Healthcare leaders need a locum tenens company they can trust. Here’s what makes locum tenens agencies rise to the top and how to find the best locums partner for you.

<h2>Finding the Best Locum Tenens Partner for Your Organization</h2><p>As health leaders who make staffing decisions for their organizations know, there’s little room for error. The stakes are high. There are various moving parts, and they must come together quickly. Because there is a particular urgency in filling vacancies and meeting fluctuating volume with skilled, qualified talent, leaders must have a locum tenens partner they can trust. Here’s what makes locum tenens agencies rise to the top.</p><h2>Traits of the Best Locum Tenens Companies</h2><h3>1. A Proven Suite of Workforce Solutions</h3><p>Health leaders seek locum tenens providers for various reasons: to temporarily fill vacancies, address workforce shortages, cover vacation or sick leave, meet increasing patient demand, care for COVID patients, provide telehealth care and more. That’s why having a locum tenens partner who offers creative solutions, including <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/employers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">short-term, long-term and emergency coverage,</a> is critical. Plus, working with an agency with access to locums-to-perm, permanent, per-diem, travel, and a full range of <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/wsg/staffing-solutions" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">healthcare staffing</a> and workforce solutions will help ensure continuity of care.</p><h3>2. Rich Experience in Locum Tenens Staffing</h3><p>Staffing agencies with <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/employers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">decades of experience</a> in locum tenens placement have tackled nearly every fathomable issue. They’ve got the experience, expertise, historical perspective, industry insights, and connections to address various challenges. This eliminates the need for their clients to scramble for solutions when issues arise. The best locum tenens companies are standing by, at the ready with a wealth of experience, when clients call.&nbsp;</p><h3>3. Catered for the Facility’s Specific Type and Needs</h3><p>The best locum tenens company for one healthcare facility may not be the best for another. Leaders should seek a locums agency that has experience working with their type of facility – whether an extensive health system, small rural hospital, critical access facility, ambulatory surgery center, correctional institution, college or university, VA medical center, IHS facility, DOD center, or statewide service program. The right locum tenens company will also have experience placing the <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/jobs/results?term=&amp;xTerm=&amp;jobType=%5B%22Locums%22%2C%22Locum%20Tenens%22%5D&amp;profession=&amp;specialty=&amp;msp=&amp;shiftTypes=&amp;shiftLengths=&amp;durations=&amp;salaryMax=&amp;tags=noTags&amp;sort=relevant&amp;view=list&amp;offset=1&amp;size=9&amp;companyId=&amp;location=&amp;geoLocationRadius=100&amp;page=locums" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">desired positions</a>, such as physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, dentists, etc. This helps ensure operations will run more smoothly.</p><h3>4. Aligned in Vision and Mission</h3><p>A critical part of ensuring decision-makers remain true to their organization’s <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/locums" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vision and mission</a> is doing business with companies with shared goals. Leaders should expect locum tenens agencies to have upstanding motives for all parties, including patients, providers, employees, the organization and the community. They must be compliant, follow all regulatory requirements, and strive to deliver the best in service and care.</p><h3>5. Streamlined, White-Glove Service</h3><p>Busy healthcare leaders don’t have time for clunky, disorganized, disjointed service. Top locum tenens agencies know how to provide white-glove service with features like a single point of contact and specialty-specific recruiters. They can rapidly deploy fully vetted providers so you can ramp up services quickly, so your patients never have to endure a lapse in care. Some locums agencies even go above and beyond with offerings like <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/employers#our-solutions" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">managed service programs (MSP) workforce solutions</a>: one contract, one invoice, and one payment, all managed by a dedicated team of experts.</p><h3>6. Thorough Screening, Vetting and Certified Credentialing</h3><p>The best locums agencies conduct a thorough review of credentials and qualifications, including primary source verification of core credentials and a review of peer references, for each provider. This rigorous screening process helps ensure leaders have all the information needed to make the best staffing decisions for their facilities. Leading locum tenens agencies also have a deep understanding of credentialing. A few even have in-house credentials verification organizations. In-house credentialing streamlines the placement process, making it easier for clients. Leaders should look for verification organizations certified in credentialing (<a href="https://www.ncqa.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NCQA</a>). This ensures strict credentialing standards are applied and helps healthcare organizations maintain regulatory compliance.</p><h3>7. Resources to Support Providers</h3><p>The best locum tenens agencies care about the providers they place and want to support them in their careers. Top agencies have resources for providers, like liability insurance, referral bonuses, and travel and housing coverage. They help them navigate licensing requirements, allow family or pets to come along when possible, offer professional development, host <a href="https://locumslife.buzzsprout.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcasts</a> and webinars, share <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog?subCategory=Locums" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">educational tips and resources</a> and build a sense of community among their providers. This keeps providers returning for more assignments, builds reputation and word-of-mouth referrals and improves work-life quality.</p><h3>8. Accolades, Recognition, Esteem and Awards</h3><p>The best locum tenens agencies have the track record and reputation to show it. Whether it’s recognition from facilities, providers, or government agencies or industry awards. Leaders can search organizations like <a href="https://www.clearlyrated.com/staffing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Clearly Rated Best of Staffing</a> and <a href="https://topworkplaces.com/award/top-workplaces-usa/2022/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Top Work Places</a> to find agencies with upstanding reputations.</p><p>Healthcare leaders will know when they’ve found the right match in a locum tenens partner. Keeping an eye out for these traits can help make the process of finding a leading locums agency easier.</p><p>To discover whether Cross Country Locums is the best locum tenens partner for you, <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/staffing-advisory-request" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">connect with a representative today.</a></p>

Expect the Best: What Leaders Should Look for in a Top Locum Tenens Company