Mercy, based in Chesterfield, Mo., has reduced its spending on agency nurse staffing by 50% through a combination of flexible scheduling, internal workforce pipelines and AI-powered tools.
Central to the system’s effort has been deployment of its “Mercy Works on Demand” app, which enables nurses to self-schedule shifts across facilities in a gig-style model, according to an article from the system published by Catholic Health Association of the United States. The approach has helped Mercy reach an 86% fill rate while reducing overall care delivery costs by 12%, Stephanie Clements, senior vice president and chief nurse executive of Mercy, said in an article by the Catholic Health Association.
At the same time, Mercy has invested in growing its own workforce. The system expanded its “Win From Within” program to 20 hospitals, offering tuition coverage and part-time roles for prospective nurses. More than 340 caregivers are enrolled for the spring 2026 semester, building on the 671 who have participated over the past year.
Mercy also partnered with Microsoft and Epic to co-develop Dragon Copilot, an AI-powered ambient documentation tool. Since its launch in February 2025, documentation accuracy has increased from 30% to 90% across pilot units in Missouri and Arkansas, according to the article.
Ms. Clements said the combined initiatives to align technology, education and flexible scheduling have helped Mercy reduce burnout, retain talent and create a more sustainable nursing workforce.
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