Locum tenens is a Latin term that translates to “one holding a place” and can describe a professional, particularly a doctor or clergy member, who performs the work of a colleague for a short period. A locum tenens company can provide temporary, high-quality staffing support for hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. Hiring using the locum tenens strategy can also help hospitals and physician service providers boost recruitment and provide excellent care. Here are five ways that health care facilities can benefit from hiring locum tenens:
Simplified Hiring Process
Working with a locum tenens hiring company can boost recruitment and simplify the hiring process by finding, matching, and screening candidates for each facility client. To begin the process, hiring managers can fill out a provider request form in which they indicate the type of physician they’d like to hire, the number of positions they have to fill, and their contact information. Next, hiring managers can submit the request form and wait for a recruiter to contact them to review candidates.
Trial Period
Locum tenens hiring can provide the opportunity to evaluate locum tenens physicians before offering them a full-time position. Facilities might use this strategy to assess the attitude, medical aptitude, and cultural fit of an individual health care worker. This may be particularly useful when the facility wants to hire a specialist quickly. If hiring managers determine the candidate is a valuable addition to their team, they may offer that individual a permanent position after their time as a locum tenens is complete.
Access to Top Talent
Facilities that choose to partner with a locum tenens hiring company can easily access top industry talent to fill open positions. The selection and verification processes the hiring company performs on candidates can include pre-verification of privileges, credentials, and state licenses. They may also facilitate rigorous background checks and present only candidates with clean and consistent work histories.
Access to Compatible Talent
Locum tenens hiring companies can also assess the cultural fit between a provider and a facility before suggesting a match. To facilitate the matchmaking process, candidates can provide survey answers that reflect their interests, attitudes, and personality. The hiring company can match this information with a facility’s mission, values, and culture to offer compatible hiring options.
Continuous Patient Care
In health care settings, continuity of care is vital. For patients, it can help create familiarity and build trust. Smooth care transitions can also help reduce physician error and improve communication. If a doctor is absent — on vacation, for instance — filling the position with a locum tenens physician rather than rearranging other caregiver schedules can help improve the continuity of care for all patients. This consistency can help patients feel cared for, which may improve the overall physician-patient relationship.
Hiring locum tenens physicians can help medical facilities offer high-quality care by top-quality caregivers. Locum tenens physicians can also benefit from the opportunity to experience different locations, practice styles, and clinical settings. This makes locum tenens a useful hiring practice for medical facilities to consider.
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