Medix Accelerates Utilization Review Nurse Staffing with 2-Day Average Fill Time

When backlogs pile up and internal teams start burning out, finding the right utilization review (UR) nurses cannot wait. This was the reality for one healthcare management organization.

Utilization review nurse staffing operates at the intersection of clinical care and regulatory oversight; filling these critical roles quickly and effectively is essential to maintaining patient care quality and managing costs. After the organization’s initial recruiting efforts and a longstanding agency partner missed timing expectations, they turned to Medix.

Within just one week, Medix placed six highly skilled UR nurses. These placements cleared backlog, reduced overtime for internal teams, and stabilized operations—setting the stage for potential contract-to-hire conversions and showing that with the right partner, speed to fill does not mean sacrificing quality.

About the Client

• Healthcare management organization supporting health plans with utilization review and care coordination services
• Focused on post-acute care management and clinical oversight across a distributed team model
• Operates within a highly regulated environment requiring precision, speed, and licensed clinical expertise
• Manages large volumes of clinical review work requiring rapid access to experienced UR nurses

The Challenge

Utilization review nursing recruitment represents one of the most specialized and complex segments of healthcare staffing. The client had six unfilled UR nurse roles, and the delays in filling these critical positions created significant operational risks:

• Staffing Capacity Strain: Difficulty sourcing candidates left key positions open and workloads unevenly distributed.
• Backlog Growth: A growing backlog of cases awaiting review caused existing staff to work overtime, increasing burnout, fatigue, and risk of attrition.
• Existing Agency Limitations: Despite a longstanding relationship with another staffing firm, the client was unable to secure the right talent for these roles—prompting the search for a partner who could deliver both speed and quality.

Industry benchmarks show that utilization review nurse roles often remain open for several weeks—or even months—due to the specialized licensure and regulatory requirements involved. Securing these professionals promptly is critical to avoid care delays and maintain compliance. Medix’s ability to significantly accelerate this timeline was critical to mitigating operational risks.

The Solution

Medix partnered with the client, leveraging our recruitment expertise and deep industry networks to fill the roles quickly, but also with the right talent:

• Transparency and Alignment: Candidates were presented with full licensure documentation, clear bill rates, and planned availability to ensure alignment from the start.
• Quality First: Medix focused on long-term fit and readiness, delivering nurses who seamlessly integrated and immediately contributed.
• Relationship-Driven Partnership: Medix acted as a strategic extension of the client’s team, adapting quickly to evolving needs and delivering tailored talent solutions.
• Speed Without Compromise: All six roles were filled with an average time-to-fill of just two days—far exceeding typical market timelines that can span weeks or months.

The Results

Medix’s rapid, high-quality placements cleared backlog and stabilized operations, delivering immediate impact and positioning the client for sustained success:

• Six utilization review nurses placed and onboarded within approximately one week, significantly reducing backlog and easing operational pressure
• Average fill time of 2 days per position, a standout achievement in a notoriously difficult market
• All six placements are under active consideration for contract-to-hire, enabling the client to assess long-term fit and retention potential

The backlog reduction led to a measurable decrease in overtime and burnout among internal staff, boosting morale and operational capacity. Delivering on this client’s urgent UR nurse staffing need strengthened trust and collaboration, setting a foundation for ongoing partnership growth.

Client Feedback

The client shared their experience in recent Net Promoter Score (NPS) feedback:

“Partnering with Medix has been exceptional. They’re extremely responsive, thorough, professional, and overall just great to work with. No task is too small for them to jump on and rectify. We appreciate the transparency and how Medix sends candidates over showing their licensure, bill rates, and previously planned time off. Overall, it’s been an exceptional experience with Medix.”

If your organization is facing urgent utilization review staffing needs, Medix can help you find the right talent—fast and without sacrificing quality. Get in touch to see how we can support your team.