The nursing profession is as demanding as ever and working in a home healthcare setting isn’t any easier. With a decline in available nurses and no simple way to fill every shift, there needs to be a way for home healthcare providers to efficiently staff nurses. Swift Shift is a mobile platform that connects nurses to home healthcare providers to maximize coverage of much needed shifts. The HIPAA-compliant software is already deployed at Bayada Home Health Care, Epic Health Services, and CritiCare with hundreds of nurses already on the platform. These nurses are now able to manage their schedules better, leveraging Swift Shift’s technology so that they can maintain a focus on providing healthcare. For the agencies and home healthcare providers, Swift Shift represents an easy-to-use, managed recruitment platform.
AlleyWatch chatted with founder and CEO Assaf Shalvi about the start of the company, its future plans, and the change in the nature of work in the nursing profession.
Tell us about the product or service.
Swift Shift is a mobile-first app and platform for connecting home healthcare providers with nurses and caregivers in real-time. With the US currently experiencing a significant nurse-shortage crisis – 1.6 million nurses are expected to exit the industry by 2020 – our technology is enabling home healthcare providers to recruit, engage, and retain their workforce. This also allows nurses and caregivers to take control of their work schedule, while building their careers from the palm of their hand. By ensuring nurses and caregivers have flexibility and control of their careers, Swift Shift is revitalizing the workforce and enabling home healthcare agencies to focus less on trying to fill their schedules, and focus more on giving patients the care they need.
With the recent launch of our Boost recruitment solution, we are giving agencies the ability re-engage with their inactive nurses and caregivers to address the industry-wide recruitment crisis. Boost uses targeted, relevant cases to shorten the recruitment funnel, opening new pathways for nurses to re-engage with their careers. These new pathways open new opportunities for demand induction as we onboard the next generation of the home healthcare workforce.
How is it different?
Swift Shift is a unique platform because it not only replaces outdated, inefficient scheduling practices, but it gives home healthcare agencies the opportunity to engage with their existing nurseforce and re-engage with their inactive workforce. 53% of the $3 billion spent on home healthcare recruitment is wasted on re-engaging a workforce that has churned. Only $.47 of every recruitment dollar spent is allocated toward growth, and with the shortage gap in nursing and caregiver staff widening, our solution is address the biggest problems in the funnel. We are opening new pathways for agencies and nurses to connect- through targeted case notifications and in-app HIPAA-compliant messaging. By giving agencies the opportunity to shorten the recruitment funnel and increase nurse lifetime value, they are able to address the nurse and caregiver shortage and decrease employee turnover.
What market are you attacking and how big is it?
The home healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing industries, projected to reach $365 billion globally by 2022, with the nurse workforce expected to expand by 36% in the coming years. Additionally, the number of adults 65 and over requiring long-term care is rapidly increasing, and according to a recent report, 700,000 nurses are expected to retire in the next 7 years – that’s 1 out of every 7 nurses in the US. So today, it’s more important than ever to begin adopting new solutions that will streamline the process of recruitment, retention and home care worker scheduling.
What is the business model?
Prior to launching Boost, Swift Shift licensed their software to agencies. Now, Boost is the first and only, 100% success-based recruitment platform, with a pay-for-performance model. Agencies pay only for successful Boost recruits who work for them.
What inspired the business?
For 15 years, I worked as a consultant for governments trying to implement programs to help place people in jobs of a higher caliber, or positions that they desire. My passion for helping others quickly evolved, and I wanted to develop new pathways and mechanisms that enable easier access to better employment, especially individuals working in skilled, entry-level positions.
Two years ago, I pivoted to home healthcare after realizing that this industry is growing rapidly but functions on antiquated methods. My sole focus was to develop and deliver a solution that helps both the people working in the home healthcare industry as well as the patients receiving care. The underlying goal is to expand the opportunities for home healthcare nurses and caregivers by enabling them to build their careers, grow their professional strengths and have more control over their lives. This goes hand in hand with our focus of reducing the complexities and costs of recruitment – a challenge that Swift Shift is aiming to tackle.
How do you vet nurses on the platform?
Our platform is currently being utilized by nurses and caregivers who have already been vetted and hired by one of our healthcare partners.
What are the milestones that you plan to achieve within six months?
We are growing fast, and in order to keep up with the growing challenges and evolution of this industry, we will continue to establish strong partnerships with agency providers around the country to provide home healthcare workforces and health care providers with our service solutions.
What is the one piece of startup advice that you never got?
It seems absolutely fundamental now, but it was never stressed upon me just how important focus is. Yes, a great idea might be the start of something world-changing, but without setting the right goals to take your business to the next stage, you can’t get it off the ground. My advice to entrepreneurs: set goals, and then focus 100% on hitting them. Say no to any distractions.
If you could be put in touch with anyone in the New York community who would it be and why?
Christopher Olivia, MD – the relatively new President and CEO of Visiting Nurse Service of New York. I think we could be great partners to New York City’s largest home healthcare provider.
Why did you launch in New York?
We selected New York as our home because of the growing venture capital and startup community and the proximity to our customers. We also love New York City’s energy and no-nonsense business culture.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the city?
Kirsch on 87th and Amsterdam – both for their delicious food and bakery products, as well as their amazing service and welcoming atmosphere.
