Locum Workers: The Long-Term Benefits of Temporary Staffing
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Locum employment is often viewed as a short-term solution, allowing workers to have control over their schedules and preferred outcomes. However, there is a different perspective to consider – the ability to maintain expertise levels by promoting the long-term benefits of experienced temporary staff joining a facility’s team. If you’re considering locum workers, here are some advantages that often come with that decision.
1. Build Skill Diversity
Bringing in locum workers exposes your team to different skill sets and practices. Each person brings a unique perspective, clinical experience, and specialized expertise that can be valuable to your patients and permanent staff. Locums prioritize keeping their skills and certifications up-to-date, which means they may bring new protocols or technologies they’ve recently learned. This helps update your team’s skill set for long-term success.
2. Reduced Burnout
Healthcare burnout is a genuine concern that affects productivity and patient care quality. A recent study by Medscape found that more than 50% of physicians reported feeling burned out. This burnout also comes with added costs, estimated at $4.6 billion annually. It is strongly correlated with depression, impacting 25-50% of those experiencing it. Female physicians are 1.6 times more likely to experience burnout than their male counterparts, as per a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Having locum workers in the mix allows for workload distribution, reducing the stress on your permanent staff.
3. Standard of Care
Locum workers provide the same standard of care as permanent staff members. The healthcare industry requires everyone to meet stringent qualifications to earn their licensing and credentials. This includes specific educational requirements, knowledge testing, and documented skill development. All workers are continually assessed to ensure high-quality patient services. Even though new locums might come into a facility consistently, everyone still works from the same playbook.
4. Trial Periods
Locum work can act as an extended interview or protocol standard before committing to a full-time employee. This period allows you to assess how well the individual or new position fits your team and culture without the long-term commitment. This advantage is especially relevant in rural or underserved areas, where community needs must be met without extensive onboarding costs or time investments. Medical facilities can bring in locums and get them to work immediately.
5. Business Continuity
Locum workers ensure your facility operations run smoothly in unforeseen circumstances. They can fill in specific gaps when permanent staff are unavailable, ensuring service levels remain appropriate. The long-term availability of this option delivers more flexibility in staffing when a critical employee quits or an emergency occurs.
6. Simplified Hiring
Staffing agencies and platforms like ProLocums can make hiring locum workers streamlined and efficient. These platforms take care of all the administrative work, including background checks, licensure verifications, and scheduling, leaving you more time to focus on patient care.
Long-term benefits are possible when staffing through locums occurs. Each situation is unique, which is why it is helpful to work with an experienced platform. In return, your patients benefit because they receive the experienced care they need.
Tags: Locum workers, Staffing, Healthcare, Burnout, Skill diversity, Standard of care, Trial periods, Business continuity, Hiring
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