Staff Augmentation, Managed Services, Optimum CareerPath –Which staffing plan best fits your organization and specific project needs?
Use this guide to ensure you get the most value and long-term solutions out of your outsourced staffing options.
As a healthcare leader, you know the value of a good staffing partner. Needs arise within your organization, and sometimes you need a subject matter expert at the drop of a hat. Or you want to outsource portions of IT work for reduced cost or better efficiency. The marketplace has much to offer, but sometimes determining between a Managed Services provider or a more traditional Staff Augmentation model can be confusing, not to mention the market’s many other unique offerings. Use the below guide to help determine the suitable model for you.
What are my options?
a. Managed Services allow you to outsource ongoing maintenance, issue management, or standard change requests, reducing the burden on your team and lowering your IT support cost by 30% or more.
b. Staff Augmentation brings you skilled and experienced Optimum consultants in particular areas or technologies as needed. While this could be for any task, maintenance or otherwise, the best use case is for net new projects or team backfill.
c. Optimum CareerPath is a unique talent acquisition program that provides clients with high potential, contract-to-hire, entry-level talent, including a 3-month healthcare IT boot camp and certifications like Epic, ServiceNow, or Tableau.
How long do you require support?
Staff Augmentation is best suited for limited-duration projects or new initiatives, whereas a Managed Services or CareerPath contract tends to be longer-term and provides ongoing support. For example, implementing a new platform, application, or facility, Staff Augmentation, is best if you need short-term support. Optimum partners closely with clients regardless of the solution to design the best service delivery to ensure long-term success.
What level of talent do you require?
Do you need a highly specialized resource for a specific project? If so, then opt for Staff Augmentation. But if you’re looking for general maintenance or continuous ongoing support that offers flexibility to shifting areas of need, then Managed Services or CareerPath will likely be a better fit and provide the right talent most cost-effectively.
How much involvement do you need to have in project development?
Generally, new projects and strategic initiatives will require input from your project stakeholders to ensure that Optimum’s consultants can complete your project successfully. Managed Services projects typically tackle a defined scope of work and operate more independently. Optimum management ensures adherence to SLAs, quality standards, and reporting cadences. The CareerPath program combines elements of both – while CareerPath apprentices are fully embedded into client teams, they are supported by Optimum’s experienced consultants and a dedicated team of engagement managers and trainers to ensure success.
Do you need to run, grow, or transform?
If you need to focus on running your team and want help delivering standard services, system care, and feeding, Managed Services are a great solution to free your team for higher-value initiatives. If you have projects to grow or transform, staff augmentation will ensure you have the right resources to meet your complex demands and timelines. And finally, CareerPath can source high-potential, custom trained, and recruited talent regardless of your need, bringing you hard-to-find technical skills combined with excellent soft skills and an understanding of healthcare’s unique needs.
Bonus – how can Optimum’s CareerPath program fit in?
CareerPath is an excellent stand-alone offering and can be embedded into your existing team. This is a unique talent pipeline program that recruits and trains early-career talent, with the ability for clients to hire those resources as FTEs after a set timeframe. Additionally, Managed Services teams are often partially staffed with Optimum CareerPath resources. After two years on a client Managed Services team, the client may hire a CareerPath resource as a full-time employee. Finally, CareerPath resources can be combined with Optimum’s experienced consultants on an implementation or any staffing need to combine the benefits of new talent with deep experience. This affordable “try before you buy” model reduces the risk of traditional hiring and brings engaged, trained resources to healthcare organizations.
What arrangement is best for you? Think Staff Augmentation for those highly skilled and defined project needs. Use Managed Services for longer-term support and maintenance needs. And don’t forget the value of Optimum CareerPath! Still confused?
Use this handy cheat sheet as a reference when selecting the right staffing program for your next IT project.
Remote Staffing Augmentation is best for:
Short term contracts
Specialized, focused projects and strategic initiatives requiring expertise
Success depends on integrating consultants into existing teams and processes
Client's ability to continue independently post-project
Managed Services support is best for:
Long-term, "set it and forget it" support
General maintenance and break-fix support
Teams comprised of primary and secondary analysts ensure coverage and continuity
Integrated support with the client team
CareerPath Provides
A long-term, trained, and supported talent pipeline
Complete flexibility in deploying embedded resources as needed
The support structure and quality guarantee ensure great new team members
Ability to quickly grow your team or replace resources with low risk and low cost
Are you trying to figure out how to build teams or fill unique roles? Select a leader that has years of Staffing and Managed Services experience, healthcare experience, and IT knowledge to guide your managed services and decision-making.
Want more strategic advice and partnership with Kristi Lanciotti and her team? Reach out to our team or your sales associate for details on how Optimum Healthcare IT combines simplicity, staffing, and managed services with healthcare and IT to help you improve patient care.
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