In the bustling healthcare landscape of Alberta, five companies have emerged as dominant players in the agency nursing market, capturing the lion's share of Alberta Health Services (AHS) contracts from 2015 to 2023. These companies—CNS Medical Inc., Sahara Staffing Solutions, Nurse Relief, Select Medical Connections Ltd., and Solutions Staffing—have collectively secured nearly three-quarters of the $96.5 million awarded in AHS nursing contracts over these years. Their dominance underscores a significant shift in the province's approach to managing nursing resources.
CNS Medical Inc. stands out as the foremost beneficiary of AHS contracts, accruing a substantial $32.9 million since the 2020/21 fiscal year. Remarkably, $30.9 million, or 91% of their contracts, came in the 2022/23 fiscal year alone. Incorporated in 2017 and registered at the Edmonton law firm Canvas Legal, CNS Medical is a fully owned subsidiary of Paramedex Consulting Ltd., headed by Robin M. Stevens of Calgary.
Sahara Staffing Solutions, established in 2008, has garnered $5.7 million in AHS contracts since 2015. Meanwhile, Nurse Relief has received $17.6 million in contracts since 2020/21, with $15.6 million attributed to the 2022/23 fiscal year alone. These figures highlight a growing reliance on agency nursing to address staffing challenges within Alberta's healthcare system.
“With the RFEOIQ process now finalized, the new agency contracts no longer qualify as procurement exceptions and will not be listed on the Approved Procurement Exceptions page,” – James Wood
The evolution of AHS spending on contract nursing illustrates this trend vividly. From a modest $388,000 for contracts with two companies in the 2015/16 fiscal year, spending surged to $5 million with five companies by 2020/21. This trajectory continued its upward climb to an astonishing $81 million with 27 companies by 2022/23.
Select Medical Connections Ltd., founded in 1999 and incorporated in Alberta in 2008, has secured $10.7 million in AHS contracts, while B.C.-based Solutions Staffing has accumulated $3.6 million since 2018. Although Solutions Staffing has only been registered as a corporation in Alberta since 2024, its strategic positioning has proven advantageous.
“At first, you might not think that it’s that important to you, but as you think about it, you start to realize that this really could improve your life. Not only will you get the hang of it in no time, but just like with technology, you’ll wonder how you did without it,” – Solutions Staffing
The agency nursing market's rapid expansion is attributed to several factors. The increasing need for flexible staffing solutions amid fluctuating demands and the drive to address long-term employee recruitment and retention strategies have played pivotal roles.
“address long-term employee recruitment and retention strategies” – Solutions Staffing
“your connection to finally having that work/life balance you’ve always wanted” – Solutions Staffing
The AHS's decision not to publicly disclose contracts for the 2023/24 fiscal year marks a significant shift in transparency. The RFEOIQ process introduced a competitive framework that excludes these contracts from the AHS sole-source database.
Sahara Staffing Solutions highlights another aspect of agency nursing's appeal—financial incentives. By offering pay rates above union wages, these agencies attract healthcare professionals seeking enhanced compensation.
“EARN [sic] more pay per-hour than union wages” – Sahara Staffing
