Reflecting on 20 years in the healthcare staffing industry

By Rich Smith, 07-19-2024

Our goal — our mission — is the same today as it was 20 years ago

By Rich Smith
Co-Founder / CMO, Atlas MedStaff

Step back in time with me for a moment.

It’s July 19, 2004.

A 30-year-old Rich Smith — newly divorced and really looking for some direction in his life — steps through the doors of a startup company in Omaha called Medical Solutions. 

I didn’t know the first thing about healthcare staffing, but the stars somehow aligned and here I was. I felt … at home? I felt like I belonged in this industry.

20 years later, I still feel the same.

But 20 years — ?!
Wow.

How do you sum up 20 years … of anything?!

A year of change and growth

It’s weird how 2024 has been monumental for me in a few different ways. I turned 50 back in June. My son, the youngest, starts high school in August. And now this, celebrating 20 years in the healthcare staffing industry. 

To some, these are just round numbers. They are merely markers in time. Nice, even numbers that are pleasing to the eye. Nothing more, nothing less.

But I’ve always appreciated the significance of those nice round numbers. The clear delineation of time — and, we hope, growth.

Maybe it’s just how my brain works. Everything in its place. Order over chaos. The perfect fit over the randomness.

I wish I understood WHY my brain works like this. It’s held me back at times.

It’s given me anxiousness and anxiety, and thus caused me to say NO to things that I should be saying YES to. It’s confusing and scary, but when it all fits into place it’s comforting and familiar. 

Your dedication continues to inspire us

Over the last 20 years I’ve met so many amazing people. People that have dedicated their lives to healing.

You see us at our worst. When we need help the most. When our kids are sick, and we are desperate for someone to just take the pain away. Or when our parents are going through the illnesses and challenges that come along with aging, and we just want answers as to why.

Your job is not just to help heal, but to council; and, at times, grieve with us.

No one asked you to do this, or to be this person — filling all of these roles and responsibilities — yet here you are.

You chose it.

And that might be the biggest sacrifice of them all.

It’s an amazing sacrifice, and it’s why I come to work every day and do what I do.

Who heals the healers? Who is there for you when it’s the hardest? Who is there for you when everything is going wrong, and the world seems upside down? Who is on the other end of the phone when all you need is someone to listen?

We are.

This is our place. This is what WE do.

I belong here.

That’s why, 20 years ago, my first day felt so right in my brain. Or when I started Atlas in 2012, I knew there was a better way. I knew we could assemble people on this side of the desk that could be that for you. That would advocate for you, the healthcare professional that has dedicated your life to helping others.

Learning and growing — together

Over the years, I believe we have done this. Do we always perform flawlessly? Of course not. No one is perfect. But I’d like to think we make more steps in the right direction than we do veering off into the woods.

We pick ourselves up and learn from those mistakes.

We aren’t perfect. But the mission is the same, and my philosophy after 20 years in this industry has not changed, either.

Some companies are great on the MSP side, some are great direct providers. Some are great order takers, simply filling jobs as needed.

We work to be GREAT for all of you. It’s not just words on a wall here at the office, it’s who we strive to be every day. 

It’s been 20 years of this. And I can honestly say, I don’t want to do anything else.

This is where I belong.