Accountable Healthcare Staffing Inc. entered into a referral agreement with healthcare staffing firm AZ Nurses Choice in which AHS will assume the staffing pool and clients of the Phoenix-based firm and share the gross profit generated on that book of business for a period of time.

The agreement was finalized May 1; terms of the transaction were not announced.

AHS acquired firms in Denver and Baltimore in a similar fashion, and yesterday finalized a similar transaction with a pharmacy staffing business in Chicago.

“It’s a novel model that we are using,” said Eddie Albert, AHS’ director of mergers and acquisitions. “It creates value for a mom-and-pop business that wasn’t generating profit before.”

AZNC has annual revenue of more than $1 million. The transaction includes upwards of 50 nurse files and all active healthcare professionals will transition over to AHS. Barbara Young, AZNC founder, will assist with the onboarding of the staff but not remain with the firm.

AHS has 40 offices nationwide.