Ultimate Locum Tenens is celebrating the first National Locum Tenens Week (August 14-18, 2017) by recognizing the thousands of medical professionals who serve as locum tenens providers. Our Company Purpose – “To make life better for the people we serve” – aligns with the goals of locum tenens providers who fulfill the needs of clinics and hospitals to give much-needed care to patients. Continue reading
Amid reports of physician burn-out and an impending shortage of providers in the very near future, one area of medicine that is experiencing positive growth is locum tenens. Defined as “one temporarily taking the place of another,” locum tenens roles in medicine are generally physicians or other providers, such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants, who take on temporary roles to “fill in” for absent providers or meet a specific short-term clinical staffing need.
Locum Tenens numbers on the rise
In their 2016 biennial survey of physicians, Merritt Hawkins and the Physicians Foundation found that 11.5% of physicians said they planned to take locum tenens assignments, compared to 9% in 2014. Medscape notes that this would mean the number of locum tenens doctors could soon be nearly double the 6% of all doctors who now work in locum tenens positions.
What’s the appeal of locum tenens assignments for physicians? Freedom, variety, the opportunity to travel, and increased income potential are just a few of the perks of the locum tenens life – all of which appeal to physicians at various stages of their lives and careers.
Young doctors exploring options
For residents and physicians deciding where to eventually “settle down,” locum tenens offers an opportunity to gain clinical experience, sample life in various parts of the country, and potentially earn extra money while paying off student loans. Anne Anderson of the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO) notes, “We’re getting more residents, especially millennials, who want to travel and work differently than other generations. They see locums as a way that can meet some of their personal goals.”
According to Medscape, locum tenens doctors can earn “almost as much doing the same work or less, even in a rural locale, as one can in a full-time position at a clinic, group practice, or hospital in a major city. If you’re willing to work overtime, you can earn significantly more.” This is a highly attractive option for residents and new physicians eager to pay down tens of thousands of dollars in medical school debt.
Mid-career doctors seeking balance
The Merritt Hawkins and the Physicians Foundation survey found that 49% of physicians “often or always experience feelings of burn-out.” There comes a time when working very long days with no break in sight conflicts with a physician’s desire to balance time with family or other outside interests. Medscape notes, “Being able to achieve a good work/life balance is a major appeal of locum work for many doctors.”
Certain types of locum tenens opportunities can provide that balance. Locum tenens physicians may also choose to work an assignment, then take time off (to travel, to care for family, or to pursue other interests) before the next assignment. Locum tenens assignments can also provide a break in the monotony of practicing the same type of medicine for many years, allowing the physician to explore a new area or even give their career a new direction. Additionally, for a physician who has taken extended time off to raise their children or care for an ailing relative, locums work can help smooth the transition back into the workforce.
Pre-retirees ready to slow down – but not bow out
Seasoned physicians who want to continue their practice of medicine – but at a reduced pace – may find locum tenens is a good way to transition into retirement. A temporary or “fill-in” role can be less intense than the ongoing workload of a full-time physician with his or her own practice. Locum tenens assignments have a definite “end,” so physicians can plan their assignments as they choose, perhaps with longer breaks in between roles. Many pre-retirees also view locum tenens work as an opportunity to “give back” in ways they may not have been able to during their full-time career, such as providing care in an underserved community.
Trends in the US workforce show that individuals are seeking more flexibility and freedom – and that seems to apply to physicians as well. Locum tenens work offers doctors in all stages of their careers an appealing way to achieve personal goals while still serving patients.
Sources: Healthcaredive.com, Medscape.com
Roth Staffing Companies is proud to do business in Texas, one of the fastest-growing states in the union, and to be ranked #10 out of 50 Best Workplaces in Texas by Fortune Magazine and Great Place to Work. This includes the specialized business lines of Roth Staffing Companies operating in Texas: Ultimate Staffing Services, Ledgent Finance & Accounting, Ledgent Technology, Adams & Martin Group, and Ultimate Locum Tenens.
The Best Workplaces in Texas are selected based on employees’ assessment of their organizations’ culture, professional development, leadership credibility and other factors. Among more than 100,000 people surveyed at businesses operating in Texas, those at the Best Workplaces gave their companies high marks for creating warm, friendly environments where colleagues truly care about each other and their communities. The winning organizations also out-performed their peers on measures of pride, work-life balance and the fairness of their compensation.
“Although Roth Staffing Companies operates nationwide, the values of our company are particularly aligned with the values of our clients and candidates in the great state of Texas,” says Kristi Kennedy, Senior Vice President at Roth Staffing. “With 11 branch offices located in the lone-star state, I’m so very proud of the work culture our Texas coworkers have championed. They not only make life better for the people we serve, but they support and care for each other. They eagerly participate in our company’s community volunteer initiatives, health challenges, and support the many recognition programs that celebrate their coworkers.”
People at the Best Workplaces in Texas were more likely to say they look forward to coming to work and that they’re willing to give extra to get the job done – traits that help Roth Staffing better serve its Ambassadors (the temporary employees who represent them) and clients.
“Texans have a reputation for outsized pride in their state. At the Best Workplaces in Texas, they’re also proud of the work they do for businesses that offer high levels of camaraderie and confidence in their leaders,” said Kim Peters, Executive Vice President of Great Place to Work.
Roth is becoming a regular on Fortune’s Best Workplaces lists. Over the past year, Roth was ranked by Fortune as the #11 Best Medium Workplace (its second appearance on the list), in addition to Best Workplace lists for Recent Grads, Consulting and Professional Services, Giving Back, and Best Workplaces for Women.
Fortune is not the only organization to take notice of Roth’s workplace culture. The organization was recently named one of Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces™ in North America, and was recognized by the Stevie Awards for Great Employers as Employer of the Year. This is in addition to their sixth win from Staffing Industry Analysts for “Best Staffing Firms to Work For,” and third time being named a “Best Staffing Firm to Temp For.” Additionally, Roth Staffing Companies was recognized with the When Work Works award for its innovation in creating a flexible workplace.
Here are three ways to help you achieve your 2017 New Year’s Resolutions. Continue reading
With regard to managing your healthcare staff and providers, Ultimate Locum Tenens has found that engagement is a critical foundation for success. Truly engaged healthcare employees are more critical than ever, in the midst of what Forbes describes as the “dual pursuits of clinical and operational excellence in a highly competitive environment.”
Even with advances in technology, Forbes states, “Healthcare is still a people-intensive business, and improving HCAHPS scores and reducing HACs requires an investment in human capital—specifically, on employee engagement.”
What exactly makes an employee “engaged” in their work? It’s more than just being happy or satisfied. Engagement happens when employees have an “emotional commitment” to their company. Forbes notes, “When your employees are engaged, they care about your hospital, their team and their patients…When they care—they give discretionary effort.”
According to the Harvard Business Review, “When employees believe their organization truly values quality care — and also get the support they need on the job — their patients are more satisfied, they take less sick time and have fewer on-the-job accidents, and health outcomes are better.”
The same dynamic applies to quality, too: “[U]nits scoring in the top percentiles on positive organizational culture had blood-stream infection rates and mortality rates significantly lower than in units scoring at the bottom percentiles on positive organizational culture.”
Formal surveys are the first step. According to Becker’s Hospital Review, “Healthcare providers can benefit from adopting a research-driven approach” similar to big companies like Google. Organizations can use the data to develop action plans to increase engagement.
Ultimate Locum Tenens’ own internal surveys provide the insight we need to make sound business decisions that will keep our internal coworkers passionate about their job and their company. We conduct Engagement Surveys twice a year and create a game plan based on the results to improve overall experiences for our clients and Ambassadors (our term for the temporary NPs and PAs we place on assignment for clients).
According to the Gallup Organization, only 32% of U.S. employees are actively engaged. Other sources report engagement levels as low as 29%, and disengaged workers as high as 26%. Employees across all industries with low engagement levels are linked to higher absenteeism, lower profitability, more workplace accidents, and higher turnover.
On the other hand, engaged employees are the foundation of a healthy business. Increased retention from engaged employees allows us to build a stronger, more consistent relationship with customers that will last over time.
Locum Tenens NPs and PAs are in a unique position as an “employee” of two organizations. According to Staffing Industry Analysts, temporary employees report not feeling like “real” employees (even though they do real work!) and often feel as though they are entering an unwelcoming workspace.
Our unique Ambassador Program® allows temporary providers to feel empowered and engaged in your workplace, and understand exactly what is needed from them. When our Ambassadors utilize the program on assignment, overall customer and Ambassador satisfaction increases dramatically.
We’ve learned from our clients that when we respond to issues within 24 hours we directly and significantly impact their satisfaction. Through our formalized commitment to Problem Resolution Time (PRT) Ultimate Locum Tenens is dedicated to resolving issues as soon as possible, allowing us to continue to build an even stronger relationship with you.
Furthermore, our specialized Process Adapt™ tool gives us insight into your organization, and how we can better understand your business goals, internal culture, and what we can do to create a Remarkable Experience.
Engagement relies on human connection. When our coworkers, Ambassadors and clients work in tandem, we can lead to a stronger, more transparent, and effective relationship.
Sources: Forbes, Becker’s Hospital Review, Harvard Business Review, Gallup
On Thursday, March 17th – Sunday, March 20th, the Ultimate Locum Tenens team will be on-hand at the California Association for Nurse Practitioners (CANP) Annual Conference in Newport Beach, CA. Held annually and celebrating it’s 39th year, the CANP Conference at the Marriott - Newport Beach Hotel & Spa is an exciting networking event featuring an agenda of informative speakers and workshops. Ultimate Locum Tenens will be located at Booth #13, where attendees are invited to stop by and enter for a chance to win a $100 American Express Gift Card.
CANP exists to advocate for nurse practitioners and their patients and to promote the profession of advanced practice nursing.
For more information, please view the event brochure or contact Ultimate Locus Tenens at 888.297.1911.
On Thursday, September 24th – Sunday, September 27th, the Ultimate Locum Tenens team will be on-hand at the Texas Nurse Practitioners (TNP) Fall 2015 Conference in Dallas, Texas. Held annually and celebrating it’s 27th year, the TNP Conference at the Sheraton – Downtown Dallas is an exciting networking event featuring an agenda of informative speakers and breakout sessions. For more information, please view the event calendar and brochure.
As an expert healthcare staffing solutions provider, Ultimate Locum Tenens, has gathered the most up-to-date, accurate data to give you a glimpse into: Continue reading
As an expert healthcare staffing solutions provider, Ultimate Locum Tenens, has gathered the most up-to-date, accurate data to give you a glimpse into: Continue reading
Ultimate Locum Tenens, an expert healthcare staffing solutions provider, has gathered the most up-to-date, accurate data to give you a glimpse into: Continue reading