Sumo Medial Staffing

General wisdom has it that hiring folks on to your hospital’s or healthcare facility’s payroll is a better financial decision than using temporary professionals. 

But is it really? 

So, we thought we’d explore if locums might offer better value and quality of care in certain situations. 

The Permanent Staff “Myth”

You’ve undoubtedly heard this (possibly many times): perm staff are the backbone of any medical facility. They build relationships with patients, provide continuity of care and become deeply ingrained in the facility’s culture. But is this always the “best approach”? 

Here’s a hypothetical example (and it may not be so hypothetical to you): Dr. Brown, a long-time, permanent staff physician has been with there 25 years. He definitely knows all of the ins and outs of the facility.  

But… 

His methods haven’t changed much since 2005. 

Here’s the question: is familiarity/longevity always an asset, or can it sometimes lead to stagnation?  

What Can Happen When a Locum Takes Over

Here’s Dr. Jacobson, a locum tenens physician. She’s worked in eight different hospitals in four different states in the past three years. Each facility had different challenges, unique patient populations and various technologies. Bring her to your facility and she no doubt would bring an extreme wealth of experience to your facility. 

Fresh Ideas Coupled with Staffing Flexibility: Priceless Perspectives

Locum tenens can “cross-pollinate” medical facilities, helping them embrace new ideas and best practices. They’ve seen what does – and doesn’t work – in different settings. Such exposure can result in improved patient care and innovative solutions to problems. 

For example, a locum NP could introduce a more efficient triage system (one they encountered at a previous setting), possibly helping to reduce patient wait times and improving patient satisfaction. 

Extreme Staffing Flexibility 

Does your facility’s demand for healthcare professionals fluctuate? (Does water travel downhill?) A staffing model using only permanent team members can result in overstaffing when patient numbers decline and scrambling when patient demand surges. 

For example, let’s say your rural clinic always experiences a tourism boom at the same time each year Rather than maintaining a large staff all year, bringing on locum staff to handle such seasonal surges can optimize your budget without also compromising patient care. 

The Right Kind of Expert When You Need Him/Her

What happens if you need a pediatric neurologist to help a child experiencing brain swelling, but you feel you can’t justify a full-time position?  

A locum can be a hero to you (and the child’s family). This type of “as-needed” model lets you take advantage of specialized when needed, ensuring that your patients enjoy the top-notch care they deserve without the overhead to you of a permanent specialist. 

The “first glance” might not be accurate. 

Locum tenens often looks “more expensive,” but let’s take a deeper look: 

• No need to pay long-term benefit costs. 

• Lower risk of overstaffing. 

• Ability to “try out” potential permanent hires. 

• Lowered recruitment and training expenses. 

Locum tenens often can turn out to be more cost-effective, particularly for smaller facilities, or those experience a lot of flux. 

A Hybrid Approach

The cost question isn’t either/or. Many healthcare facilities find that a hybrid model – permanent core staff mixed with locum tenens pros – works well for them. Such an arrangement blends the benefits of staff continuity with the flexibility/innovation potential of locums. 

Healthcare is ever-evolving. So should your approach to staffing: learn more about how SUMO Staffing can help you provide positive value and superior patient care.