Sumo Medial Staffing

Do you blink then open your eyes and it feels as if your hospital’s staffing challenges have changed? Again! 

You’re not alone: hospitals and healthcare facilities everywhere face constant staffing headaches. 

Here’s your not-so-secret weapon: locum tenens staffing. 

Here’s are three things hospitals that use locum pros effectively do to set themselves apart. 

They plan ahead, extremely ahead

Hospitals that have their staffing routines down to a science don’t wait for emergencies to hit: they’re always thinking one, two or even five steps ahead. 

Here’s how: 

• They keep a detailed calendar filled with all planned absences, from staff maternity leaves to sabbaticals, to vacations.  

• They make sure to overlay these dates with historical data that they keep on patient influx patterns.  

• Finally, they reach out to one or more locum tenens recruiting services weeks or even months in advance. 

Here’s an example of how this could work: 

Let’s say you notice a pattern of increased patient loads each summer. Instead of scrambling to increase staffing levels next summer, reach out to one or two potential locum staffing partners to plan ahead. 

Why not take a look at your calendar now, mark all known upcoming staffing absences for the next six months. Then, take a look at last year’s patient load data to search for seasonal trends. It would be relatively easy to take this information and start planning your locum needs well in advance. 

Move the locums seamlessly into your teams

The health facilities with the best success hiring locums tend to treat locums as insiders/part of the family. And they do so from the get-go. 

Consider creating a “welcome kit” for your temporary staff. It could include a list and map to the best cafes and coffee spots, a list of your team’s favorite food orders (to give the locums examples of what’s out there). And perhaps even a list of the team’s favorite jokes. 

These small touches can have a massive impact, helping locums feel that they truly are a part of your team.  

They gather – and act upon – feedback

And they do so in a “two-way street” manner. This way, they’re not just filling staffing gaps, they’re gaining valuable “outsider” insights to help them better run the hospital’s departments. 

Conduct exit interviews with the locums. Ask them for their take on your hospital’s processes, team dynamics, and equipment/tech.  (Also ask permanent staff to provide feedback on the locums with whom they worked,) 

Create a simple feedback document that asks specific questions about teamwork, processes and challenges faced. Consider reviewing these regularly to use the information to improve operations. 

These three habits can help you utilize locum tenens pros in ways that can benefit your entire department/organization. 

We love it when potential clients ask us for help in long-term locum planning. Ask us any and all questions. 

Really. Just ask.