What Are Physician Staffing Agencies?

Physician staffing agencies are companies that specialize in connecting qualified healthcare professionals to medical facilities that need coverage. With access to a network of talent and hospital vacancies, they can quickly match qualified candidates to a healthcare job that meets their personal and professional goals.

Some staffing agencies work with allied health professionals, travel nurses, or even specialize in permanent position placement. Other agencies, like Caliber, focus on building relationships with ‘locum tenens’ physicians and advanced practice providers. These medical professionals deliver coverage to hospitals across the United States by filling temporary schedule gaps due to vacations, leaves of absence, or FTE shortages.

At the end of the day, Caliber’s goal is to empower physicians and advanced practice providers with professionally satisfying and financially rewarding practice opportunities, flexible schedules that fit their lifestyle goals, and the opportunity to provide exceptional patient care. And we believe that locums is one of the best ways to achieve that goal.

So, Should a Locum Tenens Physician or APP Work with a Staffing Agency?

We’re willing to bet you prefer patient care over paperwork. That’s where physician staffing agencies can help. We handle all the tedious—but important—details of your physician job search so that you can focus on practicing medicine.

At Caliber, we have specialty-focused recruiting teams who understand each medical specialty’s unique contingencies and credentialing nuances. For a more personalized experience, our providers have one central point of contact—their recruiter.

When you first chat with an agency, your recruiter will get to know you by asking a lot of questions about your skills, experience, and preferences. Then, they take note of your availability, state licenses, and career goals. And finally, they’ll leverage their network to find short-term assignments or long-term contracts that match your preferences.

Working with a locum tenens staffing agency can help you save time and money because we take care of the administrative tasks associated with job hunting, such as reviewing job postings, coordinating interviews, and negotiating salaries. We can help you apply for new state licenses, and in some cases, Caliber even covers the licensure cost. You'll also reduce travel expenses since we provide housing and transportation reimbursement. Our goal is to make the process as easy as possible so that you can concentrate on what really matters—your patients.

The Benefits of Physician Staffing Agencies

Locum tenens providers and healthcare organizations can both benefit from working with a staffing agency. Ultimately, agencies serve as a bridge to streamline the recruitment process and ensure a harmonious match between both parties. Here are just six key advantages of partnering with a physician placement agency like Caliber:

1. Access to a large pool of candidates - Physician staffing agencies have access to a large pool of candidates, which means they can match qualified physicians during the job search process quickly and efficiently. This saves physicians and healthcare organizations time and money.
2. Expertise in the healthcare industry - Staffing agencies have in-depth knowledge of the industry and can help navigate the healthcare job market. (This is where Caliber’s specialty-focused teams come into play!) We leverage this experience to advocate for our physicians and provide real-time guidance on job market trends, salary negotiations, and career growth opportunities.
3. Customized staffing solutions - Agencies can provide customized staffing solutions to meet the unique needs of healthcare organizations. At Caliber, we put the physician at the center of our purpose, which means you’ll have better luck finding meaningful work. We strive to match medical professionals with the facility whose values and culture align with their personal and professional goals.
4. Streamlined hiring process - Healthcare staffing agencies can streamline the hiring process by handling administrative tasks such as reviewing resumes, conducting interviews, and performing background checks. This can save hospitals time and resources. It also helps healthcare professionals, who can count on the agency's expertise to find them the right role.
5. Flexibility - Physician staffing agencies can provide flexible staffing solutions, such as temporary or permanent positions, depending on the needs of healthcare organization. For a locum tenens physician, this means a selection of different types of practice environments to fit their lifestyle.
6. Quality assurance - Staffing agencies can ensure that each medical provider is qualified, experienced, and meets the standards of each healthcare organization. This helps hospitals and medical facilities maintain high standards of patient care, and it helps physicians ensure they’ll be placed in a role that’s fulfilling.

Tips for Working with a Staffing Agency

If you decide to work with a staffing agency, there are a few ways you can maximize the benefits of your partnership. Whether you’re a physician looking for help on your job search or a healthcare organization seeking coverage, the five tips below can prepare you for a successful experience with a locum agency:

Be Clear About Your Needs

Before you start working with them, make sure you have a clear idea of your coverage need or the type of role you want. If you’re a physician looking for work, know your salary goals, ideal schedule, and desired location. If you’re a healthcare organization, know how many shifts you need filled, what specialties you require, and the length of assignments. This information will help an agency like Caliber find and place the right candidates.

Choose a Reputable Company

Many staffing agencies are out there, but not all are created equal. Do your research and choose an agency with a good reputation in the healthcare industry. Caliber is a member of NALTO and a Top-15 Locum Tenens Staffing Firm with a proven track record of helping organizations and individuals succeed.

Communicate Regularly

Communication is key when working with a staffing agency. Make sure you keep in regular contact with the agency to provide updates on your staffing or employment needs. When you work locum tenens, this is especially important during the credentialing process to make sure that you stay on track for your assignment start date.

Provide Feedback

Give valuable feedback to the agency about their performance. At Caliber, we’re consistently looking to improve our matching process to ensure that our physicians and organizations receive top-notch services and solutions.

Consider a Long-term Partnership

If you have ongoing staffing or employment needs, consider forming a long-term, trusted partnership with a staffing agency. This allows the agency to better understand your long-term goals and provide more personalized service.

Finding Locum Tenens Work with the Help of a Staffing Agency

Staffing agencies help physicians and advanced practice providers in many ways. Because the nature of locum tenens work requires travel and facility changes, it helps to have a network of support in your career journey. Here is what you can expect when you work with a staffing agency for your next locums role:

• Administrative Support - One of the biggest hurdles for locum physicians is ensuring proper qualifications when changing facilities. This may require obtaining new certifications or even returning to school. By partnering with an agency like Caliber, we’ll help you navigate these requirements. Additionally, we’ll work with you to get your credentials sent to the healthcare facilities where you want to work and facilitate communication to make sure we meet every deadline.
• Travel and Housing - If you work locum tenens, you gain the opportunity to travel to new places and experience different cultures and parts of the country. However, this requires you to find proper transportation and housing, which can take time and effort. Staffing agencies like Caliber have an in-house team that acts as your personal travel agent. We’ll coordinate your housing accommodations and find safe and reliable transportation to get you to your assignment.
• Compensation and Schedule - If you clearly communicate your salary and schedule expectations with your staffing agency, they can help you reach this goal. At Caliber, we’re on a journey to offer best-in-class compensation; our goal is to position medical professionals to earn at their highest potential. Having this support on your side is a great way to ensure you find a healthcare job that pays well and sets a schedule where you'll have time for yourself. Pay negotiation can be more difficult alone without the support of an agency that has experience working with healthcare organizations.
• Ongoing Support - Your partnership with a staffing agency doesn't have to end when your assignment is over. If you intend to work locums for the long term, you can count on your staffing agency to give you the support you need. In addition to helping with future positions, some agencies provide the opportunity for continued learning and education and can help you seek opportunities to grow your skills as a healthcare provider. This means you have a professional support system to help you provide the best care possible to those who need it.

What Kind of Physician Jobs Can You Connect With?

At Caliber, we make it easy to find your next healthcare job, empowering you to practice medicine your way with a blend of career flexibility, specialized recruiting, and a support network tailored to your needs. We specialize in several specialties, including:

• Anesthesiology & CRNAs
• Emergency Medicine
• Hospitalist Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Critical Care
• Surgery
• Radiology
• Oncology
• OB/GYN
• Family Medicine
• Internal Medicine and subspecialties including Cardiology, Gastroenterology, and Neurology

5 More Locum Tenens FAQs

What is the job outlook for physicians?

According to data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for physicians and surgeons is expected to grow 3% from 2022 to 2032. About 24,200 openings for physicians and surgeons are projected each year.

What are the top reasons physicians leave their jobs?

Many physicians retire from medicine. However, some physicians find it difficult to achieve a work-life balance and experience burnout. We also hear from a lot of physicians who are bogged down with committee obligations and overburdened by administrative work. Locums is a great alternative for physicians who want to set their own schedule, travel, and achieve a better work-life balance.

Locums sounds great, so what are the benefits of being employed as a full-time physician?

Although many physicians enjoy the flexibility of locums, some ultimately prefer a traditional permanent position due to benefits and healthcare job security. In addition, physicians may enjoy working at the same location because they can form meaningful relationships, connect with patients, and establish roots in the city where they work.

Should you use a locum tenens staffing agency?

Whether or not to use a staffing agency and get connected with a physician recruiter depends on individual circumstances and preferences. With an agency’s support, you’ll have help with job searches, negotiating contracts, and overall career advice. They also have knowledge of the healthcare industry and can provide insight into healthcare job market trends and demands.

I'm ready to work locum tenens, what next?

Great! Your next step is to decide whether you want to pursue your job search on your own or with the help of an agency. We’d love the opportunity to support your career.

Why Choose Caliber? Our Provider-centric Placement Process.

As the leading provider-centric staffing firm, you are the heart of our purpose.

We provide unparalleled access to a network of healthcare job opportunities, offering best-in-class compensation and custom-fit assignments that cater to a variety of preferences and life stages. But our commitment extends beyond mere placement; Caliber offers long-term support. We accommodate different schedules, geographic locations, and facility types—no matter our provider’s career stage—ensuring you're equipped with a dedicated team ready to support your evolving preferences.

Whether you’re just starting out in your locum tenens journey or looking for your next role, our comprehensive support system is designed to alleviate the stress of job searching. We’re here to accommodate your needs and help you embark on a fulfilling path where your skills are valued, and your career aspirations are met with enthusiasm and precision.

Curious to see what opportunities we have right now? Browse our locum tenens jobs. Or, get connected with a physician recruiter by filling out an interest form.

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