When the delicate balance between work and life is disrupted, it can feel like one thing after the other is spiraling out of control. Such has been true in recent years for legions of burned out nurses who have left their jobs, bested by the high-stress work environments in the healthcare space. As health organizations continue to combat this ongoing shortage, Quincy-based IntelyCare secured $115 million to put control back in the hands of nurses across the country.
IntelyCare is a gig work platform that uses AI to connect nursing professionals with open assignments at more than 1,600 healthcare institutions in the U.S. The company has been newly inducted into the unicorn club, flexing a $1.1 billion valuation after its Series C raise led by Janus Henderson Investors.
Nursing shortages have taken place in the U.S. for decades, fueled by events like recessions or wars. The pandemic has been a recent catalyst, and since it began, more than 400,000 healthcare workers in the long-term care space have left their jobs, according to research by IntelyCare.
“Nearly a third of nursing professionals did not take a vacation in 2021 and had not taken a day or weekend off in over a month, prioritizing their job above friends, family, marriages, finances and their own health,” David Coppins, IntelyCare’s CEO, told Built In via email. “The high levels of acuity and patient deaths, long working hours and shortages of staff — combined with the inherent risks of treating Covid-19 infections — have proven to be too much for many nurses. And the mounting pressure of understaffing amplifies the burden on nurses and further denies them the time or ability to find care or a break to process and heal.”
The company’s staffing platform is looking to impede on this trend. IntelyCare supports flexible work schedules for 30,000 nursing professionals across 28 states. Its fresh funding will go in part toward helping expand IntelyCare’s presence into 10 more, according to Coppins. Its services will extend into places like Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas and Utah.
It also wants to better the experience for the nurses who use its solution, so IntelyCare will also invest in adding more employment and professional development opportunities to its platform, such as resources for users who are interested in continuing their education. The company is also launching its Data Insights products to help facilities optimize their staff, increase efficiencies and improve care with the most appropriate combination of workers.
“As more healthcare professionals look for more control in when, where and how often they work, tech-enabled gig working models, like IntelyCare’s, will become increasingly popular,” Coppins said.
Based on the company’s recent 1,500-participant survey, “Nursing professionals who work in a per diem capacity and use gig work apps are significantly more likely to feel secure and that they are thriving in their careers.”
He added that these kinds of solutions also have the potential to help health organizations control acquisition and retention expenses and better plan revenue cycles to avoid cost bursts amid increased demand.
Having closed out 2021 with a headcount of more than 200 employees, IntelyCare hopes to double its internal headcount and grow to over 400 by the end of this year. The company currently lists U.S.-based technology roles spanning engineering, architecture, quality assurance, product management and more.
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