Healthcare organizations may have hesitations about utilizing locum tenens providers, but they are missing out on a range of benefits these experienced practitioners can bring to the table. Besides being cost-effective, locum tenens clinicians are well-qualified and ready to work in your facility. Here are some of the ways they can help:
They can bring in new perspectives
Locum tenens providers can bring a fresh perspective into your facility and offer the benefit of their experience to your team. These clinicians have worked in other settings and other locations with a wide variety of teams and personalities. These seasoned providers may offer valuable new knowledge and skillsets to an established team.
Hiring a locum tenens physician or advanced practice clinician is also a great chance to take a look at your facility’s staffing arrangements from a new angle. If you are not sure about adding another permanent staff member, you can test out different configurations by hiring temporary staff while you fine tune the levels. This is also a great opportunity to test out a potential addition to the team if the locum tenens clinician is open to staying.
They can support your staff
One of the most important benefits locum tenens providers can offer your facility is the ability to give your permanent staff a break while maintaining the coverage you need. Give your staff the chance to take a vacation or go on medical leave without the worry – everything will be covered while they are out.
Knowing that it is acceptable to take time away and that the place won’t fall apart in the interim will drastically help staff morale. Utilizing locum tenens staff can also help to ensure that your permanent staff members are not feeling overloaded and overworked since there will be appropriate support available.
It’s financially savvy
A great benefit of working with a trusted locum tenens firm is that you can make sure your seasonal busy times are covered. This means that you can continue to receive revenue even when staff must be out or when volume is high – all while minimizing overtime spending. In addition to these benefits, using locum tenens staff can further save money because your locum tenens firm should be absorbing your malpractice insurance costs for the locums providers.
Lastly, utilizing locum tenens clinicians to fill open positions while you search for a permanent employee means that you are not losing that revenue that an empty position would normally warrant. Patients can continue to be seen, the facility continues to generate revenue, and there is no need for a lost interim.
