One UMMS Staffing Pool Re-Opens for Medical Surgical RNs, Critical Care RNs and Respiratory Therapists

September 8, 2020

UMMS re-opened the One UMMS Staffing Pool for per diem critical care RNs, medical surgical RNs and respiratory therapist applicants September 8.

The Staffing Pool was closed to applicants in mid-May, after more than 1,500 individuals were hired and placed in medical facilities managed by UMMS; more than 500 of those hired were clinical professionals. The System decided to re-open the pool to applicants in anticipation of increased staffing needs due to the upcoming flu season coinciding with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff hired as part of this wave of the One UMMS Staffing Pool will be paid starting at $60 per hour and are eligible for the UMMS Bronze Healthcare Plan. The Staffing Center is placing high priority on recruiting medical surgical, telemetry and critical care RNs with the intention of supporting staffing needs at member organizations.

UMMS first established the One UMMS Staffing Pool in late March, in response to a growing need for qualified professionals to assist us in all aspects of delivering exceptional care. Its primary goal at that time was to fulfill the staffing needs of our mission, which includes temporary COVID-19 medical sites managed by UMMS: Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital, TRI (Triage, Respite and Isolation) Support Center at the Lord Baltimore Hotel and testing sites throughout the region. However, when possible, the staffing center has been able to fill needs identified by member organizations submitted to the Staffing Center.

Follow updates and share openings for the One UMMS Staffing Pool at jobs.umms.org/covid-19-emergency-staffing-pool.

One UMMS Staffing Pool By the Numbers

8882 – applications received
1,507 – per diem staff hired
544 – clinical professionals hired
8 – member organizations supported by Staffing Pool hires

FAQ

Can I recommend a friend or family member to apply for One UMMS Staffing Pool?

Yes. We welcome all qualified applicants, particularly those recommended by current UMMS employees.

Can I apply for a Staffing Pool position if I already work at UMMS?

Current UMMS employees are not eligible to apply for the temporary, per-diem jobs listed in the One UMMS Staffing Pool while employed at an UMMS organization.

How are these staff members screened, interviewed and assigned?

UMMS established a Staffing Center to field staffing requests, screen applicants and interview candidates. Assignments are coordinated with member organizations and alternate care sites based on need and the experience of the staff being deployed.

Do these positions have an end date?

The positions posted in the One UMMS Staffing Pool are per diem and will remain active as long as there is need for additional staffing resources at UMMS.

Who do I contact if I have a staffing need that could be filled by the Staffing Pool?

Submit your request via the Staffing Center by email at UMMS_Staffing_Center@umm.edu or phone at 667-233-5900.

One UMMS Staffing Pool

May 4, 2020

The COVID-19 health crisis has required new ways of thinking and quick action across our System. Medical professionals and health care employees, clinical and non-clinical alike, are rising to the challenges of this unprecedented health crisis. Our need for qualified professionals to assist us in all aspects of delivering exceptional care is growing.

In rapid response to this need, UMMS has established the One UMMS Staffing Pool. This staffing pool lists System-wide job opportunities for licensed clinical professionals, clinical support and support services staff.

The staffing pool allows us to leverage the benefits and strengths of our System by deploying qualified staff members where the greatest needs emerge: at one of our member hospitals, the Federal Medical Station located at the Baltimore Convention Center and other temporary medical care facilities in the area.

Each member hospital can submit requests for staffing needs related to COVID-19 OR deploy available staff to other UMMS hospitals or alternate care sites, via the SmartSheet links below. If you are an employee seeking additional work through the staffing pool, please talk with your supervisor.

For more information, contact the Staffing Center at 667-233-5900 or UMMS_Staffing_Center@umm.edu.

Submit a COVID-19 related staffing request for your hospital

Submit staff eligible for deployment to UMMS member hospitals or alternate care sites

FAQ

What types of professionals make up the One UMMS Staffing Pool?

We have hired professionals according to three broad categories, skill sets and levels:

Tier I – Registered nurse or other clinical professionals, including pharmacists
Tier II – Clinical support; professionals, who, under the direction of a registered nurse could provide care (care tech, med assistant, certified nursing assistant, mobility tech)
Tier III – Non-clinical support (EVS, food service, transporters)

Note: as there is not an excess of critical care and ED nurses due to the pandemic, there is not a high volume of these specialties reflected in the One UMMS Staffing Pool.

Are we also hiring more physicians?

Yes. We are recruiting additional physicians to meet the needs of patients in the midst of this health crisis. A separate job portal has been established for physicians and is accessible here.

How do you determine the areas of greatest need and which hospital is prioritized over another?

Through the Access Center, the One UMMS Staffing Center will be able to view the number of COVID-19 positive and PUI patients and critical care beds being utilized ratios throughout the System. This real-time view of the data, as well as ongoing conversations with each facility, will give us the context we need to make informed decisions about how best to deploy staff.

Can anyone on a hospital staffing team or Incident Command team submit a request for staffing or deployment through SmartSheet, or is it limited to one person in particular?

Each UMMS facility will determine which individuals are authorized to submit staffing requests or deploy staff to the pool. Submissions should be sent by a local staffing office, local Incident Command or the employee’s manager. Employees are not able to submit themselves.

What is the role of the Access Center in the One UMMS Staffing Pool? Should we be making staffing requests through that team?

No, the One UMMS Staffing Center will utilize information from the Access Center to assist in identifying areas of greatest need and deploy staff accordingly. Incident Command and staffing teams should not be making staffing requests directly to the Access Center.

I have critical staffing needs – how do I access the One UMMS Staffing Pool?

Click here to submit a COVID-19 related staffing request for your hospital. The One UMMS Staffing Center will review all requests for staff and work to align needs with all available resources.

How quickly can I expect to hear back from the Staffing Center once I’ve submitted a request?

Response times may vary, as the Staffing Center will be working to provide staff based on critical, immediate and short-term needs for COVID-19 related needs across the System.

I had four call outs on night shift. Can I get staff from the One UMMS Staffing Pool to cover my schedule?

The Staffing Center will do its best to provide staff to hospitals in need. However, please keep in mind, this resource is to be used to support care for COVID-19 patients and PUIs only. In the event we do have staff available for non-COVID-19 patients, we will work to fill the need.

I have staff available to work due to low census. Can they pick up shifts in the One UMMS Staffing Pool?

Yes. Click here to submit staff eligible for deployment to UMMS member hospitals or alternate care sites.

Can I submit any staff or are you looking for a certain background or experience level?

The One UMMS Staffing Center welcomes all available staff, including those who provide direct patient care, clinical support and non-clinical support.

Are there specific parameters around which employees can be considered eligible for deployment to other hospitals or alternate care sites? For example, do they have to have a certain number of hours available?

The One UMMS Staffing Center is asking that all employees for deployment be able to work their assigned shift (8 or 12 hours). Beyond that, local leadership will determine which employees can be deployed.

What is the process for deploying employees? For example, should interested employees approach their manager for an initial assessment to make sure they meet the criteria?

Employees will not be able to present themselves for deployment on their own. Local staffing offices and Incident Command teams should manage this process, depending upon how each organization is structured.

What kind of schedule will staff be required to work as part of the One UMMS Staffing Pool?

Most deployment to UMMS hospitals for clinical staff and clinical support staff are 12-hour shifts, and employees may pick up additional shifts based on need and availability. Non-clinical support staff shifts may differ by role and organization, and these employees also may pick up additional shifts based on need and availability.

How will staff deployed to other hospitals be paid?

Employees hired as part of the One UMMS Staffing Pool are not eligible for additional pay, and pay information is provided during the hiring process. Current UMMS employees who are deployed to other locations as part of the pool will be eligible for the premium pay incentives.

Our “Premium Pay for Additional Work” policy outlines how employees who work additional shifts to assist in our COVID-19 response will be paid. Rates of bonus pay are structured as follows:

Hourly (non-exempt) employees who volunteer to work additional shifts above their regular schedule are eligible to receive a bonus of $100 for each four-hour shift.
Hourly (non-exempt) employees who are required to work extra hours beyond the end of their regularly scheduled shift will receive double their normal hourly rate for all mandatory extra hours worked.
Salaried (exempt) employees who volunteer to work additional shifts beyond their regularly scheduled hours and duties \are eligible to receive an extra shift bonus of $200 for a half-day (four-hour minimum) and $400 for a full day.

How can salaried employees be eligible for a shift bonus?

Salaried employees who volunteer to work additional shifts in areas of work outside of their regular job duties and in addition to their regular schedule are eligible for a shift bonus. The shift bonus for salaried employees is paid after a minimum of four hours, and the rates are $200 per half-day and $400 per full day.

If an employee stays late to finish his/her regular job duties, are they eligible for a pay premium?

The new pay premium programs were designed to compensate employees who work above and beyond their regular job duties. If you have to stay past your end time to complete a routine task, you will be paid at your base pay rate only.

Can salaried (exempt) employees receive double-time pay?

No. Salaried employees are not eligible for the double-time premium.