The locum tenens staffing industry is very competitive. If you’re in need of physician or nurse practitioner coverage, you certainly have many locum tenens companies to choose from. Here are some factors to consider when exploring locum tenens agencies:
The Business Model
Many locum tenens agencies are reactive in nature – a job opening comes in, and the agency begins a candidate search. This approach is inefficient, time consuming, and, at the end of the day, there are no guarantees that the search will be a success. Barton Associates is a proactive locum tenens company. Every day, our recruiting team connects with new locums across the country. Our network of talented locums grows daily. While there are no guarantees, our proactive approach drastically increases the likelihood that we’ll be able to provide you with an effective staffing solution—quickly and efficiently. This may seem like a minor distinction but the practical implications are significant. Learn more about the Barton Difference.
New License Assistance
All locum tenens companies will say they can fill your need. However, if the agency has fifty doctors, one licensed in each state, the chances that doctor will be available to fill your need are exceedingly slim. Barton Associates actively helps locum tenens doctors and nurse practitioners obtain new state licenses (by paying state licensing fees and providing logistical support). What does this mean for you? It means that the odds are pretty good that we’ll have a locum in your practice area, licensed in your state, ready to step in and help you with your coverage need.
Credentialing Support
Navigating the credentialing process is typically the last, most critical, and often most challenging piece of the locum tenens staffing puzzle. It can make or break the assignment. It is imperative that the locum tenens company you choose has a robust credentialing support department. If they don’t, you’re rolling the dice. Barton Associates has a highly-skilled credentialing team with extensive experience helping clients successfully (and efficiently) navigate credentialing. They’ve seen it all and are well-versed in the intricacies and potential pitfalls of the credentialing process.
The Hiring Process
How does the locum tenens company manage the locum tenens staffing process? Are they simply going to send over a stack of CVs for your review, ask you to choose a candidate, and disappear? Or does the locum tenens agency support both parties throughout the process? Barton Associates manages the entire locum tenens staffing process for you. When you have a coverage need, we select and submit pre-screened, thoroughly interviewed candidates that match your needs. We coordinate interviews, assign a credentialing expert to serve as the liaison between your credentialing department and the locum, and handle any travel related arrangements. We only ask that you let us know what you need and select a candidate. It’s that easy.
Malpractice Coverage
Many locum tenens companies charge additional separate fees associated with medical malpractice insurance—keep an eye out for this. Barton Associates provides ‘A’ rated malpractice insurance coverage for our locums on assignment at no additional charge. After all, one of the advantages of locum tenens staffing is that malpractice coverage is provided by the locum tenens agency!
