The Trinity Health system serves approximately 170,000 people in the surrounding area of Minot, North Dakota. When short-staffed, Shar Grigsby, CMSR, physician recruiter at Trinity Hospital, a Level II Trauma Center, turns to locum tenens professionals to continue the high level of care the community has come to expect from the healthcare network.

As a locum tenens physician, your independent contractor status offers numerous advantages—flexible scheduling, wide-reaching practice opportunities, and paid travel expenses, to name just a few. But while your staffing agency likely pays the tab for your malpractice insurance, it does not offer health insurance benefits, which means it is up to you to find the most suitable coverage for yourself and your family.

Overseeing both the permanent and temporary staffing needs of more than 19,000 employees, a manager of physician recruitment offers insights into how administrators and in-house recruiters can utilize contingent staffing as a strategic part of their operations.

Manager of a rural clinic and an advocate for using locum tenens services, Sherise A. Layton shares how her facility has successfully integrated mobile practitioners into its staffing mix.

Prepping for a career as a locum tenens physician often requires you to deal with paperwork to obtain credentialing, licensure, and/or hospital privileges. While the process can be time consuming, it does not have to be overwhelming. With assistance from staffing companies and other organizations, you do not have to go it alone.

Experienced in credentialing and coordinating arrangements for locum tenens physicians, a medical staffing services manager shares some valuable suggestions for hospital administrators that can facilitate the transition of these providers.

With a growing aging population and many physicians approaching retirement, healthcare facilities are turning to contingent staffing to fill the increasing demand for medical services. This month, a clinic administrator discusses some approaches he has used to create a positive environment for both permanent staff and mobile professionals to assure continuous quality patient care.

What happens when a client or a mobile provider cancels a locum tenens contract before it is completed?

The process of orientation actually begins when a representative of the client organization identifies expectations to staffing company recruiters. "Our clients address anticipated patient load, call schedule, and any special procedure or skill requirement," explains Joan Pearson, president of Catalina Medical Recruiters in Phoenix, Arizona. "They often give us a copy of the organization's by-laws."