Why it works
Using a permanent locum tenens model allows hospitals to bring in several physicians on a temporary basis who could turn in to permanent employed physicians. The model allows the physicians to get to know the hospital and community where they could be living and the hospital can get to know the physicians and see if they will be a good fit in the organization before both parties make a long term commitment to one another.
“Most physicians will know in the first month if they will stay [at the facility] long term or leave. The Locum tenens approach to permanent placement […] increases the probability of finding the right fit longer-term,” Dr. Moghim says.
Dr. Moghim says that under this model, physicians would be part of the hospital temporarily from anywhere from one day to one year, but he recommends at least 30 days. After the temporary period, if the hospital and physicians feel like it is a good fit, they can come to a long-term employment agreement.
What to say to hesitant physicians
Some physicians may not like the lack of security that comes with starting in an organization with no guarantee of long-term employment. However, Dr. Moghim says that the process is beneficial both for the facility and the physician.
“I would argue that it is extremely beneficial [for physicians], even if it ends up not being the right opportunity. [Physicians] can learn from that. What is not right for you is as important to know as is what is right for you,” he says.
He says that if an organization finds physicians who are hesitant, the hospital should try to convince them that all parties are working towards the end goal of permanent employment.
Possible Problems
Dr. Moghim says that using locum tenens as a recruitment strategy might require more planning and strategy than going the traditional route. “I would recommend [that hospitals] have a dedicated and trained recruiting team in order to take on this level of commitment with this approach,” Dr. Moghim says. That is because the model requires more phone interviews and faster response times than the usual recruitment model. “[Hospitals] need to be responsive because the physicians are in high demand and typically do not wait long before committing to an opportunity,” he says.
Two other roadblocks that hospitals may encounter when trying to use locum to hire are putting strain on the administration department and getting malpractice coverage for the temporary physicians, according to Dr. Moghim. Hiring physicians for multiple trial periods requires higher than usual administrative duties, which some hospitals do not anticipate, Dr. Moghim says. Also, the locum tenens physicians will need short-term malpractice coverage, which Dr. Moghim says can be difficult to arrange.
While doing away with traditional recruitment models can seem quite radical, Dr. Moghim argues there is no better way to judge a physician’s fit with an organization than to have them work for the organization temporarily before a permanent decision is made.
More Articles on Physician Recruitment:
4 Tips to Successful Physician Recruitment and Retention Under Healthcare Reform
5 Tips For Developing a Lasting Medical Staff Plan
Top 10 Reasons Physicians Are Relocating in 2012
