ShiftMed has entered into a strategic collaboration with Skilltrade to bring allied health education into its healthcare workforce ecosystem, as hospitals and health systems continue to face shortages of credentialed professionals across critical care functions. Through the agreement, ShiftMed will integrate Skilltrade’s workforce training programs into its platform, allowing healthcare organizations to build long-term staffing pipelines for allied health positions while addressing ongoing workflow pressures. The partnership combines ShiftMed’s workforce optimization capabilities with Skilltrade’s AI-driven learning simulations and human-led training support to create a more structured pathway for workforce development. The Allied Health focus of the collaboration is intended to help organizations manage both current labor demands and future staffing needs through integrated recruitment, training, and deployment solutions.
Skilltrade’s programs include live instruction, certification preparation, hands-on lab work, and hybrid learning models tailored for workforce partners and adult learners. By incorporating these training pathways directly into ShiftMed’s platform, healthcare providers can expand workforce development efforts using both internal staff and external candidates. “Healthcare organizations require more than immediate labor capacity; they need strategic solutions that architect a sustainable pipeline,” said Todd Walrath, CEO of ShiftMed. “By partnering with Skilltrade, we are giving our clients the ability to not only optimize the workforce they have today but to actively engineer the credentialed workforce they need to solve the workflow challenges of tomorrow.”
Under the partnership, health systems will be able to identify workforce gaps and transition candidates into certified clinical roles through cohort-based training programs. These programs are designed to convert applicant pools into credentialed float staff while also supporting employee advancement into roles such as medical assistants, sterile processing technicians, surgical technologists, and patient care technicians. Training delivery options include onsite, hybrid, and online formats, alongside access to employer-sponsored education programs, workforce grants, and apprenticeship pathways. The Allied Health initiative also aligns with ShiftMed’s broader efforts to reduce dependence on contract labor, improve retention through career mobility, strengthen workforce stability, and support healthcare delivery operations. “Healthcare employers are navigating a complex and fragmented workforce ecosystem,” said Jason Aubrey, CEO of Skilltrade. “Our role is to simplify that complexity, bringing AI-enabled training, funding navigation, and workforce partnerships together into one coordinated solution. Partnering with ShiftMed allows us to deliver that value at scale.”