If you make workforce decisions for your organization, you’re likely facing several pain points that are common within the industry. Bringing in locum tenens support can help!

<h2>Why Should My Organization Use Locum Tenens
Support?</h2>

 Juggling workforce decisions is no easy feat! If you’re responsible for
 streamlining services and optimizing staffing at your facility, you’re likely
 facing pain points common to many healthcare organizations. Bringing in locum
 tenens support may help alleviate many of these challenges.


 That’s why nearly 90% of healthcare facilities have used locum tenens
 providers to support their facilities (<a
 href="https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/new-survey-shows-widespread-use-of-locum-tenens-providers-during-pandemic.html"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Becker’s Hospital Review</a
 >). However, if you’re still on the fence, take a moment to answer the
 following questions. Then read on to discover how a trusted locum tenens
 company can help you address each issue:

<ul>
<li>
 Does your facility ever struggle to fill
 vacancies?
</li>
<li>
 Do you have gaps while waiting for permanent
 positions to be filled?
</li>
<li>
 Do other providers have to pick up the slack
 when a position is vacant?
</li>
<li>
 Could your providers generally use a break?
</li>
<li>
 Do providers have to work too many hours when
 you have patient surges?
</li>
<li>
 Do your providers ever seem disengaged,
 frustrated, tired or overburdened?
</li>
<li>
 Could you improve the patient experience by
 reducing wait times?
</li>
<li>Do you have fluctuating patient volumes?</li>
<li>
 Do your patients have trouble getting
 appointments quickly?
</li>
<li>Do you offer robust telehealth options?</li>
<li>
 Do you have the ability to ramp up your
 workforce quickly for issues like COVID?
</li>
<li>
 Do you feel you’ve optimized your staffing and
 scheduling processes?
</li>
</ul>

 If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, consider enlisting the help
 of a locum tenens agency.

<h2>11 Ways Locums Can Improve Your Facility</h2>

 Locum tenens providers offer solutions to many common issues. Bringing in
 locums support can help you:


 1. <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/how-healthcare-org-can-use-locum-tenens-support-to-ease-cost-pre?"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Maintain revenue while filling vacancies</a
 > – It takes months to locate, screen, interview, vet,
 credential, onboard and train providers to fill vacancies. Avoid losing
 revenue by hiring locum tenens providers in the interim to ensure
 uninterrupted access to care.


 2. <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/how-healthcare-org-can-use-locum-tenens-support-to-ease-cost-pre?"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Avoid gaps in care by covering for physicians on leave</a
 > – If you fill in with locum tenens providers while your
 permanent providers are out on maternity leave, sick leave, family medical
 leave, vacation leave or professional development, your facility can continue
 to generate income and avoid gaps in care.


 3. <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/ways-locum-tenens-providers-can-improve-patient-experience?category=Employers+Tips"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Enhance the patient experience</a
 >
 – Bringing in support can streamline services, ease pressures
 on permanent providers, and improve morale. Working with a trusted locums
 agency can ensure the locums providers you receive are upbeat, well-trained,
 efficient and effective.


 4. <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/how-advanced-practice-providers-can-improve-wait-times?"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Improve wait times</a
 > – Streamlining services by shortening wait times can help
 promote patient satisfaction and build loyalty. Use locum tenens APPs to
 improve wait times by handling routine and non-urgent visits, offering
 same-day scheduling, and covering follow-ups after in-office physician visits.


 5. <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/top-healthcare-workforce-considerations-for-2023?"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Support provider wellness</a
 > – Many providers have reported feeling burned out and even
 depressed recently (<a
 href="https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(22)00515-8/fulltext"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Mayo</a
 >). Bringing in locum tenens reinforcements gives providers time off to
 recuperate and enjoy sufficient rest breaks and vacation time. 


 6. <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/locums-to-ease-physicians-top-challenges?"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Alleviate daily pressures on providers</a
 > – Besides giving clinicians breaks and vacation time,
 locums can help clinicians with daily stressors by redistributing patient
 loads. This can allow permanent providers more time to handle administrative
 tasks, electronic health records, quality metrics and other responsibilities.


 7. <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/the-role-of-locums-in-a-value-based-care-model?category=Employers+Tips"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Reduce costs</a
 > – Having adequate locums support can help facilities
 streamline visits, improving efficiency and allowing providers to see more
 patients. Locums can also allow facilities to reduce overtime burdens on
 permanent providers at additional potential cost savings.


 8. <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/new-white-paper-using-locum-tenens-providers-to-boost-telehealth?term=telehealth"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Expand telehealth services</a
 >
 – Locums support can help facilities rapidly ramp up or pare down staff to
 meet fluctuating demands for telehealth services. From balancing out service
 offerings and rounding out clinical staff to expanding reach and improving
 health equity, the benefits of using locum tenens providers for telehealth
 abound.


 9. <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/short-term-providers-long-term-solution?"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Address physician shortages</a
 > – Locum tenens support contributes to a
 successful workforce strategy to address the growing physician shortage.
 Although locum tenens providers offer short-term, temporary services, they
 fill a vital niche in a long-term, permanent solution.


 10. <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/how-healthcare-org-can-use-locum-tenens-support-to-ease-cost-pre?"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Meet fluctuating demands</a
 > – Ramping up services and having adequate staff to meet
 fluctuating patient volumes can be costly. Having an effective locums agency
 as a partner can help facilities meet rapidly changing demands efficiently.


 11. <a
 href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/blogs/how-to-fill-hard-physician-specialties"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >Staff hard-to-fill specialties</a
 > – Organizations may have to get creative to find candidates
 for specialties that are difficult to fill. Further, facilities should avoid
 costly mis-hires. The locum tenens arrangement can allow a unique opportunity
 for facilities and specialists to have a temporary test run before deciding
 whether it’s an ideal permanent match. 

<h2>Workforce Solutions</h2>

 Ready to bring on locum tenens reinforcements to help improve your
 organization’s care delivery? Request
 <a
 href="https://www.crosscountry.com/contact-us"
 rel="noopener noreferrer"
 target="_blank"
 >locum tenens support</a
 >
 now.

Does My Facility Need Locums?