At a high-volume acute care facility near Boston, every full-time physician is vital. Being down a hospitalist is simply not an option if the facility wishes to deliver quality healthcare to a patient census of about 20 per day.
The facility’s practice manager has been unable to find a permanent hospitalist, so until that resource can be found and onboarded, they’ve chosen to fill coverage gaps with locum tenens physicians.
The practice manager knows first-hand that not all locum tenens staffing firms are created equally. Previous agencies have myopically viewed locums as a disjointed stopgap solution.
Those firms would reactively fill immediate shifts with a rotating cast of physicians, an approach that provided healthcare but not to the facility’s liking. What the facility really wanted was a strategic staffing solution — a smaller number of reliable providers who could work long-term, giving the facility precious time to find the right permanent hospitalist.
Strategic staffing solutions with reliable, long-term providers? That’s how Interim Physicians rolls.
Our eyes are focused on win-win solutions for clients. Our experienced team asks the right questions and creates customized locum tenens staffing strategies that prioritize client goals and help them save money.
Fewer Travel Expenses, More Continuity of Care
Previous agencies pursued the first available locum tenens providers—often costing the facility exorbitant hourly rates and travel fees. Interim Physicians Account Executive Chris Tagarelis thoroughly analyzed the client’s goals and crafted a more streamlined approach.
Instead of flying in 12 different physicians from across the country and having each cover only a shift or two (as previous firms did), he would save the client time and money by sourcing dependable providers in the Northeast who were willing to work multiple block shifts.
His consultative approach paid off.
- In short order, Chris and the Interim recruiting team submitted eight quality physicians. One hospitalist was credentialed and on-site within 14 business days.
- In just two months, he helped place five providers who have consistently filled the facility’s schedule gaps.
- Interim’s providers continue to cover more than 35 shifts a month, with the same providers committed to shifts through the end of this year.
Not Just an Agency, an Ally
Chris soon developed a strong relationship with the facility’s practice manager, who appreciated that Chris took a strategic approach and listened intently to the facility’s needs. He did the legwork to identify a more holistic solution and remained in close contact with the client and Interim’s Quality Assurance team to expedite credentialing. At the end of the day, Interim facilitated something the other agencies couldn’t—continuity of care but with the same brisk turnaround time.
Our solution effectively provided:
- The necessary lead time for the facility to catch up with their existing census and provide space to actively pursue talent for their permanent spot;
- Additional physician shift availability that would have otherwise been spent on travel;
- Consistent, long-term coverage with a significant reduction in cost.
Our experience with this acute-care facility is remarkable, but it’s hardly unique to this client.
At Interim, we work to truly understand each client’s needs beyond their next open shift. This facility wanted more than a quick fix; they wanted a solid bridge between permanent providers. We worked diligently to identify the right physicians and economically delivered a long-term solution that improved patient outcomes.
And this is just the beginning.
Now that we’ve filled their pressing needs through the end of the year, we’re supporting the facility’s other subspecialties that have openings. As their preferred staffing partner, we’re confident that the hospitalist department’s success is the first of many.
“It’s so refreshing to work with a client and always be on the same page. Our mutual goal is to fill these shifts as quickly and efficiently as possible—without sacrificing quality. I love that like-mindedness and open communication. It’s a real testament to the strength of this relationship and why we’ve already seen so much success together.”
