Locum Tenens vs. Permanent Placement for Advanced Practice Providers

Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each recruitment option based on your medical setting and overall practice goals.

Recruitment of advanced practice providers (APPs) in healthcare plays a pivotal role in ensuring the delivery of quality patient care. The decision between hiring locum tenens vs. permanent placement can significantly impact healthcare organizations and the providers themselves. In this article, we will delve into the benefits and downsides of both approaches, and we'll introduce a few trusted agencies for both options.

Benefits of Locum Tenens Recruitment

1. Flexibility: Locum tenens providers offer a flexible solution to cover staffing gaps due to vacations, leaves, or sudden departures, ensuring uninterrupted patient care.

2. Rapid Access: Healthcare facilities can quickly access experienced providers, ensuring continuity of care in times of need.

3. Reduced Commitment: Locum tenens providers allow healthcare organizations to adapt to changing patient volumes without the long-term commitment associated with permanent placements.

Downsides of Locum Tenens Recruitment

1. Continuity of Care: Continuity of care may suffer as locum providers often lack the familiarity with the practice, which can impact patient outcomes.

2. Financial Implications: The cost of locum recruitment, typically as a percentage of the provider's salary, can strain the budgets of smaller healthcare practices.

3. Provider Burnout: Frequent turnover of locum providers can lead to fatigue and dissatisfaction among the regular staff.

Benefits of Permanent Placement Recruitment

1. Continuity of Care: Permanent placements foster stronger relationships between providers and patients, enhancing the quality and effectiveness of care.

2. Provider Integration: Long-term providers have a better understanding of the practice's protocols, patient population, and community needs.

3. Cost-Effective: Agencies like Advanced Scope offer flat-fee recruitment models, making permanent placements more affordable for healthcare practices.

Downsides of Permanent Placement Recruitment

1. Longer Hiring Process: Finding the right permanent provider can take time, delaying the recruitment process.

2. Percentage Based Costs: Many agencies charge 20-30% of the base salary which can often persuade you to choose the most cost effective candidate versus the best overall fit.

Top Companies for Permanent Placement:

Advanced Scope: The #1 Trusted Agency for Permanent Providers

When it comes to recruiting permanent APPs, Advanced Scope is one of the most trusted agencies utilized by surgeons and doctors.

Their flat-fee approach rids of the downside mentioned above for perm recruitment. They also only focus on NP/PA/MD placements within the Orthopedic, Neuroscience and Spine specialties which allows them to build strong pipelines to deliver talent faster in comparison to generalist agencies.

Top Agencies for Locum Advanced Practice Providers

For healthcare organizations seeking locum tenens APPs, several reputable agencies provide access to skilled temporary providers. Some of the top agencies in this space include:

1. Weatherby Healthcare

2. CompHealth

3. Barton Associates

Whether opting for locum or permanent providers, the key is to find a reliable partner that aligns with your practice's goals and values.