On the pages that follow, two staffing industry representatives and a locum tenens physician give their insights into how to find and form a successful relationship with a locum tenens staffing company.

WHAT TO EXPECT

"I always inquire about the practitioners' situations, licenses, and geographical interests because that gives me an idea whether they are open to opportunities that require extensive travel," suggests Allison Thorpe, a pediatric staffing specialist for Medical Doctor Associates, headquartered in Norcross, Georgia. "If they have young or school-age children at home, then short-term rather than long-term contracts may be the right option for them."

Of course, it is only logical that candidates are queried about their professional qualifications, including, but not limited to, education and training. "In my opinion, few things are as important as taking the board exams," asserts Ms. Thorpe. " "Hospital administrators look at how long physicians have been out of training before taking their specialty's certification exams. In pediatrics, you can take it as soon as you have completed your residency.

"Also, I question potential candidates about what type of procedures they have conducted in the past 24 months, and what kind of practice environments they prefer," Ms. Thorpe continues. "I want to know what they are comfortable doing. Do they prefer clinic only, clinic with on-call, high acuity, or urgent care? If they prefer a hospital setting, I ask if they are agreeable in assuming a hospitalist role where they strictly focus on providing inpatient care."

This type of initial conversation with a staffing company representative helps paint a portrait of potential locum tenens physicians. On the other end of the exchange, individuals can begin evaluating companies' customer service and benefits. While it is difficult to ascertain all of that in one or two phone conversations, there are some pertinent questions to pose early on. In particular, ask how long a company has been operating in the locum tenens industry and how long your potential recruiters have been matching practitioners to opportunities.

Ms. Thorpe explains, "A staffing consultant's questions should instill a sense of confidence that this person is knowledgeable about your specific area of expertise. Even a question about your limitations is a good qualifying factor. In addition to being well-versed in your specialty, the representative should be able to recount how long he or she has secured contracts for others in that field."

While you are comparison-shopping for a locum tenens staffing company, you might not necessarily have specific destinations in mind; however, it is worthwhile to inquire about an agency's presence in certain regions. "Longevity is important because we develop relationships with state licensing boards as well as with the contracting facilities' medical staff coordinators who handle privileging applications. These relationships help speed up the necessary paperwork to get locum tenens physicians into opportunities as soon as possible," says Ms. Thorpe. "I work directly with both our locum tenens providers and our healthcare clients. This business model enables me to better qualify each party for the best match possible."

These types of intangible impressions can help distinguish one locum tenens firm from others. "In fact, I would say trust in your locum tenens staffing consultant is perhaps the most critical determining factor in choosing a company with which to register," she states. "That confidence is developed when expectations are consistently met."