When searching for the perfect assignment, choosing the right contingent staffing partner is essential. To make the best-educated decision, it's critical to know what to look for in the agency. Here are our suggestions on the top things to look for in the staffing partner:
1. NALTO Membership
The company should have an active membership in the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO). All members of NALTO are held to a code of ethics, and the organization makes sure all contingent clinicians and healthcare organizations are treated fairly. Therefore, any medical organization in good standing with NALTO offers a level of confidence that the agency is reputable.
2. Provision of Malpractice Insurance
The right firm will make sure malpractice insurance is in place for their clinicians and assess whether the client has adequate coverage. At VISTA, for example, we provide paid liability insurance for each contingent clinician. Ensuring malpractice insurance is provisioned, as incidents can happen, leaves you, the clinician, protected. Evaluate what incidents the policy covers - and for how long - to determine if the agency provides coverage that you need.
3. Financial Strength and Stability
Most contingent agencies provide compensation for clinicians. Therefore, you want to ensure you join a company with a good payroll history and the financial resources to pay you consistently. This is a critical factor, as any delay or gap in pay could severely affect your financial health and livelihood.
4. Travel and Housing Assistance
The right contingent staffing agency will ensure all your travel and housing details are taken care of, so all you have to do is show up for work. Some agencies may even cover your travel and housing expenses. Thus, allowing you to focus less on your accommodations and more on providing quality care. At VISTA, we do both with the help of our in-house travel department that handles all our clinicians' traveling needs.
5. Licensing Support
Having a contingent staffing agency that helps manage the licensing process is invaluable. If you plan to work in another state and require an additional license, this is essential. There are specific steps that need to be taken when getting licensed in a new state, and the contingent staffing agency should help streamline the process and make sure you receive your new license in time. At VISTA, we have strong relationships with all 50 state medical boards, so we understand when and how they review applications, how long it usually takes, and any potential roadblocks
6. Customer Service
The right agency will place a high priority on customer service and quality. All recruiters should be accessible and attentive to your needs. Your contingent staffing partner contact should be at your beck and call, 24/7, even when they take time off. Expecting top-notch customer service is the only service you should expect from your contingent staffing agency.
Having the right contingent staffing partner is critical to your success. When you consider all of these elements, they will help locate a healthcare organization that not only matches your personality and work ethic but will take into account the preferences you have in terms of location, flexibility, and more.
At VISTA, we take pride in providing this and more for our clinicians. We are active in NALTO, provide liability insurance, provide excellent compensation, cover travel, and housing expenses, offer licensing support, and staff recruiters that are very attentive and go the extra mile. Learn more about VISTA and how we are your partner in contingent assignments.
Ready to get started? Check out our job board for your next adventure.
Editor's note: This post was originally published March 28, 2019, and updated for accuracy and timeliness.
