise.amnhealthcare.com [https://www.workwise.amnhealthcare.com/?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=Content&utm_campaign=client__workwiseads_elevatecare_2025&LO=Content_Website] to learn more. About The Show:  Elevate Care delves into the latest trends, thinking, and best practices shaping the landscape of healthcare. From total talent management to solutions and strategies to expand the reach of care, we discuss methods to enable high quality, flexible workforce and care delivery. We will discuss the latest advancements in technology, the impact of emerging models and settings, physical and virtual, and address strategies to identify and obtain an optimal workforce mix. Tune in to gain valuable insights from thought leaders focused on improving healthcare quality, workforce well-being, and patient outcomes. Learn more about the show here [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/].   Connect with Our Hosts: Kerry on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrycperez] Nishan on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nsivathasan] Liz on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/etcunningham]     Find Us On: Website [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ElevateCarePodcast] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5R2oWLZXYfjtPGW7o5Kpuo] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-care/id1710406359] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amnhealthcare/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/amn-healthcare/] X [https://twitter.com/amnhealthcare/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/amnhealthcare/]   Powered by AMN Healthcare [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Understanding Employee Experience through Storytelling in Healthcare

In this episode of the Elevate Care podcast, Liz Cunningham interviews James Warren, founder and CEO of Share More Stories, about the transformative power of storytelling in healthcare. They explore how qualitative insights from stories complement traditional data, the importance of emotional stewardship, and how connecting employee experience to patient outcomes can drive meaningful change. James shares practical steps for healthcare leaders to embed storytelling into their engagement strategies and improve both employee and patient experiences. About James Warren James Warren is the founder and CEO of Share More Stories, an engagement and insights company that blends storytelling with AI. With a background in corporate brand management and a passion for storytelling, James helps organizations better understand and connect with their customers, employees, and communities. His work focuses on using stories to uncover deeper insights and improve experiences across various sectors, including healthcare. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 00:30 – The Journey to Share More Stories 02:22 – Insights Beyond Quantitative Data 04:04 – A Healthcare Use Case: Emotional Toll on Frontline Employees 07:10 – Identifying Indicators for Deeper Engagement 10:16 – Leadership’s Role in Employee Experience 14:11 – Connecting Employee and Patient Experiences 20:11 – Leadership, Vulnerability, and Emotional Stewardship 24:00 – Practical Steps for Embedding Storytelling 29:34 – Starting the Conversation: Open Questions and Listening 34:54 – Final Advice: Keep It Real, Keep It Human Sponsors:  We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Elevate]   Learn how AMN Healthcare's workforce flexibility technology helps health systems cut costs and improve efficiency. Click here [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/amn-insights/technology/whitepapers/how-workforce-flexibility-technology-helped-health-system-save/?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Retention_NuvanceCase_2025_Campaign_ElevateCare&LO=Partner_PPC] to explore the case study and discover smarter ways to manage your resources! Discover how WorkWise is redefining workforce management for healthcare.  Visit workwise.amnhealthcare.com [https://www.workwise.amnhealthcare.com/?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=Content&utm_campaign=client__workwiseads_elevatecare_2025&LO=Content_Website] to learn more. About The Show:  Elevate Care delves into the latest trends, thinking, and best practices shaping the landscape of healthcare. From total talent management to solutions and strategies to expand the reach of care, we discuss methods to enable high quality, flexible workforce and care delivery. We will discuss the latest advancements in technology, the impact of emerging models and settings, physical and virtual, and address strategies to identify and obtain an optimal workforce mix. Tune in to gain valuable insights from thought leaders focused on improving healthcare quality, workforce well-being, and patient outcomes. Learn more about the show here [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/].   Connect with Our Hosts: Kerry on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrycperez] Nishan on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nsivathasan] Liz on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/etcunningham]     Find Us On: Website [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ElevateCarePodcast] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5R2oWLZXYfjtPGW7o5Kpuo] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-care/id1710406359] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amnhealthcare/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/amn-healthcare/] X [https://twitter.com/amnhealthcare/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/amnhealthcare/]   Powered by AMN Healthcare [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Building Resilience: How Emory Healthcare is Redefining Workforce Optimization

Summary In this episode of the Elevate Care podcast, host Nishan Sivathasan sits down with Paola Buitrago, Vice President of Workforce Optimization at Emory Healthcare, to explore the future of clinical workforce management. Emory Healthcare is taking a bold approach to retention and operations by placing culture and staff well-being at the center of their strategy. Paola discusses the shift from recruitment to retention, highlighting Emory’s “North Star” of culture and leadership development. She shares insights on co-creating solutions with frontline staff, implementing technology that brings the “human closer to the human,” and the importance of diversifying staffing models to offer clinicians a menu of career options. About Paola Buitrago Paola Buitrago serves as the Vice President of Workforce Optimization at Emory Healthcare, where she oversees workforce contingency strategy, float teams, staffing, and nursing analytics. Her career journey began with unique roles in sickle cell research and global health at the Carter Center while in nursing school, providing her with a broad perspective on healthcare operations. With over 20 years of leadership experience and a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Paola is passionate about designing systems that support frontline personnel and improve patient outcomes through operational excellence. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:07 – Paola’s Journey: Research to Leadership 05:07 – Prioritizing Retention and Culture 07:54 – Redesigning Work with Technology 10:34 – Co-Creating with the Frontline 11:50 – Navigating Change through Leadership 17:50 – Workforce Diversification & Upskilling 25:20 – A Human-Centric Approach to AI   Sponsors:  We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/?utm_source=Spotify&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Elevate]   Learn how AMN Healthcare's workforce flexibility technology helps health systems cut costs and improve efficiency. Click here [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/amn-insights/technology/whitepapers/how-workforce-flexibility-technology-helped-health-system-save/?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Retention_NuvanceCase_2025_Campaign_ElevateCare&LO=Partner_PPC] to explore the case study and discover smarter ways to manage your resources! Discover how WorkWise is redefining workforce management for healthcare.  Visit workwise.amnhealthcare.com [https://www.workwise.amnhealthcare.com/?utm_source=Partner&utm_medium=Content&utm_campaign=client__workwiseads_elevatecare_2025&LO=Content_Website] to learn more. About The Show:  Elevate Care delves into the latest trends, thinking, and best practices shaping the landscape of healthcare. From total talent management to solutions and strategies to expand the reach of care, we discuss methods to enable high quality, flexible workforce and care delivery. We will discuss the latest advancements in technology, the impact of emerging models and settings, physical and virtual, and address strategies to identify and obtain an optimal workforce mix. Tune in to gain valuable insights from thought leaders focused on improving healthcare quality, workforce well-being, and patient outcomes. Learn more about the show here [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/].   Connect with Our Hosts: Kerry on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrycperez] Nishan on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nsivathasan] Liz on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/etcunningham]     Find Us On: Website [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/podcast/elevate-care-podcast/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ElevateCarePodcast] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5R2oWLZXYfjtPGW7o5Kpuo] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-care/id1710406359] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amnhealthcare/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/amn-healthcare/] X [https://twitter.com/amnhealthcare/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/amnhealthcare/]   Powered by AMN Healthcare [https://www.amnhealthcare.com/] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.