Sumo Medial Staffing

Becker’s Hospital Review reported in May that “physicians, NPs and PAs are choosing to work locum tenens earlier in their careers.  

“Most respondents (81%) said they began working locum tenens either right out of training or in mid-career, while 19% began working locum tenens after retiring from full-time positions. By contrast, in 2016, only 64% of those surveyed began working locum tenens right after training or in mid-career, while 36% began after retirement.”  

This shift brings up exciting possibilities for healthcare facilities. It also brings up some challenges. 

Embrace their enthusiasm, yet plan for a learning curve 

New doctors understandably come to work with a boatload of enthusiasm, so much so that their excitement no doubt will invigorate your experienced team members.  

They’re also armed with the latest/greatest in medical knowledge and probably are eager to put these skills into practice. 

Of course, they’re also navigating medicine’s real world for the first time. 

To harness their energy/enthusiasm while also support their growth, consider: 

Pairing them with a seasoned team member

Do so preferably with a nurse for a nurse, a pharmacist with a pharmacist, etc. Such a team can be a wonder when it comes to helping the newbie make her way to true professionalism. Such a partnership gives her instant support and helps her acclimate quickly. 

Identify potential mentors among your staff. Consider especially those who excel in their particular fields, but who also have shown considerable patience paired with good communication skills.  

Consider setting up a short training session for mentors to help them learn the ins and outs of their new role. 

Leverage new locum healthcare pros’ tech savvy

Healthcare graduates today tend to be “digital natives.” They worked with tech most of their lives (some of them for all of their lives). They’ve also undoubtedly trained on the latest electronic health record (EHR) systems. They’re exceedingly adept at working with these new tools.  

Take advantage of this by identifying the areas in your department’s tech workflow that could use some improvement. During the onboarding process, ask your new locum for feedback on them. You could well be happily surprised on the perspectives and knowledge they bring.  

Build a feedback loop

Your newly-minted locums undoubtedly are in learning mode. They’re used to regular feedback and often are more open to constructive criticism than some of your more experienced professionals.  

You can take advantage of this to create a culture of continuous improvement by starting weekly check-ins. Consider starting, for example, 15-minute Friday afternoon sessions where team members ask each other: What challenges did we face this week? How can we do better next week? What did we do well this week? 

Start this the week your newly-trained healthcare pro/locum begins his or her assignment. Both their mentor and/or supervisor should meet with the locum.  

Important point: the goal is to improve the locum, not to criticize their work. 

Learn more about how SUMO Staffing can help your healthcare facility stay fully staffed with high-quality medical professionals.