Utah-based Health Care Company to Close Florida Facility and Layoff 56 Workers

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A Utah-based health care staffing company, CHG Healthcare, has announced the closure of its travel nursing unit in Boca Raton, resulting in the layoff of 56 employees. The company revealed this information in a formal notice to the state, outlining the upcoming closure of RNnetwork's offices at 4700 Exchange Court within the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRIC). The layoffs are scheduled to take place on November 8, 2024.

Impact on Employees

The affected positions include credentialing specialists, recruiters, assignment coordinators, and client administration specialists. In the notice submitted under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, RNnetwork President Lynne Gross explained that unless these employees find new roles within CHG, they will be let go. The WARN Act requires companies to provide at least 60 days' notice to local and state authorities when planning mass layoffs.

RNnetwork, which has specialized in supplying temporary travel nurses for nearly 30 years, will continue operating until its final shutdown on March 31, 2025. Gross assured clients that the company will work to ensure a smooth transition during this wind-down period.

Declining Demand for Travel Nurses

RNnetwork was founded in 1998 and quickly became a leader in providing credentialed travel nurses to health care facilities across the country. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel nursing industry experienced a significant surge, with the number of contract nurses doubling from around 50,000 to over 100,000. However, as the pandemic subsided, the demand for travel nurses has decreased. Many health care providers, like Baptist Health South Florida, have shifted their focus to hiring permanent staff, reducing the need for temporary nursing support.

About the Boca Raton Innovation Campus

The Boca Raton Innovation Campus, where RNnetwork's offices are located, is a 123-acre site that was once an IBM research hub. Today, it functions primarily as an office complex, owned by a partnership that includes CP Group, Rialto Capital, DRA Advisors, and Las Olas Capital. Future plans for the campus involve significant development, with proposals to add 1,250 residential units, retail and medical spaces, an entertainment venue, and other amenities.

Office space at the 4700 Exchange building, where RNnetwork currently operates, is listed for lease at $25 per square foot, not including utilities or other property expenses.

CHG Healthcare’s decision to close the Boca Raton facility reflects the broader shifts in the health care staffing industry, as the need for travel nurses continues to decline and organizations adapt to new staffing models.