by Rob Berton | Oct 4, 2017 | Blog, Locum Tenens, Nurse Practitioner |
How to Choose the Right Locum Tenens Company
If you are occasionally or frequently in need of locum tenens medical professionals, starting a relationship with a locum tenens staffing firm is an excellent option. This is often a very strategic decision as a locum tenens staffing firm can provide your organization with specialized staff when you need them to fill in critical positions. A locum tenens staffing company will be an important and trusted partner of your facility, so choosing the right one that fits with your needs and work culture is paramount. When looking into locum tenens companies, these are the questions you need to ask.
Are They Specialized?
Locum tenens are a very specialized kind of professional, so any staffing agency your organization is looking at should be similarly specialized in providing locum tenens professionals. You should find a company that specializes in the kinds of professionals you are in need of. For example, if your service is at-home nursing, a locum company with a good track record of placing skilled nurses in that kind of work environment would be preferable. However, a larger company might be advantageous if your organization is also large and has many different roles that might need to be filled, such as a major hospital.
What Support Do They Provide?
A good locum tenens firm wants their placements to succeed, so they maintain a good relationship with the healthcare facilities that sustain them. Reputable companies should have good resources for their temporary staff to ensure success. For example, does the locum tenens firm you are looking at provide or take care of hospital privileges, travel arrangements, housing arrangements and licensure credentials?[1]
Are They Insured?
All locum tenens firms need to carry adequate liability insurance, both what a regular staffing firm needs and the specialized insurance that traveling doctors need.[2] Even if they are a completely reputable firm, mistakes happen, and good staffing firms want to keep themselves covered as much as they want to keep their clients covered. When considering a locum tenens company, ask what kind of insurance coverage they have and ask for a copy of their insurance certificate. If you choose to work with them, keep a copy of that certificate on record. Another insurance element is for the physicians and staff they provide. Does the company provide malpractice insurance for them?
What Have Other Healthcare Professionals Said About This Company?
What other hospitals, clinics, care facilities or other medical organizations have used this locum tenens company in the past? Are there any facilities with which your organization is affiliated already? Have they liked the service and the staff they have received? Referrals from trusted medical providers can go a long way toward helping you choose the right firm for your needs. Traits to ask about include high ethical standards, experience and an established network with a variety of healthcare facilities.
Finding and choosing the right locum company is a lot like choosing any other staffing firm for your temporary staffing needs, although there are special considerations because of the highly specialized and sensitive nature of the medical field. You should do your research, meet with representatives of the company and speak with other facilities that have used them. If they have a good reputation, are a member of professional organizations like the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO) and cover their staff adequately, they are likely a good choice.
References
[1] https://www.nalto.org/about/choosing-a-locum-tenens-firm/
[2] http://blog.soliant.com/careers-in-healthcare/choosing-a-locum-tenens-company/
by Rob Berton | Sep 28, 2017 | Blog, Locum Tenens |
Apps May Revolutionize Health Care
If you’ve ever been to an appointment with your health care provider, you know that it’s easy to forget part of the discharge instructions. Studies have shown that, on average, only “14 percent of written information is remembered correctly.”[1] This has the potential to lead to increased re-admissions or illnesses getting worse. Communication using Apps have been gaining popularity with physicians and patients seeking to improve their care, and the future is looking bright.
Amwell
Amwell is a popular app that a potential patient can use to connect to a physician remotely. The app has several features, such as a virtual waiting room, online documentation, payment collection and e-prescribing tools. Doctors can connect with their current patients as well as new patients with the app’s Online Care Group function. Each staff member gets in-depth training, clinical guidelines and peer support.
CareZone
The app CareZone allows patients to have all their paperwork in one place. This is beneficial because patients have a tendency to forget 80 to 90 percent of what they’re told at their appointments.[2] A patient can update all of their medications and keep them in a location that they can access with their smartphone. You are also able to set appointment reminders and prescription refill reminders. There is a journal that will update with physician’s notes after each visit. You can use this app for your own health care needs or a family member’s information.
Doctors on Demand
Doctors on Demand uses a $40 pay-per-visit model to let patients connect to physicians virtually on their smartphones, tablets and PCs. The app offers both medical and pediatric care, and you can connect in minutes to a board-certified physician. You are also able to sign up for 25- or 50-minute psychology sessions with a licensed psychologist. Doctors on Demand accepts both cash and various insurance for payment. The mental health aspect of this app is crucial because “6 out of 10 young people who have depression and who are most at risk of suicidal thoughts, difficulty in school and difficulty in relationships with others do not get the treatment needed to support them.”[3] This app has the potential to make access to mental health help easier for anyone who needs it.
Patient IO
The Patient IO app allows primary care physicians to input tasks for their patients to complete remotely. These tasks are tailored to the patient’s current treatment plan, and this app also allows the doctors to track which tasks the patient follows. This information is relayed to the patient’s care team, and they can make changes or improvements based on the data they get. This app will also send push notifications for important tasks to the patient’s phone for an added convenience. The care team and the patient are able to send and receive secure messages with each other about continuing care as well.
Apps for physicians and patients to communicate are expanding, and more are being developed each year. These apps can be extremely useful for keeping patients on track once they leave the doctor’s office. They can also be used to ensure patient compliance with discharge instructions. The future for these apps looks bright, and as the popularity of smartphones increases, these apps may become implemented more as time goes on.
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539473/
[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/davechase/2012/10/14/doctors-success-hinges-on-transactor-to-teacher-transition/#77eb7010772d
[3] http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/mental-health-america-access-care-data
by Rob Berton | Sep 21, 2017 | Blog, Locum Tenens |
What You Need to Know About Nurse Licensure Compact
Nurses obtain a license in order to practice their chosen profession, and the license typically covers a particular state where the nurse can perform his or her duties. However, there are many entities that believe the nursing profession can take one step forward if there is a way for the licenses to be accepted in multiple states simultaneously with the Nursing Licensure Compact.
In 2016, the Nursing Licensure Compact consisted of eight states. With the NLC, a person who has obtained a nursing license in one specific state will have the ability to practice his or her profession in the other states. By 2018, there should be an alliance of 26 states. [1]
Why an NLC May Be Beneficial for Nurses
According to the director of the NLC, who also happens to be the director of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, telemedicine served as the impetus for creating the NLC. [2] There are under-served populations for medical care who can benefit from multi-state licensing.
If the licenses are approved for practice across state lines, the registered nurses, as well as licensed practical nurses, will be able to deliver medical service or advice through the use of phone or through the internet. With the help of NLC, it is possible for the nurses to work at a healthcare agency in more than one state without many problems. If the nurses see an opportunity to visit another state to serve people who require medical care, the NLC may allow them to do so.
Another reason why the NLC can be useful for nurses is the fact that nursing licenses obtained in several states can be quite expensive. However, the use of a multi-state licensure program takes out the redundancy of work while eliminating pressure from a licensing board in any state that may have an issue with overloaded work.
The NLC helps nurses relocate with ease from one state to another with the help of a multi-state license. They can use this opportunity to work at a place where they may be comfortable or where they know demand is heavy.
Hospitals may also benefit from the NLC. Because it allows multi-state licensure for the nurses, a hospital that receives a lot of patients at once can get the help it needs. For instance, a flu outbreak during winter may cause the hospital to be slammed with more patients than it can handle. With the help of the NLC, a hospital system can turn to nurses from a nearby state, and they can lend a hand with the overload of patients. A multi-state licensure program can also be beneficial during hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters where there is usually a high injury count.
A problem on the shortage on the number of nurses in many states can be solved with the help of the NLC. A single state license may be problematic in motivating more people to join the healthcare industry. In California and Nevada, there are only about 600 nurses for every 100,000 people. [3] Ideally, there should be 1,000 nurses per 100,000 people. However, the national average is below 800 for every 100,000 residents, making it clear that there is a huge shortage of nurses in the U.S. [4]
With the Nurse Licensure Compact, these problems may be solved, and the benefits may be even clearer when practicing medical care can be performed with the help of technology.
References:
[1] https://www.ncsbn.org/compacts.htm
[2] https://www.annanurse.org/download/reference/health/activities/2_3_14.pdf
[3] https://www.beyond.com/articles/i/ad5369/blogs/Many-States-Suffer-Severe-Nursing-Shortage.htm
[4] http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/human-capital-and-risk/which-states-will-have-the-biggest-nursing-shortages-by-2025.html
by Rob Berton | Jun 25, 2017 | Blog, Locum Tenens |
Proper preparation goes a long way to providing a smooth transition when bringing in a locum tenen. It requires a small amount of attention and pays large dividends for you, your provider and your locum tenens patients.
Protect Your Patients
Gear everything you do during the onboarding sequence toward protecting your patients. The last things you want to hear about are medical errors resulting from a lack of communication or preparation. A face-to-face meeting between the current physician and the locum tenens provider goes a long way in decreasing dangerous errors. In fact, it’s been shown that this process can result in a 30 percent decrease.
Do the Paperwork Ahead of Time
Don’t distract the incoming physician’s first few hours with paperwork. This should be a time for getting used to operations, meeting staff members, going through initial training, etc. If the paperwork is out of the way, everyone enjoys a smooth transition.
Overlap Physician Schedules
Though it’s not always possible, try to arrange schedules so that the locum tenens doctor has the ability to follow the current physician for at least one day. The best way to handle the inevitable questions that come up is to have both people talk face-to-face during that first day.
Conduct a Complete Orientation
Give the locum tenens physician a tour of the facilities, especially the parts of the building they’ll frequent most. Allow them to discover where supplies are kept, meet the staff members they’ll work with most and otherwise get acquainted. Do a review of coding practices, how vital equipment works, documentation procedures and your electronic health care records system.
Conduct a comprehensive introduction to your hospital. Whether you invest a full day or only a couple hours will depend on how long your incoming physician will work locum tenens at your facility.
One Main Point of Contact
Entering a new facility is stressful for even the most experienced locum tenen. Give this person one main point of contact they can go to whenever they need help. This creates a feeling of familiarity. It allows your incoming professional to feel confident that there is someone available specifically to help make his or her assignment a successful one.
Plan the Exit Interview
It’s vital that the locum tenens physician meets with your medical records team prior to leaving the building for the last time. You don’t want to get into a situation where orders are missing signatures or documentation remains incomplete.
Ref: [1] http://getbetterhealth.com/medical-errors-reduced-by-30-when-doctors-required-to-speak-to-one-another-at-shift-change/2014.11.06
by Rob Berton | Jun 17, 2017 | Blog, Locum Tenens |
The increased demand for urgent emergency room care has meant increased staff shortages at many hospitals. Many facilities are now turning to locum tenens to compensate for staffing issues.
Locum Tenens as Emergency Medical Professionals
There are more than 100 million emergency room visits in the United States per year, and the demand for such care has been steadily increasing. Because of this increased need for ER staff, more hospitals are turning to locum tenens to fill the void and retain optimal levels of patient care.
Meeting a Demand for ER Care
Even with changes to health care coverage and availability, many people are still in the habit of only seeking care when it’s absolutely necessary. Because of this ongoing trend, there’s an increased demand for qualified ER doctors to provide sufficient care and help manage the patient load. More and more medical facilities are seeking to enhance their ER staff with temporary physicians. According to various estimates, anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of hospitals now use locum tenens to fill ER positions and maintain sufficient staff levels.
Quickly Developing Skills and Competencies
For physicians willing to work in a variety of settings, locum tenen positions as emergency medical professionals present several unique opportunities. Working in an ER setting often means having to apply a variety of skills to address everything from unexplained aches and pains to serious injuries that require immediate attention.
Working in an ER as a locum tenen also means a chance to practically apply skills and demonstrate competencies that may make you a more appealing applicant for future positions, such as the ability to quickly assess symptoms to determine the best approach to care. In addition, pay rates are often higher for ER physicians.
Improving the Patient Experience
The increased reliance on locum tenens as emergency medical professionals also means you’ll be improving the overall patient experience. Well-staffed ERs are often more efficient and full-time doctors won’t be as fatigued from having to work extra hours to make up for staff shortages.
Adding locum tenens physicians to hospital staffs can reduce patient wait times and speed up the process of making a diagnosis, providing care and recommending follow-up treatment. Working in an ER is just one of several opportunities you’ll have as a locum tenen. It can be a rewarding experience because you’ll work with patients with a variety of needs, making your time a positive addition to your resume.
References:
1. Emergency Department Visits. Available at: “https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/emergency-department.htm”. Accessed April 21, 2017.
2. Emergency Medicine: The Good, the bad, and the ugly. Available at: “http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/750482”. Accessed April 21, 2017.
3. Demand Grows for Locum Tenens Emergency Medicine Physicians Nationwide. Available at: “https://www.staffcare.com/demand-grows-for-locum-tenens-emergency-medicine-physicians-nationwide/”. Accessed April 21, 2017.
by Rob Berton | Jun 10, 2017 | Blog, Locum Tenens |
There are three key points to keep in mind when negotiating a successful contract for a physician.
How to Successfully Negotiate a Physician’s Contract
The prevalence of chronic diseases and the aging of the population have resulted in a high demand for physician services. When negotiating a physician contract with any new employee, keep these three key points in mind.
Balancing Risks and Revenue
During any contract negotiation, both parties must balance the risks versus the revenue. When negotiating a contract with a particular physician, your medical practice or hospital must balance risks such as a lack of experience or the opportunity cost of hiring this physician as opposed to another candidate who might apply with the potential revenue that the physician can bring to the organization. If the doctor turns out to be a bad fit for your clinic, you would be out the costs of hiring and be short-staffed until a replacement physician can be hired. On the physician’s side of the contract, the doctor must balance the risk of tying himself or herself to an organization against the income that working for your hospital will provide.
Take Negotiations Step by Step
Negotiating the contract for a physician is not a sprint. Think of the process as a marathon. It will take a while, and you need to take it step by step in order to succeed at reaching the finish line. Consider each term of the negotiation as one step in the process. For example, first consider the start date when the physician will join your organization. Then, consider the scheduling, followed by the work duties, on-call requirements and end date of the contract.
Remember That Everything Is Negotiable
It is essential to remember that everything is negotiable when you are working on a physician contract. You could negotiate for anything within the law, from wages to work hours and uniforms. Prioritize what you want the most for your organization, and focus on those aspects. If you get two out of your three most desirable terms and the physician is able to negotiate for items of his or her interest, such as paid time off, flexible hours for work and family balance, or a longer daily lunch break, consider your negotiations a success.
References:
1. http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/contract-negotiation-basics-33337.html
2. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248732
