Every healthcare organization today worries about labor shortages. Burnout remains an issue in the industry, and operating costs continue to rise. These escalating costs have led to declining profits, making it harder for organizations to offer competitive pay. One way the organizations are overcoming these challenges is to hire locum tenens and fill open staff positions.
While locum tenens come with a high price tag, they ensure the continuity of patient care, which is important in keeping patients satisfied. With the help of locums, an organization can remain profitable even in difficult times. The organization works with an agency to find individuals who need a locum tenens assignment.
Locum Tenens’ Value
People often assume locum tenens provide a lower quality of care. Healthcare organizations find that patient care remains consistent when provided by licensed physicians regardless of whether they are permanent staff members or temporarily filling an open position within the organization. These physicians may be able to provide specialized care and reduce physician burnout. The organization sees decreased staff turnover while being fiscally agile and responsive to those it cares for. Furthermore, these professionals can provide care in disadvantaged and rural areas where medical care is often lacking.
To see the benefits, organizations must ensure they work with licensed professionals who meet all clinical standards. The organization must work alongside the locums to ensure all parties comply with applicable laws and regulations. An organization should consult multiple locum tenens agencies to find one that meets its needs.
A Stronger Workforce
Ask healthcare leaders about the biggest challenges they face today, and many will mention a talent shortage in the industry. They state that this shortage holds their organizations back. The organizations plan to increase wages, benefits, and employee training spending to overcome this challenge. In addition, they will often work with locum tenens agencies to fill open positions until permanent team members are found.
Recruiting and staffing physicians and other advanced practitioners takes time and money. In 2021, organizations spent an average of 150 days to find, hire, and onboard a new physician, according to the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment. The time frame varied by specialty, with organizations spending an average of 77 days to find a full-time surgeon and more than eight months to bring a neurologist on board.
While looking for these professionals, the organization is losing revenue. They could recoup this revenue by bringing in locum tenens, and many organizations continue to do so today as they look to fill these open spots.
Managing Locum Tenens
Healthcare organizations find partnering with a locum tenens agency is beneficial. The agency maintains a network of qualified professionals, so the time needed to fill open spots decreases. It also handles the licensing and privileging aspects of bringing a new individual into the fold and oversees these professionals’ scheduling, invoicing, and timekeeping. The locum physicians find they have more time to spend on caring for patients and improving healthcare outcomes.
Every healthcare organization should consider using locum tenens to fill open positions. This “just-in-time” labor increases productivity while ensuring timely care. Working with a locum tenens agency reduces the time healthcare organizations spend on this task while ensuring they have the necessary professionals to support the permanent staff and provide value-based care. Learn more today about the benefits of working with locum tenens agencies and whether this option is right for your organization.
