Locum Tenens and the Gig Economy
Our whole “world of work” has gone through a revolution: the gig economy.
This new way of “hiring” people has revolutionized many industries: transportation, hospitality, coding, creative work, and more.
While healthcare facilities faced ongoing staffing challenges during the pandemic itself, that shortage apparently has righted itself:
“Notwithstanding concerns about staffing levels and burnout in health care, federal wage and employment data does not support the suggestion that a Covid-19 pandemic-related spike in quitting has had an enduring impact for hospitals or physician offices. https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/CAT.23.0315?download=true .”
Yet the pandemic changed how healthcare administrators look at using locums, with many facilities increasing the number of locums they use on a regular basis.
Locum tenens arguably could be called “gig work,” in that it’s relatively short-term and temporary.
What lessons can the gig economy in other settings teach the healthcare sector? Let’s look at some key trends.
Hiring “on-demand”
Ride-sharing and food delivery work allow workers to choose when and how much they work. Such flexibility has attracted a diverse workforce and improved service availability to the end user: those seeing transportation and eating at home.
Potential applications for the healthcare industry: Medical services require much more structure, of course, yet locum tenens is attractive to healthcare pros who are looking for a better work-life balance.
This attracts healthcare pros who want – or need — more or less time on the job.
This benefits healthcare facilities that partner with a locum staffing company because they know they can access a talented, pre-credentialed pool of professionals on short notice.
Tech-driven matching
Gig platforms have built-in, highly sophisticated algorithms that match workers with work assignments based on their skills, location and availability.
Potential applications for the healthcare industry: Locum staffing services often use similar advanced matching systems that streamline the process of finding the right healthcare pro for healthcare facilities. Such technology can consider important inputs such as experience, location/facility preferences, locum experience/qualifications, and locum availability.
Skill-based staffing
The gig economy tends to focus on specific skills rather than long-term roles/titles. This allows workers to monetize their skills across different projects.
Potential applications for the healthcare industry: Locum staffing requires that healthcare pros be fully vetted. Yet tech can streamline credentialing and onboarding.
Exceptionally quick onboarding
Gig employers already use Technology to streamline the onboarding process.
Potential applications for the healthcare industry: locum recruiters always vet carefully, yet technology can streamline credentialing/onboarding.
Data-driven insights
Gig platforms already collect and analyze incredibly vast amounts of information in order to optimize operations and the user’s experience.
Potential applications for the healthcare industry: Data analytics will help hospitals and other healthcare facilities predict their staffing needs, identify trends in patient demand and optimize the use of locums.
Building community
Gig platforms often use technology to build team community via forums and sharing tips.
Potential applications for the healthcare industry: Networks such as described above built for the locums can help them build relationships with each other, share their experiences, offer tips and even access professional development options can increase job/assignment satisfaction.
Locum staffing has unique regulations far different from other gig-economy businesses. Yet by adopting some of the gig sector’s innovations, healthcare facilities can improve their patient care, operations and staffing needs.
Learn more about how SUMO Staffing can help you.