Medical Staffing FAQs

A medical staffing shortage for just one week can cost thousands of dollars in lost revenue and cause dissatisfaction in the community through delays, increased waiting times and cancellations. With physician and other healthcare professionals recruitment efforts stretching four to six months for permanent providers, healthcare organizations often depend on temporary employment as they conduct a permanent search. Many facilities also use locum tenens physicians and other healthcare professionals to test the need for a new staff position or specialist.

Independently contracted doctors, dentists, CRNAs, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and allied health professionals practice on a temporary basis for several reasons. Physicians just out of residency and other healthcare professionals use locum tenens employment to ‘test drive' a practice setting or location. More experienced healthcare providers appreciate the opportunity to focus on patient care, without reimbursement concerns or other paperwork hassles. In 2005, almost 39,000 physicians and providers practiced on a temporary basis. By accepting locum tenens physician employment opportunities, physicians and providers can maintain their independent status and the clinical autonomy that comes with it.

According to the 2003 Review of Temporary Healthcare Staffing Trends and Incentives, 77 percent of healthcare administrators rate locum tenens providers as equal or superior to their staff providers. The physicians, dentists, CRNAs, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other advanced practice medical professionals contracted by our medical staffing company are subject to both a strict in-house qualifying process and rigid underwriting by our malpractice insurance carrier. Staff Care also requests feedback regarding provider performance during each placement.

Although the typical locum tenens assignment spans 10 to 20 days, interim providers often cover vacancies lasting from three or four days up to a full year. Organizations often realize significant savings by using temporary physician and other healthcare professionals employment to cover extensive vacancies.

Staff Care processes payment on a weekly basis on behalf of its client organizations. Healthcare professionals contact us directly with any questions regarding payment rates, premium pay, expenses or other related matters. Though payment to clinicians ultimately is derived from the organization using the clinician, we handle payment processing. In other words, using our medical physician and other healthcare professionals' employment service reduces the paperwork for you and your staff. Staff Care also coordinates travel, housing and transportation.

There is no up-front fee for requesting locum tenens coverage through Staff Care. We operate on a contingent basis. Daily rates for locum tenens physician services vary according to region and specialty. To learn how Staff Care can help your healthcare organization, please submit your medical staffing needs today.