SPOKANE, Wash — The Litehouse App, a startup out of Spokane, is attempting to disrupt the healthcare system. The CEO told NonStop Local that it will hopefully help the nationwide nursing shortage, improve workplace moral and positively affect the provider’s bottom line.
“This is a flexible model to bring empowerment to the nurse” said CEO David Heath.
Heath said that hospitals dealing with staffing shortages predominantly lean on travel nurses, “they just don’t have enough people. I don’t think there’s a hospital in the country that is comfortable with their amount of staff.”
That’s where the app steps in, connecting local nurses with local hospitals, “they can pick up a shift when they want to.”
Nurses sign up for the app input their credentials, and Litehouse will rigorously vet them to ensure they are eligible and comply with the hospital’s requirements removing some of the time-consuming barriers.
“If you bring technology to the task, it can unlock and bring speed,” said Heath.
The app simplifies the process of finding open nursing shifts at hospitals in the region. Heath compared it to requesting a rideshare, stating.
“It’s as simple as requesting an Uber ride. The app broadcasts available shifts, and any eligible nurse can choose to take it,” Heath said.
According to Heath, it will also help a provider’s bottom line. Data from Stacker.com showed that in Washington, travel nurses earn $2,663 per week, or $66.57 per hour — $13.20 more per hour than local nurses.
The CEO added that the app also provides a unique opportunity for local nurses looking to stay in the industry but only work part time.
“Now they get to choose on their own term rather than kind of being armed and twisted to come in,” Heath said.
With climbing burnout rates, Heath said his app will boost morale, which, in his opinion, will improve the quality of care as a whole.
” The greater job satisfaction nurses have ultimately means better care.”
