Asa Healthcare Solutions

A Compassionate Approach

Healthcare staffing with purpose, passion and a family atmosphere

It was a worst-case scenario for Tracy Edwards. Several years back, her mom was on life support at one hospital, while her dad was at another, struggling to find motivation to heal. Then one day, a new caregiver managed to connect with him well enough to learn what could inspire him — his beloved dog. “If you don’t get out of that bed, how in the world are you going to get home to see Toby?” the caregiver had prodded.

The change in her father was noticeable — all because of one caregiver who connected with her father. It’s that moment that inspired Edwards in 2018 to start a healthcare staffing company focused on taking care of people and offering care they would want their own family to receive.

That company is Asa Healthcare Solutions, based in Albany, Georgia. The firm partners with healthcare facilities and families to provide temporary and permanent registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, respiratory therapists and more — generally called healers by employees.

It is this blend of family-first culture, personalized patient care and strong company values has helped make Asa Healthcare Solutions a best place to work, employees say.

Above All Else

The staff make it their utmost priority to maintain the highest level of personalized patient care with their healers. “We always try to put everyone else first,” says Senior Staffing Liaison Tatina Tucker. “That sets us apart.”

Sarah Kirk, director of operations, concurs, saying Asa Healthcare Solutions has one big contingency when recruiting: “Is this nurse someone you want to take care of your family member?”

To that end, the organization prioritizes quality over quantity for its partners. If they receive a call for 30 healers, they might only be able to provide nine — but those nine healers will go above and beyond.

The company also provides support beyond recruiting, developing deeper relationships with healers and client facilities along the way. “We’re there to provide help other than just staffing.,” Tucker says. “If the nurse manager just needs to call and vent, we’re there. … Every aspect of our business is that way.”

Purpose and Passion for Retention

The purpose, passion and family atmosphere have led many to stay and grow with the company — a rarity in a time when shorter tenures at companies have become increasingly common. The organization strives for slow, organic growth — since its founding, Asa has tripled in size to 12 internal staff and 120 healers — so it can maintain that connection with all parts of the company.

As Edwards’ longest-tenured employee, Tucker says she’s still working with many of the same internal staff and healers as she was five years ago, a testament to the family-first work environment that helps its people flourish. “That same passion that [Edwards] had then, she still has now. You don’t see that in companies that grow like that,” Tucker says.

Even with the expanding team, Edwards invests in her internal team and her healers. “She pours back into us,” Tucker says. Staff members enjoy fellowship via book clubs, which occasionally had guests come in to lead discussion, as well as growth opportunities, internal mobility and annual retreats to discuss strategy and goals. The organization also offers bonuses for the successful referral of healers, birthday celebrations and spontaneous gift cards — a pick-me-up for when someone has had a bad day.

Asa Healthcare gives special care to staff who have big life events, too. For example, the company has sent meals and checked in on employees who have had babies, Tucker recalls. And when Tucker’s mother passed away, Asa came alongside her in support and sympathy. “[Edwards] called and said, order whatever flowers that you want for your mother’s casket. Asa will take care of that,” Tucker recalls. “It’s special. That’s special.”

For Kirk, it’s all about creating an environment and a workplace where people feel they can stay long term. “You want to be able to distinguish yourself so that people can feel like they have found an employment home and they don’t necessarily have to keep looking for that next best thing,” she explains. “Because at the end of the day, you’re going to take care of them.”