Medical virtual assistant agencies: how the model works and who runs one
An agency recruits, trains, employs and places the assistant and stays in the relationship. That is what the per-hour premium over a marketplace or a direct hire buys. Here is what to expect and eight agencies compared.
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The agency model
The agency is employer or contractor of record. It recruits for medical background, runs HIPAA training, manages payroll in the assistant's country, and in the better cases manages the assistant's device and replaces them if the fit fails. You interview a shortlist, choose, and pay the agency.
What the agency fee buys
- Recruiting and screening for medical background — the most expensive thing to do yourself.
- HIPAA training before start (stated by five of our ten providers).
- Payroll and compliance in another country.
- Replacement when a match fails (stated by four).
- A single accountable contact.
Against a marketplace or direct hire, expect to pay $1–$4 more per hour for those. Whether that is worth it depends on whether you have the time to do them yourself.
Eight agencies in our shortlist
MedicalVirtual, Hello Rache, MEDVA, My Mountain Mover, Staffingly, HelpSquad Health, Virtual Nurse Rx and Phoenix Virtual Solutions operate as managed agencies. Virtual Latinos and Wishup are marketplaces or subscriptions. The shortlist answers all seven vetting questions for each.
Choosing between them
Hourly agencies (MedicalVirtual, Hello Rache) for part-time and variable needs; package agencies (My Mountain Mover, MEDVA, Staffingly) for a known full-time seat. Then apply the seven questions — in our shortlist only MedicalVirtual and My Mountain Mover state a BAA, and only MedicalVirtual publishes a part-time minimum.
Published 8 November 2026 · Last reviewed 8 November 2026 · Report an error