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Everyone who has solved a jigsaw puzzle knows the difference—completing the picture takes more than finding a piece that fits the shape. It must have the right image, too. In healthcare, building a strong team demands the same precision. A resume may check the right boxes—degrees, licenses, experience. But true alignment comes from deeper qualities—communication, collaboration and a shared commitment to patient-centered care. That’s where PryorCare stands apart. It looks beyond credentials to understand what healthcare organizations genuinely need and what professionals truly value. By thoughtfully matching both sides, PryorCare not only delivers hires who fit on paper, but people who strengthen the team from within—saving hospitals time, reducing turnover costs and ensuring lasting success. Insight is PryorCare’s edge. Every conversation with clinicians helps reveal the realities beneath the job description— the culture, the stressors, the reasons people stay or leave. This understanding informs each search from the start, allowing PryorCare to identify candidates who not only meet clinical requirements but will thrive within the organization’s environment. Each placement is tailored to fit the client’s on-the-ground dynamics, with support that includes refining job descriptions, setting clear expectations and aligning onboarding for maximum impact. “No matter whether it’s a family-owned clinic or a major healthcare network, we become an extension of our client’s HR team,” says Suad Abdinur, founder and CEO. “Acting as an embedded partner, we adapt to changing needs, support client growth and provide the consultative guidance needed for sustainable workforce planning.” Candidates get the same attention. PryorCare takes the time to understand each individual’s motivations, preferences and career goals—ensuring every search is guided by fit, not just function. These conversations become an opportunity to coach candidates for real-world clinical environments, helping them prepare for interviews and understand the specific demands of each role. Many candidates feel genuinely supported throughout the process—an experience that stands out in an industry often marked by transactional recruiting. PryorCare’s deep understanding of both sides of the equation—client and candidate—comes from lived experience. Abdinur spent nearly a decade as a frontline nurse, witnessing firsthand how staff shortages and turnover strain hospital systems. Through conversations with colleagues, she heard the same refrain: a wish for stronger support from leadership and peers. That insight shaped the foundation of PryorCare—built on creating real connections, improving communication and strengthening the teams that healthcare depends on.
For far too many seniors and veterans, getting to a doctor’s appointment can feel like an insurmountable hurdle. With no public transit, family too far away (or out of reach), and unfamiliar roads to navigate, each journey raises questions: Who will help me through the door? Who will be there if I feel anxious or unsteady? Wheels for the Wise reimagines that journey as part of the care itself. More than just drivers, their veteran- and community-focused teams become trusted companions— calling the day before, checking in on wellness, even arranging direct billing—so that a simple pickup becomes an opportunity to restore independence and connection, one mile at a time. Founded in Ottawa, Ontario, in 2011, the company was born out of one simple but profound insight: people living in isolation need tailored support to regain their independence. Its founder, Jana Mitchell, recognized these struggles firsthand and initiated focus groups to understand the true barriers faced by isolated individuals—especially veterans, who often battle intertwined physical and mental health challenges. From a modest start with one car, she grew Wheels for the Wise into a national service that now operates across nearly every Canadian province. “What sets us apart is our constant commitment to a client-centered experience that prioritizes human dignity, safety, and comfort every step of the way. This isn’t just about logistics—it’s about fostering trust and companionship in vulnerable moments,” says Mitchell. The company customizes services for each individual. Whether clients need a low-to-theground sedan, an SUV, or a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, Wheels for the Wise provides options. It offers proactive phone calls the day before pickups to gently remind clients who may need that extra nudge. For regular clients—especially veterans—the service extends to wellness checks when appointments are missed, ensuring no one falls through the cracks. Personal preferences like language, driver gender, or the desire for a veteran driver are honored, creating an environment where clients feel seen, safe, and respected. .
Excellence in patient care is achieved by building a workforce defined by reliability, specialized expertise, and adaptability. For America’s leading healthcare providers, hospitals and specialty care centers, collaborating with an industry leader in staffing is crucial to achieving these objectives. As the nation’s top provider of tech-powered staffing solutions, Aya Healthcare combines innovative workforce technology with an expansive network of highly qualified clinical and non-clinical professionals. Clients benefit from Aya’s comprehensive suite of solutions, including travel nursing, allied health, per diem, permanent placements, interim leadership, locum tenens, and nonclinical staffing. These tailored offerings empower healthcare organizations to rapidly fill critical roles and maintain operational efficiency, even during periods of peak demand. Specialized physician and advanced practice staffing further ensures clients have access to top-tier practitioners when and where they are needed most. The interim leadership division also connects healthcare facilities with experienced executives who can stabilize operations and drive performance improvements during transitional periods. Aya’s managed services program (MSP) elevates workforce management by offering a single-source staffing solution. It enables healthcare organizations to consolidate their workforce needs with a trusted partner, simplifying vendor coordination, minimizing administrative burden and driving cost efficiency. Seamlessly integrated with its comprehensive staffing services, the MSP empowers clients to centralize workforce planning and quickly adapt to changing demands. Supporting this comprehensive approach is Aya Connect, its all-in-one workforce platform that further streamlines staffing operations. Through vendor management, float pool tools, per diem scheduling, and predictive analytics, Aya Connect provides real-time data and workforce insights. This enables clients to monitor staffing needs, track candidate statuses, and make data-driven decisions that optimize costs, accelerate hiring, and enhance clinical outcomes.
Brian Barnett, Director of Operations & Business Development, Transport Medicine and Neonatology, Children’s National Hospital
Phillip Kotanidis, MHRM, Vice President People & Chief Human Resources Officer, Michael Garron Hospital
Abby Losinski, Director of Telehealth, St.Luke’s Health System
John MacIsaac MEd, B Tech, Manager Emergency Preparedness Projects & Planning, Nova Scotia Health Authority
Carlos Cabrera, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition, MetroPlusHealth
Future-Proofing Healthcare Through Operational Innovation
Behind the scenes of every successful healthcare encounter is a network that efficiently moves people and professionals. In Canada, where healthcare systems prioritize accessibility and continuity, healthcare staffing and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) have emerged as operational backbones supporting outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities and home-based services. While staffing ensures that licensed nurses, aides and specialists are where they need to be, NEMT services are enabling patients, especially those without private transport or public transit options, to arrive on time and receive consistent care. This combined focus improves care consistency and fosters stronger patient engagement. A well-coordinated model reduces wait times, enhances continuity of care and lowers system-wide costs associated with missed appointments and unfilled shifts. Digital transformation is playing a key role: cloud-based scheduling systems, real-time driver tracking, digital credentialing for staff and integrated patient portals are aligning the logistics of people and practitioners. Emerging trends include hybrid models where staffing agencies partner directly with NEMT providers, bundled service platforms and mobile command centers that centralize dispatch and workforce deployment. Collectively, these shifts are reshaping efficiency standards in community-driven and value-based care. This edition of Healthcare Business Review Canada explores how foundational systems like staffing, NEMT and supply chain management are evolving to support a more connected, patient-centered healthcare ecosystem. It features insights from Ernest Verdecia, director of transportation at Jackson Health System. He emphasizes that establishing clear protocols and professional standards in non-emergency hospital patient transportation is essential to ensure patient safety, efficient hospital operations and responsible use of healthcare resources. Ali Kheirandish, VP of supply chain contracting at U.S. Renal Care, highlights the urgent need to strengthen healthcare supply chain talent to meet the growing complexities of care delivery and systemwide demands in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. We hope this edition offers valuable perspective on the operational forces driving better healthcare delivery and inspires new approaches to integrated solutions that benefit both patients and providers.