The Benefits of Locum Tenens for Grandparents and Grandchildren
A few years ago, AARP reported that more than half of the grandparents in the United States lived more than 200 miles from their grandchildren. Plus, approximately one-third of grandmas and grandpas resided a minimum of 50 miles from the youngest generation in their families. That’s a lot of distance to cover when trying to stay in touch. Even with the convenience of video calls, text messaging, and social media apps, there’s nothing like spending quality face-to-face time with young family members. Luckily, that’s exactly what locum tenens offers physicians and advanced practitioners who also happen to be grandparents.
Locums carves out more time for grandkids.
According to a 2021 study, nearly 27 million Americans between the ages of 40 and 64 are grandparents. For many in this age bracket, full-time retirement isn’t quite in the cards yet. Locum tenens, however, supports much more schedule flexibility to balance your career and personal wishes.
When adopting a locums practice, you have the authority to choose when to accept assignments. Additionally, you decide the length of contract to consider. If you like the idea of only accepting a few days at a time, tell your All Star Healthcare Solutions’ consultant. Similarly, tell them if you hope to work multi-week contracts or want to inject a bit of variety into your work schedule, whether that means different facility sizes or types or varying assignment lengths. Such flexibility creates windows of downtime when you can focus more on the grandchildren, including experiencing their everyday happenings, like having meals together or arranging special outings and vacations.
Invite grandchildren to visit you on locum tenens assignments.
A locum tenens career also introduces the potential for grandkids and their parents to visit you while on assignment. For example, your recruiter presents a temporary position near a city that is home to popular tourist attractions, historical sites, or national parks that your family would enjoy visiting. In this case, you can coordinate calendars so they can plan a getaway to join you. On days off or after shift, all of you can create vacation memories. You can even stay after the contract’s end date to enjoy sightseeing as a family. Be sure to loop in your All Star consultant in case changes in travel or housing arrangements are required.
Locums can bring you closer to grandchildren.
As noted above, more than half of grandparents live hundreds of miles away from adult children and their families. Close that distance with a locum tenens contract in the same or neighboring city. A temporary job allows you to combine work with family time. For instance, while the kids are in school, you are treating patients. After school and after work, you’re all free to plan get-togethers or attend the kids’ sporting events or school performances. You can even request an assignment to coincide with special occasions, such as graduations. If that’s the goal, share the details with your consultant — personal or date-specific information helps us match your objectives to opportunities.
Another benefit to accepting locums near grandkids is that you will enjoy your own private living accommodations and earn an income while making memories.
In other words, for grandparents and grandchildren, locum tenens is a family-friendly option. All Star Healthcare Solutions is ready to help enhance these bonds. Call us today at 800-928-0229, or contact us online.
3 Ways Rural Facilities Can Use Locum Tenens as a Recruiting Resource
Critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, and sole community hospitals — these are a few of the designations attached to healthcare organizations serving the millions of Americans living in rural and smaller, non-suburban communities scattered across the country. For quite some time, facility administrators and industry analysts have noted how a large portion of these facilities have ongoing challenges with recruiting and retaining physicians and advanced practice providers. Using locum tenens as a recruiting tool in addition to short-term staffing solutions can be an effective measure to mitigate staffing concerns in rural communities.
Keep reading to see how locum tenens can support your facility’s direct-hire recruitment strategies.
- Locums offers “real-time” interviews.
One of the most impactful benefits of locum tenens as a direct-hire tool is forming first-hand evaluations of clinicians. Whether you request a temporary provider for a few days or a few weeks, having them on site offers a window into their practice style and how they interact with patients, family members, caregivers, and staff. It’s an arrangement that delivers an in-depth perspective as to whether or not they will be an asset to your workplace. Plus, you make this assessment without committing to long-term employment contracts.
Bonus: Locum tenens jobs empower providers the same opportunity to evaluate a position and setting in real time.
- Locums enables facilities to assess staffing needs.
While the demand for many medical specialties remains high nationwide, it’s even higher in many rural communities. Locum tenens can be an effective gauge as to whether the need supports bringing in specialists on a permanent basis. For instance, contracting with locums specialists every few weeks or months for recurring assignments may meet current demand for your facility without involving the long and costly recruitment process. Or, the temporary status may reveal that a more long-term plan is warranted, in which case, All Star Heatlhcare Solutions’ Direct Hire Division stands ready to launch a candidate search.
- Locums allows providers to experience life in rural communities.
Recruiting healthcare professionals to your hospital or clinic entails more than just them fitting in on the job. A complementary fit to the community for providers and their family members is essential to retaining staff. However, it’s hard to know if candidates will enjoy life in a rural town until they live it. Locum tenens contracts give them a real-life taste before deciding to relocate, and you can help facilitate that. Encourage your locums providers to invite loved ones to visit during or after assignments.
Tip: A “get to know our hometown” packet helps providers feel welcome to the community.
All Star Healthcare Solutions is your full-service staffing company.
We know facilities everywhere encounter both short- and long-term staffing demands, and as your partner, we’re ready to meet all of them. Our Locums and Direct Hire Divisions work together to satisfy your facility’s unique circumstances.
Call All Star Healthcare Solutions today at 800-928-0229, or contact us online.
RVing Essentials for Locums Providers
Freedom, flexibility, and adventure are all characteristics of the locum tenens lifestyle. Locums providers can choose where and how often they take assignments, claiming more control over the times and places they work. This boundless freedom can be further enhanced by another alternative practice: RVing. Below, we dive into the benefits of RV living for locum tenens professionals any time of the year.
- The comfort of home on the road
One coveted perk of locum tenens is that providers can take assignments in facilities nationwide. Living in an RV is a great option for those who want to take full advantage of these ample travel opportunities without changing temporary living arrangements from assignment to assignment. An RV lets you feed your adventurous spirit while having the stability of a familiar space to come home to, wherever you go.
- Streamlined preparation for travel
Individuals who live year-round in an RV don’t have to pack and unpack personal items when they go on assignment. Even part-time RVers enjoy the conveniences of limited packing and being able to bring more personal belongings with them when traveling. More space also means extra room for family, friends, pets, and partners to go along on locums adventures. Clinicians who prefer solo traveling will benefit from the additional space, too. You may meet people on and off the job with whom you form connections, and an RV gives you the space to host new acquaintances in your home.
- Freedom to extend your stay
Locum tenens assignments provide a first-hand look at the uniqueness and variety of communities in the United States. While on your travel odyssey, you may feel particularly besotted with the food, landscape, and activities of a certain area and wish to further immerse yourself in the culture after a contract ends. If you don’t need to leave for another locum tenens job, continuing your visit is as easy as extending your RV campsite reservation. You may also want to talk with your consultant about extending your contract, finding more opportunities in the area, or blocking off time between assignments.
- Vehicle Versatility
RV towing hitches are handy tools for bringing cars or motorcycles along on assignments. This accommodation lets providers travel comfortably to their destination while also having a smaller vehicle for exploring their new community and commuting to work. If you prefer not to bring your car, discuss local transportation options with your recruiter.
A Starter’s Guide to RVing
Recreational vehicles come in a plethora of styles, so do your research and visit RV showrooms to get an idea of price ranges, sizes, and preferred amenities. When you’ve narrowed down your choice, consider renting a similar vehicle for a few days to test out the lifestyle before making the big purchase.
Make sure to check out resources on upkeep and safety, too, so you're comfortable with maintaining the vehicle before traveling. If you don’t already subscribe to a roadside assistance program, consider signing up for AAA or another service for peace of mind.
Finally, when you're prepared to hit the road in your new RV, mention your housing preferences to your All Star Healthcare Solutions recruiter. You may want to look into lining up multiple assignments ahead of time and pre-book your RV parks or campgrounds using popular networks like KOA.
Tips for Success
- Warehouse clubs may offer discounts on food, fuel, and camping supplies.
- Use RV trip-planning apps to map out routes, campgrounds, and travel times.
- Join an RV club to establish a community and get more tips. You may even find other locum tenens professionals or nomad workers in nearby campgrounds!
Are you ready to start a locum tenens adventure? Whether that includes an RV or not, All Star Healthcare Solutions is here to help. Call us at 800-928-0229, or contact us online.
All Star Healthcare Solutions Presents All Star Cares Award to Gitanjali Vidyarthi, MD
All Star Healthcare Solutions recently presented its All Star Cares Award to Gitanjali Vidyarthi, MD.
The annual event kicks off National Locum Tenens Week (Aug. 12–16), sponsored by the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO) to honor locum tenens providers nationwide.
“It’s an absolute privilege to bestow the All Star Cares Award to a provider who leads with the heart and positively affects others, professionally and in the community,” said Ken Bernstein, CEO and President. “Dr. Vidyarthi is an accomplished physician and amazing person who significantly impacts the lives of her patients, the residents she mentors, and people everywhere through her research.
“Her humility and compassion reflect All Star’s “Red Carpet” Service of going above and beyond,” he continued. “We’re so grateful for all she does for patients and All Star Healthcare Solutions, and we’re proud to name Dr. Vidyarthi the 2024 All Star Cares Award honoree.”
In addition to partnering with All Star since 2021, Dr. Vidyarthi, a gastroenterologist, works for the Veterans Affairs healthcare system and has served as university faculty. She’s also contributed to multiple research papers and presented at conferences.
“It’s been an extraordinary journey, and I’m honored to work with All Star,” she said during the virtual presentation. “Receiving this award motivates me to work to the best of my ability for every patient, and to keep learning and growing. There’s so much more I want to do for people and within medicine.”
“I am honored to work with Dr. Vidyarthi,” said Stefano Radice, consultant, Locums, who has worked with her for the past three years. “Everything she does is offered with an authentic and humble gratitude, which is why she is so deserving of this recognition.”
The All Star Cares Award recipient is chosen by an Executive Committee based on nominations submitted by the company’s people, clinicians, and/or clients.
To learn more about All Star Healthcare Solutions and the services we provide to physicians, advanced practice professionals, and healthcare facilities, call 800-928-0229, or contact us online.
Your Go-to Guide on Locum Tenens Terminology
Did you know the term locum tenens is Latin and means “to hold the place,” as in physicians or advanced practitioners holding the place of staff clinicians while they are out on vacation, or leave, or until a new member is recruited, for example?
If you are unfamiliar with the career alternative or just now investigating the option, the following glossary of terms is a great place to become acquainted with the language of locum tenens.
Application
The application is the initial step in the All Star Healthcare Solutions’ locum tenens journey. It’s a general information form that helps us get to know you.
Assignment
A locum tenens assignment (or contract) is the period during which a physician, nurse practitioner (NP), physician assistant (PA), or certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is contracted to work at a hospital, clinic, private practice group, or other healthcare organization. Assignments have both start and finish dates agreed upon by provider and facility, but can vary in length from as little as a day or two to multiple consecutive weeks.
Assignment Match and Presentation
As a staffing agency, our job is to match physicians, NPs, PAs, and CRNAs to facilities requesting additional clinical staff. We match your specialty, skills, experience, licensure, and availability to the contracting organization’s requirements. Consultants then present the contract for your consideration and permission to submit your profile to the facility representative. Next comes a phone interview between you and the administrator or manager before an assignment offer can be extended.
Credentialing
Credentialing is a term for verifying your education, professional experiences, and general background information. Our Medical Staff Services specialists work with individuals to collect the required documentation, including curriculum vitae, licenses, board certifications, education certificates, national provider identification (NPI) and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) registration numbers, and professional references. We help you complete All Star’s credentialing requirements and use that information to prefill healthcare facilities’ credentialing forms as much as possible to expedite the process of securing privileges for you to care for patients on assignment.
Independent Contractor
Locum tenens professionals are categorized as independent contractors, which means you are neither an employee of the staffing agency that places you in contracts nor of the facility where you have been assigned to work temporarily. That said, All Star Healthcare Solutions covers providers under our medical liability insurance policy for the duration of each assignment.
Interstate Licensure Compacts
Interstate licensure compacts are agreements among member states to streamline the licensure processes so providers who accept out-of-state locum tenens jobs can begin treating people as quickly as possible. The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) applies to physicians and the PA Licensure Compact for physician assistants is expected to be functional by 2025. For more information, read our blog, “What Locum Tenens Providers Need to Know about Multistate Licensure Compacts.”
National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO)
NALTO is a locum tenens industry group that establishes and promotes best practices among staffing agency members. All Star Healthcare Solutions is a proud member of NALTO.
Orientation
Just like starting any new job, locum tenens providers typically receive an orientation with each new assignment, albeit a condensed version. To learn more about the locum tenens onboarding process, read our blog, “What to Expect from a Locum Tenens Orientation.”
Pay Rate
Generally speaking, locum tenens professionals are compensated at a rate commensurate with the overall market for a facility’s region. Consultants will discuss each contract’s specific details when presenting opportunities.
Professional References
Well-qualified references have familiarity with your medical experiences and abilities as well as your communication and interpersonal skills within the past two years. For tips on picking professional references, see our blog, “Acquiring Professional References for Locum Tenens Jobs.”
Recurring and Repeating Assignments
As noted earlier, locum tenens jobs have start and end dates; however, circumstances may result in a contract extension, adding extra days to a current assignment. That’s different than a recurring or repeat assignment. A recurring locum tenens job is defined by a provider returning to a specific facility on a predetermined schedule. This could be one weekend per month, every other week, or whatever arrangement satisfies both provider and facility. A repeat assignment comes about when a locums professional accepts a second, third, or more contracts at an organization. However, these contracts are not based on a specified schedule. The benefit of both recurring and repeat opportunities is that you already know the setting, co-workers, and patient population.
WHAT DEFINES THE ALL STAR HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS’ DISTINCTION?
Partnering with All Star Healthcare Solutions means specialization, support, and going above and beyond for our providers, our clients, and your patients.
All Star Consultants
At All Star, our Locums consultants (or recruiters) are your top representative and ally. They work on teams dedicated to medical specialties, and as specialists, they are knowledgeable about vernacular common to the field, often-requested skills, and other attributes unique to your specialty’s practice.
All Star Provider Portal
The All Star Provider Portal is a secured digital gateway to more efficiently upload supporting documents and complete the All Star application and required forms. Our Online Services team is ready to assist and answer any questions.
All Star’s Signature “Red Carpet” Service
Unique to All Star Healthcare Solutions, our “Red Carpet” Service means we always go above and beyond as our standard, not an occasional extra.
To learn more about locum tenens and All Star Healthcare Solutions, call 800-928-0229, or contact us online.
6 Benefits of Longer Locums Contracts
Hospitals, medical groups, and clinics partner with All Star Healthcare Solutions to fill gaps while recruiting new staff members, when patient census climbs, personnel go on leave, or services expand. In some cases, locums assignments run only a few days or maybe a week or two. However, there are instances when the need stretches beyond short-term assignments. Long-term locum tenens contracts offer a unique set of benefits as explained below.
Get comfortable in a setting and community
Locum tenens offers physicians and advanced practitioners the opportunity to practice in a variety of clinical settings. There are people who like the idea of moving from one temporary job to another, and there are also providers who feel more at home staying in one facility for longer assignments. After all, the more shifts you complete in a clinical setting, the more you become familiar with its operations and your co-workers. Long-term opportunities, as well as contracts that get extended, also enable you to get better acquainted with the city, which is invaluable if contemplating a future relocation.
Share the experience with family and friends
Locum tenens jobs spanning multiple weeks or months present welcoming opportunities to invite friends, significant others, or family members to visit your temporary base. Not only is it a chance to spend a few days together, but you can show them around town and they can draw a better picture of your life while on locums assignments.
Follow up on patient care
Locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners make an impact with every experience by bringing high-quality care to patients. Assignments that last multiple weeks create opportunities to follow up on cases and further assist people in their healthcare journeys.
Working interviews after residency, fellowships, or training
After committing so many years to your education and training, you may not want to immediately settle into a multiyear employment situation. Locum tenens lets you test drive a variety of practice setups, and long-term assignments supply a unique and well-informed perspective. Not only are you immersed in the setting and able to evaluate the temporary environment over a substantial period, but you also have the chance to really get to know your co-workers. These types of experiences can help you decide the professional and personal criteria against which you gauge staff job possibilities. When you’re ready to make that transition, we’re ready to assist. As a full-service agency, our Locums and Direct Hire Divisions collaborate efforts to help you meet your goals.
Keep working when between permanent positions
Locum tenens can help seasoned providers fill gaps if you want to change jobs but just are not ready to accept another staff position immediately. A long-term assignment allows you to keep caring for patients and earning income until you take that next step in your career.
Flexibility to change schedules
Whether you choose locum tenens contracts that last several weeks or months, or that wrap up after a few days, the practice style features flexibility, which enables you to find the temporary positions that best fit your goals.
To learn more about locum tenens opportunities, call All Star Healthcare Solutions today at 800-928-0229, or contact us online.
Energage Names All Star Healthcare Solutions as a Top Workplace in the Healthcare Industry
All Star Healthcare Solutions,® a full-service healthcare staffing company specializing in locum tenens and direct-hire job opportunities for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse anesthetists, was highlighted as one of the Top Workplaces in the Healthcare Industry for the 150–499 employees category in the 2024 National Industry Awards by Energage.
“We’re extremely grateful for this remarkable achievement, especially because it stems directly from our people’s feedback. All Stars are the heart and soul of our encouraging, inclusive, and fun culture. They are truly deserving of this recognition,” said Ken Bernstein, All Star’s CEO and President.
“This honor also reflects our people’s absolute dedication to delivering our signature ‘Red Carpet’ Service, going above and beyond every day,” he adds. “They make a tremendous impact on people’s lives by connecting providers with healthcare facilities so patients have greater access to high-caliber care. Their devotion to our clients, providers, and community, as well as the entire All Star family, is humbling.”
The annual National Industry Awards recognize companies that drive people-first cultures. Energage, an HR technology and research company, conducts a confidential, anonymous, and science-based employee engagement survey, and the results are measured against the industry’s most comprehensive benchmarks, based on the firm’s more than 18 years of culture research spanning millions of employees across tens of thousands of organizations nationwide.
Click here to learn more about our award-winning culture and visit All Star Careers to see our current job openings.
All Star Healthcare Solutions’ CIO Mike Peterson Named Finalist for South Florida ORBIE Awards
The annual program recognizes CIOs who showcase exemplary leadership, innovation, and operational expertise.
All Star Healthcare Solutions®, a full-service healthcare staffing company specializing in locum tenens and direct-hire opportunities for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse anesthetists, proudly announces Mike Peterson, Chief Information Officer (CIO), was named a finalist for the South Florida ORBIE Awards in the Corporate category for businesses earning up to $400 million annually. Peterson was one of 25 finalists out of 130 nominations this year.
The annual award program recognizes CIOs who showcase exemplary leadership, innovation, and operational expertise in six categories: Leadership, Global, Large Enterprise, Enterprise, Corporate, and Nonprofit/Public Sector. An exclusive awards ceremony was held on June 7, at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida.
“Mike has made a tremendous impact on All Star, leading our exceptional Information Technology department through major upgrades and developments over the past year. These tools empower our people to more efficiently and effectively serve our providers, our clients, and each other. It’s that superior level of “Red Carpet” Service that makes him so worthy of this honor,” said All Star’s CEO and President Ken Bernstein.
“Great CIOs know technology moves fast, and connected leaders move faster, which makes the ORBIE Awards significant,” said Tim Langley-Hawthorne, SouthFloridaCIO chair. “South Florida ORBIE Awards recognize the leadership excellence of CIOs transforming South Florida’s economy.”
The event was hosted by SouthFloridaCIO, the preeminent peer leadership network of South Florida chief information officers and is one of over 30 chapters of the Inspire Leadership Network, a national membership organization comprised exclusively of CIOs from public and private businesses, government, education, healthcare, and nonprofit institutions.
All Star Healthcare Solutions Promotes Anthony Szydlowski to Chief Legal Officer
All Star Healthcare Solutions®, a full-service healthcare staffing company specializing in locum tenens and direct-hire opportunities for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse anesthetists, recently announced the promotion of Anthony E. Szydlowski, Esq., to Chief Legal Officer.
“Since joining All Star as General Counsel, Vice President, five years ago, Anthony has played an integral role in guiding the company and ensuring we deliver “Red Carpet” Service on every level to our clients, our providers, and their patients, including liaising with the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO),” said Ken Bernstein, CEO and President. “We are grateful for and will continue to rely on his expert knowledge of the healthcare staffing industry and the evolving legislative landscape as we keep growing the company.”
Prior to joining All Star in 2019, Szydlowski served as general counsel to Phoenix Tower International LLC and Landmark Apartment Trust, Inc. He also served as assistant general counsel to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., in Bermuda, and associate with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in New York as well as Greenspoon Marder PA in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Szydlowski graduated from St. John’s University School of Law in 2000.
Why Locum Tenens is Vacation-Friendly for Providers
For decades, hospitals, clinics, private practice groups, and other healthcare organizations have booked locum tenens physicians and advanced practice providers to cover shifts while staff members take vacations. Indeed, this remains one of the top reasons why facilities utilize supplemental staff. However, have you considered how the career alternative could help you enjoy your own vacations?
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates physicians do not claim all the paid time off they earn throughout a year. In fact, of the more than 3,000 individuals surveyed, nearly 60 percent requested 15 or fewer days off last year and approximately one in five clinicians claimed five or fewer vacation days. Additionally, the study states that 70 percent of respondents admitted to attending to patient-care duties while on vacation. In other words, while traveling for leisure or spending time away from work, these providers also responded to emails or updated electronic medical records (EMRs). When work responsibilities pop up while you are sightseeing, enjoying family outings, or trying to chill on the beach, it can hinder your ability to detach from the job even when you’re far away from the clinical setting.
A locum tenens career helps you separate professional duties from personal time so you create more opportunities to exclusively relax, refresh, and enjoy your well-earned time off.
- Preplan Your Calendar
Locum tenens professionals exercise more control over their work schedules. This approach eliminates the need to coordinate time-off requests with administrators, partners, or fellow staff members. That said, being flexible with when you want to take time off can help facilities make sure they have coverage, too. For example, summer holidays as well as those toward the end of the year tend to be high-demand vacation days among employees, so naturally that’s also when healthcare organizations request locum tenens professionals. Your willingness to accept temporary assignments during popular periods could be offset with having more latitude in choosing your vacation dates during other times of the year. Bonus: You may benefit from off-season travel and lodging discounts. Confer with your All Star Healthcare Solutions consultant if you wish to take off days or weeks between assignments.
- Enjoy Extended Vacations
One of the advantages to being more in charge of your schedule is you have more ability to allocate periods of time to work and periods away from work. This is especially amenable if you wish to take a prolonged vacation or leave of absence to volunteer for a medical mission, as an example. If this is your intention, share the details with your recruiter so they can make sure to present potential locums contracts before and after these hiatuses.
- Turn Assignments into Mini Vacations
Every locum tenens assignment has the potential to turn into a working vacation. Exploring all that a community offers, such as cultural venues, restaurants, and natural highlights, after shifts or on days off can feel as if you are traveling for leisure. You also can opt to spend extra days in a location before or after a locums contract if you want to get to know the city or region on a more familiar level. Key your recruiter in on your plans.
- Invite Family or Friends
Another way to turn locum tenens assignments into mini vacations is to welcome loved ones. Whether they join you for the duration of a short contract or visit for a few days during a longer assignment, being able to hang out with family or friends makes the experience extra special. Plus, on days off — or after the temporary job concludes — you can join them for the fun festivities.
- Find Quality Me-time
The locum tenens practice style supports providers’ ability to disengage from professional responsibilities when not clocked in. On the job, you are afforded the opportunity to devote more of your attention to patient care because you won’t be drawn into extracurricular administrative tasks. When you’re not on assignment, your time is yours. It won’t be interrupted with additional EMR coverage or other patient or personnel management issues. Locum tenens empowers you to dedicate your focus with fewer distractions and truly enjoy the benefits of caring for patients… and of a well-earned vacation.
Are you ready to start your locum tenens practice? Call All Star Healthcare Solutions today at 800-928-0229, or contact us online.