In the world of locum tenens practice, nothing is as essential to a satisfying and successful career as a strong relationship with your consultant. He or she should be focused on your needs and desires, and that focus should be supported by the entire staffing agency.
If you sense a staffing company’s culture puts people first and your consultant is eager to listen to what you want, you are off to a good start.
To keep things moving in the right direction, help keep the lines of communication open. Be upfront with your consultant about your priorities, specifying where you want to take locum tenens assignments, how often you want to work, and what type of practice settings you find appealing. If you’re not sure what you want, or if you’re open to suggestions, let him or her know that as well.
A savvy consultant will be zealous in learning your likes and dislikes and strive to become an authority on your preferences. This does not happen overnight, of course, but you should detect a keen interest from day one. Ideally, once your consultant demonstrates he or she has your best interests at heart, you will likely come to rely on his or her advice regarding potential opportunities.
Whether you’re shopping for a new staffing company or reflecting on a current partnership, you may want to reassess whether all your needs are being met in the following areas:
Availability
Can you get in touch with your consultant any time you need help? What if you need assistance on a Sunday or in the wee hours of the morning? At reputable staffing companies, your personal consultant is available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so help is always just a phone call away.
Reliability
When you need help, do you always know who to ask? Ideally, you should be able to turn to someone who already knows you and is familiar with your unique needs and preferences. At Weatherby Healthcare, for instance, your consultant is your single point of contact. Whether your concerns are related to housing, scheduling, billing, or anything else, you can reach out to your consultant day or night. He or she will get the information you need.
Expertise
You spent a long time perfecting the ins and outs of your specialty. Has your consultant done the same? Specialty-specific consultants are experts on the nuances of their specialty’s current market conditions, industry trends, and compensation. They also have well-established relationships with the medical facilities who need the services you can provide.
Diligence
Your consultant should put your needs first. He or she should be able to help you negotiate the best deal and assist you in carefully reviewing your locum tenens contracts. This important and legally binding agreement should not be entered into lightly. It behooves you to have an expert in your corner.
Support
Just as you need the support of a dedicated consultant, he or she needs the support of his agency, so check into the company’s resources. At effectual companies, consultants rely on robust licensing, credentialing, and housing teams to make sure all the details are handled meticulously. They work with your consultant behind the scenes, so all you have to do is show up and care for your patients.
So, are you satisfied on each point listed above? If not, perhaps it is time to consider a change. Providing locum tenens services is important work that should be fully supported. A good relationship with your staffing company and your consultant is key to a proficient, satisfying locum tenens career.
