How to Solve Healthcare’s Workforce Collapse with Data and AI w/ John Derse & Will Self

Talent Hunters

For most of the workforce, the chaos, uncertainty, and intensity of COVID are in the rearview mirror.

But for the healthcare workforce and hospital systems, it’s still very much the present.

Not only has the sector struggled to recover from the effects of the pandemic, but in many ways, working conditions have worsened. From unsustainable hours to shrinking margins, the human toll has been immense.

Simply put: we’re not attracting doctors and nurses like we used to, and we’re rapidly burning out the ones we still have.

Something has to change. We need to rethink talent acquisition and retention in ways that weren’t necessary before.

Data and AI offer the most powerful tools to do this.

Healthcare generates more data than any other industry, and that data can be leveraged to solve some of the sector’s most urgent challenges.

So, how do we use data and AI to get a handle on what’s really happening in the workforce? What pressures are healthcare workers and hospital systems facing?

In this episode, I’m joined by two workforce leaders from Mercer, John Derse and Will Self.

They unpack the current state of healthcare and share how we can use data to improve working conditions and support the well-being of the people behind the care.

Guest Bio

John Derse is a senior partner and healthcare provider, and industry practice leader at Mercer. His consulting is in the area of People Strategy, which includes strategy, alignment/change management and workforce analytics, and rewards, providing clients with "end-to-end" strategic advice concerning the design, implementation, and operation of human capital and the HR function. Healthcare is an incredibly important industry to Mercer. $1 of every $10 of Mercer’s revenue in the US comes from a hospital or health system. Our commitment to this industry runs deep, and our powerful and unique research has helped us to understand this world today, but more importantly, tomorrow as well. John’s clients include some of the largest health systems and academic medical centers in the United States. John has also collaborated with organizations and brought innovative work for a broad range of clients across various industries, including financial services, consumer products, retail, manufacturing/distribution, and entertainment. Connect with John on LinkedIn.

Will Self is the Workforce Strategy and Analytics Leader at Mercer. As the global leader of Mercer’s Workforce Strategy & Analytics business, Will has the opportunity to work with clients at the unique intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, workforce strategy, and human resources. He is passionate about building HR functions that create value through advanced strategy, actionable insights, and unique sources of competitive advantage. The WSA team consists of data scientists from a diverse range of disciplinary backgrounds, including labor economics, I/O psychology, computer science, and statistics. They are united in their desire to help clients develop people AI, drive productivity, and enhance the employee experience. Connect with Will on LinkedIn.

About Your Host

Vince Holt is the founder and CEO of Management Recruiters of Mercer Island. With 35+ years industry experience, he is the only MRINetwork team member to win CSAM of the Year, Person of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards. In addition to spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren, Vince has raced motorcycles for over 50 years, winning 5 National Championships.

Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!