Benefits of Taking Locum Tenens Assignment in Rural Areas
Whether you choose to take locum tenens jobs as a way to explore the country, treat different patient populations, try out new practice settings, or supplement your income, assignments in rural locations check all of those boxes.
Furthermore, locums physicians and advanced practitioners who step in at rural healthcare facilities are giving a potentially life-changing gift to the community. It is no secret that hospitals and other facilities off the beaten path often struggle to retain adequate coverage. Your presence means underserved patients can receive the quality care they deserve but may otherwise need to go without.
Rural assignments are a win-win-win for providers, patients, and facilities. Here, we highlight some of the personal and professional benefits of taking them:
Connections with patients. Lower populations typically mean fewer patients to treat each day. In those situations, you can make the most of that slower pace by taking your time with each patient, really getting to know them, and making a connection. This rewarding benefit is not always possible in faster-paced settings.
Recreational pursuits. Fewer patients also means more down time, which gives you a chance to slow down and enjoy your surroundings. You are likely to find beautiful scenery and plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures, such as hiking, mountain biking, fishing, or camping, depending on the area.
Reduced risk of burnout. When you combine all of the above – slower pace, more personal time, new patient populations, and autonomy – you have the perfect recipe to reduce the risk of burnout. Adding some rural assignments in between contracts in larger cities may be “just what the doctor ordered.”
Financial benefits. Not only is the demand high for physicians and advanced practitioners in rural areas, but the cost of living is usually low. Apart from the compensation you will receive working locum tenens, you will likely spend less on things like entertainment, food, and other expenses, which can mean significant savings.
Impactful experiences. As a physician or advanced practitioner situated in a rural practice setting, you will be playing a vital role in the community – providing quality, compassionate care people need and deserve. Prepare to make new relationships, receive gratitude, feel a sense of purpose, and maybe even be invited home for dinner.
If you would like to further explore opportunities in rural and/or underserved locales, please call 800-928-0229 to speak with one of our dedicated consultants today or contact us online.
Establishing a Sense of Home While Working Locum Tenens
What is the first thing you do upon arriving home after caring for patients all day or night? Do you kick off your shoes, grab a beverage, turn on the TV, and unwind? If you just pulled a night shift, perhaps it’s a quick shower before climbing into bed.
Whatever your routine, home signifies a place of comfort. After all, it is where you house your belongings, eat and sleep, and make memories with loved ones. Having a sense of home is essential to your wellbeing – even when you are away from your permanent residence to practice locum tenens.
Reliable locum tenens staffing firms take the lead in finding appropriate accommodations for you, of course. But your voice is very important to the process because you can personalize certain aspects of your temporary home environment. Here, we highlight a few parameters to consider when sharing home-away-from-home preferences with your staffing company consultant.
Location, Location, Location
As the adage goes, location is king. However, not everyone shares the same idea of what constitutes a great place to hang your hat (or stethoscope), even for a short-term stay. As a locum tenens professional in town for a brief period, you may want a quick commute to work, so the closer to the hospital, the better. Then again, you may prefer a place situated near a city hub that is within walking distance to restaurants and cultural offerings. Does your schedule include overnight shifts? If you will be staying in a hotel, for instance, request a corner room far from the elevators or ask to be situated in an area known to be quiet during daytime hours, so sleep comes easy.
Space Allocations
For locum tenens jobs that only span a few days or a long weekend, a standard hotel room usually suffices in terms of living space. For longer assignments, though, you may feel more comfortable in a space where you can settle in a little and carry out activities you enjoy at home. For example, if you like to cook meals, you may want a full-size kitchen. If a spouse, significant other, or family members plan to join you on assignment, space becomes a premium. And of course, be sure to let your recruiter know if you wish to bring along a beloved pet, so they can seek out hotels or apartment complexes that are animal friendly.
Sense of Security
When you partner with a reputable company, you should expect “Red Carpet” Service and rest assured that safety is a top priority in reviewing housing options. Still, if there are certain details that will further enhance your sense of security, like having accommodations on a top floor, convey them to your consultant.
Procedures to Follow
Prior to leaving for your locum tenens assignment, confirm with your recruiter the process you should follow if repairs are needed at your temporary home. For instance, you may be instructed to contact your consultant directly to intervene and rectify the situation. But if it is a minor repair, you may be advised to communicate directly with the hotel or apartment management. A good rule of thumb: As soon as you arrive at your new lodgings, do a walk-through to make sure everything works and meets expectations.
Touches of Home
Even while you are away fulfilling locum tenens opportunities, you can personalize your interim accommodations with reminders of home as well as items that bring you comfort and joy. Simple things like bringing pillowcases and linens, framed pictures, or flameless candles can instantly make a new environment feel more familiar, welcoming, and homey.
Want to learn more about how locum tenens housing works? Call All Star Healthcare Solutions at 800-928-0229 to speak with one of our knowledgeable consultants today or contact us online.
All Star Healthcare Solutions Ranked Second Largest Physician Recruiting Company, Reports Modern Healthcare
All Star Healthcare Solutions℠, a full-service healthcare staffing company specializing in locum tenens and permanent job opportunities, has been recognized on Modern Healthcare’s Largest Physician Staffing Companies list for 2021. All Star ranked #2 among the 19 largest physician recruiting firms in the United States.
Modern Healthcare is the industry's leading source of healthcare business and policy news, research, and information. The organization reports on important healthcare events and trends, as they happen, through a weekly print magazine, websites, e-newsletters, mobile products, and events. Its annual list, provided in part by the National Association of Physician Recruiters (NAPR), includes rank, company, headquarters, and recruiter count.
“We are honored by this recognition as well as humbled and grateful that we have continued to flourish, particularly during the unprecedented times of the past year and a half,” says Keith Shattuck, the company’s CEO. “Our people are what we attribute our growth to. They genuinely care about building authentic, lasting relationships with our physicians, advanced practitioners, and clients, and they provide them with our “Red Carpet” Service and full-service staffing solutions.”
All Star Healthcare Solutions hires for culture and is routinely recognized by publications and programs for exceptional employee engagement and satisfaction. The award-winning company continues to expand its All Star family, and currently has job openings for recruiters and other positions.
“Our people are the best of the best,” Shattuck adds. “We have invested in a world-class training organization that is committed to providing them with the tools they need to learn, develop, and succeed. When you grow your people, the rest will follow.”
Click here to learn more about All Star’s award-winning culture, and visit allstar.careers to see our current job openings.
Aimee Y. Yu, MD, Honored Posthumously with All Star Healthcare Solutions’ All Star Cares Award
All Star Healthcare Solutions has honored Aimee Y. Yu, MD, posthumously with its 2021 All Star Cares Award. Dr. Yu was a critical care provider who began accepting locum tenens assignments with the staffing firm in 2019.
Each year, All Star recognizes an extraordinary clinician in conjunction with National Locum Tenens Week. This event, led by the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO®) to pay tribute to locum tenens providers nationwide, takes place annually the second week of August.
“The All Star Cares Award is presented to a clinician who leads with the heart and significantly impacts the lives of others at work or in the community,” says Keith Shattuck, the company’s CEO. “It is a privilege to honor Dr. Yu in this way. We cannot think of a provider more deserving of this distinction.”
He continues, “Prior to and during the pandemic, Dr. Yu accepted every opportunity to bring her experience, skills, and passion for medicine to facilities in need of support. An amazing person and exceptional doctor, she made a tremendous impact on the lives of colleagues, patients, our All Star family, and undoubtedly, everyone who knew her.”
The recipient of the prestigious All Star Cares Award is determined by Executive Committee based on nominations submitted by the company’s people, clinicians, and/or clients.
All Star presented Dr. Yu’s award to her husband, Allan Ferber, virtually via Zoom.
Dr. Yu loved being a physician. She was dedicated to her patients and providing them with quality, compassionate care.
“We are humbled by her selfless service, positivity, modesty, and kindness, and grateful for the opportunity to acknowledge her,” says Shattuck. “On behalf of everyone at All Star, we offer our heartfelt sympathy to Dr. Yu’s family and friends.”
All Star Healthcare Solutions Named a 2021 Best Company to Work For in Florida by Florida Trend
All Star Healthcare Solutions℠, a full-service healthcare staffing company specializing in locum tenens and permanent job opportunities, has been named one of Florida’s 2021 Best Companies to Work For.
The annual Best Companies list is featured in the August issue of Florida Trend magazine. One hundred companies are ranked in small, medium, and large employer categories. All Star ranked high in the medium-sized category, which includes companies with 50 to 249 employees.
Participating companies underwent an evaluation of their workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics. The process also included a survey to measure employee satisfaction. The combined scores determined the final rankings.
“We are humbled and honored to once again be chosen for this prestigious distinction,” said All Star’s CEO, Keith Shattuck. “It is truly testimony to our people, who are, quite frankly, amazing. They fully embrace our Core Values and sincerely care about making a positive impact on the providers, patients, and clients we serve. Thanks to them, our caring, high-performance culture continues to flourish. They are passionate about delivering our signature “Red Carpet” Service at every interaction, and we are absolutely dedicated to providing them with the resources to succeed, including our award-winning training; continuous opportunities to grow; excellent benefits; and fun activities and events.”
The Best Companies to Work For in Florida program was created by Florida Trend magazine and Best Companies Group and is endorsed by the HR Florida State Council. Best Companies Group managed the registration, survey, and analysis and determined the final rankings. For more information and a complete list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in Florida, go to FloridaTrend.com/BestCompanies.
Click here to learn more about All Star’s award-winning culture, and visit allstar.careers to see our current job openings.
All Star Wins 2021 Top Workplaces National Culture Awards for Compensation and Formal Training
All Star Wins 2021 Top Workplaces National Culture Awards for Compensation and Formal Training
All Star Healthcare Solutions, a full-service healthcare staffing company specializing in locum tenens and permanent job opportunities, announced today that it has earned Energage's 2021 Top Workplaces National Culture Excellence quarterly employer recognition awards for Compensation and Formal Training.
The Compensation Award goes to organizations that achieve the highest scores for employees stating they believe the pay they receive is fair for the work they do. The Formal Training Award is testimony that an organization is providing the formal training employees want for their careers.
“Our people are our most treasured assets,” said Keith Shattuck, All Star’s CEO. “Receiving recognition because they feel valued and amply compensated for the important work they do – as well as effectively prepared to grow and thrive at All Star – is extremely meaningful. We care about them and are grateful to have them on our team. And we appreciate the “Red Carpet” Service they deliver to our providers, client facilities, patients, community, and each other every day. Their personal and professional development is a top priority, and we are absolutely dedicated to giving them the tools and training they need to succeed.”
Like all Top Workplace awards, results are based solely on employee feedback from an anonymous, science-based, employee engagement survey. Organizations are evaluated against the industry’s most robust benchmark, based on Energage’s 15 years of research and data from 70,000 organizations and 23 million surveys.
“As companies struggle to recruit and retain employees, it’s crucial for businesses to establish cultures demonstrating that associates are welcomed, valued, and treated justly,” said Dan Kessler, president and chief operating officer of Energage. “The awards this quarter showcase companies that are doing this exceptionally well, are listening to employee feedback, and are taking steps for continuous improvement.”
Last quarter, All Star earned employer recognition awards in four categories: Appreciation, Direction, Empowering Employees, and Values. All Star also received the Specialty Award for Training as part of the Sun Sentinel’s Top Workplaces awards earlier this year.
In addition to these prestigious awards, All Star also received seven Culture Badges from Energage for 2021, which highlight an organization’s strongest culture drivers. All Star reached the top five percent for Employee Appreciation, and the top 25 percent for Leaders In-The-Know, Meaningful Work, Company Direction, Clued-In Employees, Cross-Team Cooperation, and Strong Values.
Shattuck added, “We are honored by these remarkable distinctions and humbled by this heartening feedback from our All Star family.”
Click here to learn more about All Star’s award-winning culture, and visit allstar.careers to see our current job openings.
The Advantages of Repeat Locum Tenens Assignments
Locum tenens opportunities may be short term or long term. But not all involve a new face in a new place. Some can be recurrent with the physician or advanced practitioner returning to the same facility for a given period over several months or more than a year. And these type of “repeat” assignments offer unique benefits for clinicians and clients alike.
A Client’s Point of View
Providers’ qualifications are thoroughly vetted, and their clinical experiences are matched to a facility’s requirements prior to the start of locums jobs. There is an added value to inviting back individuals who have shown themselves to be well suited to a facility’s a workplace culture. Often, a temporary clinician’s personality and approach meld so well with the staff that the client is eager to have him or her extend the commitment or regularly return if the staffing need persists.
Rather than going through the get-to-know-you stage, repeat assignments feel more like a colleague coming back to work after a sabbatical or leave and falling back in step with staff, which eases everyone’s transitions. Moreover, management also has a proven idea of how the doctor or advanced practitioner interacts with patients.
There is also a logistic advantage to offering locum tenens providers repeat assignments: they have already undergone the credentialing process. Although protocols may demand individuals reapply for hospital or practice privileges with each opportunity, most of the original legwork has been completed. That can be a substantial timesaver, enabling clinicians to come back and begin seeing patients as quickly as possible.
For smaller or rural hospitals utilizing locum tenens to bring specialists into their communities because resources or demand do not support a permanent position, repeat assignments can promote another layer of continuity of care. Seeing familiar faces can promote relationships and trust-building between patients and providers, too.
A Provider’s Point of View
While there is a segment of locum tenens professionals that seeks the adventure of practicing in one new facility and city after the other, there are clinicians who prefer some consistency in their work life while benefitting from the freedom of short-term commitments. For this group, repeat contracts offer the best of both worlds.
John Morrissey, MD, a physician specializing in pulmonary/critical care medicine who enjoyed working locum tenens one week a month for two years at a facility in North Carolina, talks about the rewards of discovering a new area, building friendships, and giving his family a glimpse of the locum lifestyle.
Like the client’s perspective, physicians, NPs, PAs, and CRNAs who do locums may appreciate the familiarity inherent to encore opportunities. Having knowledge of the clinical setup, such as where supplies are stored or who to call for consults, accelerates re-acclimation. What’s more, returning to a hospital, clinic, practice, or other healthcare organization potentially offers occasions to follow up on cases and build greater rapport with patients they previously treated. On a personal note, getting reacquainted with coworkers further strengthens friendships.
Multiple assignments also encourage frequent visitors to learn more about a community because there is plenty of time to explore attractions that perhaps were passed over on earlier stays.
What Works Best for Both
The great thing about locum tenens practice is that neither clients nor providers are bound to a single approach. The choice to ask for or agree to an encore contract depends on what works best for each party at that time.
To learn more about locum tenens opportunities that appeal to you, including the possibility of repeat assignments, call 800-928-0229 to speak with one of our experienced consultants or contact us online.
All Star Healthcare Solutions Recognized as a 2021 Top Workplace in South Florida
All Star Healthcare Solutions℠, a full-service healthcare staffing firm specializing in locum tenens and permanent job opportunities, was honored Thursday, May 20, at the Sun Sentinel’s 2021 Top Workplaces virtual awards event. The company is both thrilled and humbled to announce it ranked sixth in the midsize company category. All Star also received the Specialty Award for Training, a testament to its world-class training organization.
“This recognition comes down to our people’s feedback and how they feel about being part of the All Star family,” said Keith Shattuck, the company’s CEO. “That’s what makes it especially meaningful. We fully embrace our Core Values and care about making a positive impact on the providers, patients, and clients we serve – as well as our community and each other – through the delivery of “Red Carpet” Service.
Shattuck added that All Star’s place on the list this year and in 2020 is a true testament to employee engagement, teamwork, and the firm’s caring, high-performance culture. “Whether we are in the office or working remotely, as we have been for the past 14 months due to COVID-19, we continue to grow and flourish. No matter where we do our jobs, we’re stronger together and stronger than ever because our people make us a Top Workplace.”
All Star, along with the other organizations recognized at the online event, was chosen based on the results of a confidential employee survey conducted by Energage, LLC.
Firms were divided into one of three categories: small company (fewer than 125 employees), midsize company (125 – 399 employees), and large company (400 employees or more). The anonymous survey uniquely measured several drivers of engaged cultures critical to an organization’s success, including alignment, execution, and connection.
All Star Named Winner of 2021 Top Workplaces National Culture Excellence Awards
All Star Healthcare Solutions, a full-service healthcare staffing company specializing in locum tenens and permanent job opportunities, announced today that it has earned Energage’s 2021 Top Workplaces National Culture Excellence quarterly employer recognition awards in four categories: Appreciation, Direction, Empowering Employees, and Values.
These distinctions are an expansion of the prestigious annual awards – both regional and national. In addition, they are the latest series of honors issued by Energage, a purpose-driven technology company that empowers workplace excellence, recognizing deserving organizations by highlighting people-first efforts in key workplace culture classifications.
Like all Top Workplaces awards, results are based solely on employee feedback from an anonymous, science-based, employee engagement survey. Organizations are evaluated against the industry’s most robust benchmark, based on Energage’s 15 years of research and data from 70,000 organizations and 23 million employee surveys.
“Our people are amazing,” said Keith Shattuck, CEO of All Star. “We have been working remotely since March 2020. Throughout a time like no other in recent history, our caring, high-performance culture has continued to grow and flourish. It comes down to absolute dedication, teamwork, and a genuine affection for each other and those we serve.”
Dan Kessler, president and CEO of Energage, said the National Culture Excellence awards were introduced to enable organizations to earn objective validation of their culture-forward efforts. “The awards this quarter are on point with what matters most to employees,” he stated.
Shattuck added, “We are humbled by this recognition, and truly grateful for our All Star family and their feedback. Our culture is what makes us so unique.”
Maximizing Your Facility’s Recruitment and Retention Efforts
As physician and provider shortages continue to affect healthcare at every level, it is more essential than ever to ensure your facility remains safely staffed. Here are two approaches that can help make the most of your recruitment and retention strategies:
Partner with a full-service healthcare staffing company
If you find yourself overwhelmed with the time-consuming tasks involved with filling staffing gaps, consider working with a firm that can meet all your staffing needs: direct hire, short-term, and locums-to-perm. A reputable, full-service healthcare staffing company, like All Star Healthcare Solutions, will collaborate with you and/or your in-house recruitment team to fill positions unexpectedly vacated because of, say, illnesses, personal emergencies, or unforeseen resignations.
The right staffing partner will be invested in fully understanding your unique needs and provide “Red Carpet” Service at every interaction. And when a candidate is ultimately presented, you will know you are getting a dependable, trustworthy provider ready to seamlessly begin delivering excellent patient care at your facility.
Utilize locum tenens providers
When immediate, short-term coverage is needed, locum tenens clinicians are an ideal solution. Perhaps you have identified an ideal candidate, but he or she cannot start for four months. Or maybe one of your physicians needs to take an unexpected leave of absence. No matter the scenario, locum tenens providers can step in quickly, ensuring that your employed clinicians will not have to carry a heavier load, a consideration that ultimately increases retention. Healthcare facilities that are committed to safeguarding quality of life and practice standards enjoy strong employee loyalty.
Furthermore, a locum tenens placement has the potential to evolve into a permanent placement. The facility and the provider both have the opportunity to get firsthand knowledge of one another, so there is no guesswork involved in deciding if they are a good match.
Converting a locum tenens provider to a permanent hire involves simple contract negotiations, which typically include a pre-arranged market-rate buyout fee included in the client agreement. It is a straightforward process that lets both the organization and the provider enter into their new partnership knowing exactly what they are getting.
Count on quality support, whenever you need it
Staffing a hospital is a monumental task. Working with a staffing partner that can address all your staffing requirements can help guarantee that you are never without the qualified, experienced healthcare providers you need, when you need them. The end result? Better retention of current staff, increased patient confidence, enhanced brand loyalty, and additional revenue earned.
To learn more about how we can help maximize your facility’s recruitment and retention efforts, call 800-928-0229 to speak with one of our knowledgeable consultants or contact us online.
A variation of this article appeared in the Fall 2019 issue of ROAR, the educational publication of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR).