As healthcare leaders across the country were bracing for a “twindemic” and the collision of the COVID-19 pandemic with the flu this winter, it’s likely none of them could foresee just how widespread a third wave of COVID-19 would be.

As healthcare leaders across the country were bracing for a &ldquo;twindemic&rdquo; and the collision of the COVID-19 pandemic with the flu this winter, it&rsquo;s likely none of them could foresee just how widespread a third wave of COVID-19 would be. In fact, the United States has reached a <a href="https://time.com/5903673/record-daily-coronavirus-cases/" target="_blank">new record high</a> in the number of daily COVID-19 infections, surpassing the peak in mid-July during the second wave of the pandemic&rsquo;s domestic toll. We know now that the third wave of COVID-19 is officially worse than the first two.

At the top of healthcare executives&rsquo; minds is the compounding staffing and credentialing stresses such an event would have on an already weakened healthcare industry. However, perhaps most importantly, a continued focus on preparedness through expedited and streamlined credentialing processes and improved staffing surge plans to build capacity will be critical to an already-strained healthcare sector.

Cross Country Healthcare&rsquo;s top leaders have been instrumental in the previous two waves of COVID-19, working alongside facilities to streamline and speed up their credentialing and staffing processes. Now, with an even larger wave on the horizon, healthcare leaders will need to apply the powerful lessons learned earlier this year to improve the &ldquo;door to floor&rdquo; process. For a deeper dive, read our overview on <a href="https://www.crosscountryhealthcare.com/docs/righting credentialing process.pdf" target="_blank">righting the credentialing process</a> in an upside-down world.

Righting the Credentialing Process in an Upside-Down World