Pulse Healthcare Services

What Pulse Healthcare Services does

Pulse Healthcare Services (legal entity RAO Radiologists, Inc., headquartered in Vienna, VA) is a privately held healthcare staffing agency founded in 1997. Originally a focused radiology staffing firm, the company expanded by 2003 into a comprehensive healthcare staffing organization covering three core service lines: travel nurse staffing (RNs, LPNs, CNAs), allied health staffing (therapists, technicians, and specialists), and locum tenens staffing (physicians and advanced practice providers). The firm operates nationwide across all 50 states and serves hospitals, acute care centers, clinics, outpatient facilities, and federal/military/civilian government healthcare organizations.

The company's underlying technology stack is a staffing platform that combines a public-facing web job-search portal, a Quick Apply system, and a mobile application (iOS and Android) for candidate self-service. Internal tooling includes automated job matching that pairs candidates to assignments based on credentials and preferences, and credentialing software that streamlines verification and onboarding. The firm also operates a worker-referral program paying up to $500 per successful 13-week placement and provides supplementary services including CEU reimbursements, multi-state licensure support through the Nurse Licensure Compact, Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, and APRN Compact, and housing assistance through partnerships with Airbnb, Engine, Furnished Finder, and Travelers Haven.

Pulse generates revenue by placing pre-vetted temporary healthcare professionals at client facilities and earning a margin on hourly billings versus wages paid to placed professionals. Pricing for facility contracts is not publicly disclosed; weekly pay to professionals ranges approximately $1,258 to $5,764 depending on specialty and location, with per diem allowances and housing stipends layered on top. The go-to-market is dual-sided: direct enterprise sales to healthcare facilities (including via GSA Schedule contracting for federal buyers) and a direct-to-consumer candidate funnel through the website, mobile app, and a roster of named dedicated recruiters. The firm holds The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval, NMSDC Minority Business Enterprise certification, NATHO membership, and GSA Schedule status, and is led by President Mr. Pacharu under a 2016-era leadership transition.

Name

Pulse Healthcare Services

Legal name

RAO Radiologists, Inc.

Website

https://pulsehealthinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Pulse Healthcare Services is a privately held, Vienna, VA-based healthcare staffing agency founded in 1997 that places travel nurses, allied health professionals, and locum tenens physicians in temporary assignments at hospitals, clinics, and government healthcare facilities across all 50 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Staffing

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare Clinical & Allied Health Staffing (BPACADAJ)

Keywords

• Travel nurse staffing
• Healthcare staffing agency
• Locum tenens staffing
• Allied health staffing
• Medical staffing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Herndon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Staffing Services: Pulse Healthcare Services generates revenue by charging healthcare facilities for providing qualified temporary healthcare staff including travel nurses, allied health professionals, and locum tenens providers. The company takes a margin on the hourly rates charged to client facilities while paying competitive wages to placed professionals.
2. Referral Program Revenue: Revenue generated through successful placements when referred healthcare professionals complete their first 13-week assignment with the company, earning the referring party up to $500.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pulse Healthcare Services is a Joint Commission-certified healthcare staffing agency that places pre-vetted travel nurses, allied health professionals, and locum tenens providers into temporary assignments at hospitals, clinics, and government healthcare facilities across all 50 U.S. states. The company generates revenue by charging healthcare facilities for temporary staffing while paying wages and benefits to placed professionals, supported by a technology-enabled platform with automated job matching, credentialing software, and a mobile application for iOS and Android.

Product overview

Pulse Healthcare Services operates as a healthcare staffing platform offering three core service lines—Travel Nurse Staffing, Allied Health Staffing, and Locum Tenens Staffing. The company supports its staffing operations through a mobile application for iOS and Android that enables job browsing, one-click applications, and credential tracking. Job seekers access opportunities through a web-based job search platform and quick apply system. The technology infrastructure includes credentialing software and automated job matching to streamline recruitment. The company also provides supplementary services including continuing education resources and housing assistance through partnerships with travel accommodation platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Travel Nurse Staffing Services Places skilled nursing professionals (RNs, LPNs, CNAs) into 13-26 week travel assignments at hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide to address staffing shortages, seasonal surges, and hard-to-fill roles.
• Allied Health Staffing Services Places allied health professionals (physical therapists, respiratory therapists, radiology technologists, surgical technicians, cath lab technicians, perfusionists, and other specialists) into travel and temporary assignments at healthcare facilities nationwide.
• Locum Tenens Staffing Services Matches physicians and advanced practice providers (including specialists in emergency medicine, family practice, radiology, and other disciplines) with temporary assignments to ensure uninterrupted patient care during long-term absences at healthcare facilities.
• Pulse Mobile Application

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AirbnbminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing partner for Pulse travel healthcare professionals. Pulse's Travel Coordinator assists professionals in finding accommodations through Airbnb when corporate housing is preferred, providing flexibility in housing options during travel assignments.
• Travelers HavenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate housing provider partner offering furnished housing solutions for Pulse travel healthcare professionals during their assignments across the United States.
• EngineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing solutions partner providing accommodations for Pulse travel healthcare professionals during their assignments, complementing the weekly housing stipend option.
• Furnished FinderminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing partner specifically serving the furnished housing needs of travel healthcare professionals, integrated into Pulse's housing assistance program.
• Nurse.comminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended CEU provider for Pulse Healthcare professionals to maintain certifications and continuing education requirements. Featured as a resource for nurses to find ongoing education opportunities.
• Relias AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended CEU provider offering continuing education courses for Pulse Healthcare professionals. Helps healthcare workers maintain credentials and advance their careers.
• Wild Iris Medical EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended CEU provider for Pulse Healthcare professionals, specializing in healthcare continuing education and professional development courses.
• Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)coreOthersLicensure compact enabling physicians to obtain medical licenses across multiple states through an expedited process, allowing Pulse to place physicians in 40 states.
• Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)coreOthersMulti-state nursing licensure compact allowing eligible RNs, LPNs, and LVNs to practice in over 43 NLC-participating states without additional licensure, core to Pulse's value proposition for travel nurses.
• APRN CompactcoreOthersAdvanced Practice Registered Nurse licensure compact enabling APRNs to practice across participating states, currently active in four states with expansion underway.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aureus Medical Group: Aureus Medical is a healthcare staffing agency focused on travel nursing and allied health, with a particular emphasis on therapy, laboratory, and imaging professionals. It directly overlaps with Pulse's allied health and travel nursing offerings.
• Trusted Nurse Staffing: Trusted Nurse Staffing is a privately held travel nursing and allied health staffing agency serving hospitals nationwide. It competes with Pulse in the same mid-market segment with a comparable recruiter-supported placement model and per-diem benefits structure.
• Medical Solutions: Medical Solutions is a major U.S. travel nursing staffing agency placing RNs and allied professionals in 13-week assignments nationwide. It competes with Pulse in the same customer segment (hospitals, healthcare systems) using a similar recruiter-led model.
• Aya Healthcare: Aya Healthcare is one of the largest U.S. travel nursing and allied staffing agencies, with a technology-led platform and mobile app similar to Pulse's. It competes head-to-head for travel RNs, LPNs, and allied health professionals and serves many of the same hospital customers.
• Fastaff Travel Nursing: Fastaff specializes in rapid-response travel nursing for high-acuity hospital needs and is a recognized competitor in the U.S. travel staffing market, overlapping with Pulse's RN staffing service line.
• Weatherby Healthcare: Weatherby Healthcare is a CHG Healthcare-owned locum tenens physician staffing firm. It competes directly with Pulse's locum tenens service line and serves similar hospital and government healthcare customers.
• CompHealth: CompHealth is one of the largest U.S. locum tenens staffing firms placing physicians and advanced practice providers. It is a direct competitor in the locum tenens vertical that Pulse also services.

Broad incumbents

• AMN Healthcare: AMN Healthcare is the largest publicly traded U.S. healthcare staffing firm, offering travel nursing, locum tenens, allied health, and physician permanent placement. It directly competes with Pulse across all three of Pulse's core service lines but operates at vastly greater scale, with thousands of corporate employees and a national footprint.
• Cross Country Healthcare: Cross Country Healthcare is a publicly traded staffing firm offering travel nursing, allied health, locum tenens, and permanent placement. Its broad service portfolio and national scale make it a direct competitor to Pulse across multiple staffing verticals.
• HealthTrust Workforce Solutions: HealthTrust Workforce Solutions is the staffing arm of HCA Healthcare and provides travel nursing, allied health, and locum tenens across HCA's network. It is a significant competitor for acute care hospital contracts that Pulse also targets.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pulsehealthusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pulsehealthinc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pulse Healthcare Services