by Admin
18. December 2009 10:09
Justin Roark | Senior Recruiting Consultant
(877) 456-2867 x4269 | (214) 442-4269 (direct) | (215) 243-7228 (fax)
Delta Locum Tenens | www.DeltaLocums.com
From my three years of experience in the world of physician staffing I have found the true value in looking for the “silver lining.” This poetic sentiment alludes that even the gloomiest outlook contains some hopeful or consoling aspect. The everyday routine for anyone involved in medical staffing can be found to be stressful, fast paced and mundane at times. I wanted to take the opportunity to share what fires my drive as a physician recruiter and allows me to find the reward required to not burn out.
This year I have had four of the locum tenens physicians that I represent find permanent placement through their locum’s assignments. As a locum tenens recruiter you often represent your same physicians for an extended period of time and develop a good understanding of and friendship with the providers you consistently work with. It is these connections that develop along the way that add a personal touch for both parties and a real sense of reward for the recruiter whenever they are able to make a difference in the life of our providers. One example of this that I would like to share dates back to a year and a half ago.
I first made contact with this particular physician when she had just completed her family medicine residency. She was torn in attending a hospitalist fellowship due to the location and downtrodden community. I was luckily from this region of the state and got her set up in a neighboring resort community that I had previously lived while in grad school. We maintained contact throughout the following year although she had never sent in her credentialing packet to sign up to work locums.
I was persistent and finally got her to fax in the paperwork required a month before she completed her fellowship. At this point she had informed me that she had a permanent opportunity lined up in Oregon but was not too excited to leave Texas. She discussed her difficulty in local interviews since she was a family medicine trained hospitalist and Oregon was her only option at the time. I was pleased to finally have to opportunity to get to work with her and started searching for some in state hospitalist locums while her Oregon license was being processed. I was able to get her accepted at a facility with an established hospitalist group for several shifts a month at a competitive hourly rate.
After working at the facility for her first round of shifts, I received an interesting phone call from her revealing they have offered her a permanent position. This contract allowed for much higher annual income, better benefits and the opportunity to remain close to family and friends here in Texas. The excitement in her voice and overall positive change in outlook said everything. The gratitude she expressed and the knowledge that I was able to make a difference and positively impact a provider’s life is everything I need to walk in the office door every morning.
With any situation in life it is often easy to fall in slums and let the stress of life become overwhelming. Focusing on the “silver lining” and positive aspects will always carry you through. I am a locum tenens physician recruiter and will jump at any opportunity to help a provider because you never know where that journey will end. The potential benefits for providers far exceed any excuses for not trying.
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