This past weekend, the NFL’s replacement referees proved again that they are unfit for the job. The most egregious example happened during the Seahawks-Packers Monday Night Football game where a missed call decided the game’s outcome and sent fans, players, media, and seemingly the entire country into an uproar. Here at Barton, we know a thing or two about replacement staffing. Clients who use our locum tenens (replacement) physicians and nurse practitioners don’t have to deal with the problems the NFL is currently dealing with. I couldn’t help but wonder how things would be different if we at Barton Associates were tasked with supplying the replacement referees to the NFL. Let’s review how Barton locums differ from the NFL’s replacement referees. Reference checks Replacement referees: Some of the replacement referees were fired from the Lingerie Football League due to several instances of “on-field incompetent officiating”. Barton locums: We check references and review the employment history for all of our locum tenens physicians and nurse practitioners. We would never work with a provider that had such a tainted employment history. Saving time Replacement referees: The games this season have been longer, mainly due to the fact that the replacement referees are taking too long to make calls, costing the league valuable time and complicating television contracts. Barton locums: We are committed to saving our clients’ time. From securing the perfect candidate to credentialing and travel-related issues, our experts handle the entire locum tenens staffing process for our clients so that they have time to focus on their patients. Safety Replacement referees: One of the most damaging criticisms of the replacement referees is that they put player safety in jeopardy. The NFL Players Association has expressed its concern that the replacement referees’ inexperience and inability to control the game has led to more violent hits and skirmishes. Barton locums: Clients who use locum tenens providers provided by Barton Associates improve patient safety. Supplementing staff with qualified locum tenens physicians and nurse practitioners allows our clients to provide high-quality care, maximize patient access, optimize throughput, and ensure continuity of care. So there you have it. Next time you find yourself in need of a replacement physician or nurse practitioner, don’t hesitate to call Barton Associates. Check out our Barton Locums vs. Replacement Refs graphic too!