Healthcare staffing is a mess—shortages, burnout, and ballooning labor costs are straining hospitals and clinics. Now, ShiftMed, a fast-growing healthcare workforce tech provider, is teaming up with TELUS Digital (NYSE, TSX: TIXT) to try and fix it with AI and smart integrations.
The partnership, announced today, combines ShiftMed’s AI-driven workforce platform with TELUS Digital’s long-standing expertise in digital transformation and complex system integrations. The goal: give health systems custom, plug-and-play workforce solutions that streamline staffing and reduce operational costs.
How It Works
ShiftMed’s platform is already used by providers to:
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Reduce labor spend by intelligently filling shifts from both internal and on-demand worker networks
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Merge with existing workforce management systems to avoid adding tech clutter
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Improve efficiency through AI-driven scheduling and labor optimization
TELUS Digital brings more than 17 years of healthcare integration experience across 200+ countries and territories, with deep chops in building scalable, enterprise-grade workforce solutions. By joining forces, the two companies promise clients the ability to customize technology to fit unique operational needs—a key selling point in an industry where no two systems are alike.
“Together, we’re focused on unlocking the power of digital and AI by measurably improving the patient experience while concurrently helping providers manage costs,” said Tobias Dengel, President of TELUS Digital Solutions.
Why It Matters
Staffing challenges are among the top cost drivers in U.S. healthcare, with hospitals spending billions annually on temporary labor. AI-driven scheduling tools like ShiftMed’s promise cost savings and efficiency, but large providers often struggle to integrate them with legacy systems. That’s where TELUS Digital’s system integration play could prove critical.
For health systems, this partnership isn’t just about filling shifts faster—it’s about building flexible labor strategies that adapt to fluctuating demand, all while ensuring patient care doesn’t take the hit.
“Every health system has its own needs, and adaptability is essential to making our platform the right fit,” said Todd Walrath, CEO of ShiftMed. “TELUS Digital is the ideal implementation partner to deliver that flexibility.”
The Takeaway
ShiftMed and TELUS Digital are betting big on AI and integration as the next frontier in healthcare workforce management. If they can deliver measurable cost savings and reduce administrative headaches, this partnership could set a precedent for how tech platforms and system integrators tackle one of healthcare’s most stubborn pain points: getting the right people in the right place at the right time.
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