VISTA Staffing Solutions (VISTA), one of the nation’s largest temporary physician staffing companies, today announced the formation of a new unit that will place medical, radiation, and hematologist oncologists in oncology practices and cancer centers across the nation.
"There is a constant, and growing, need for locum tenens oncologists to fill in for doctors who care for cancer patients," explains Mark Brouse, VISTA President and CEO. "Temporary physician coverage is needed during vacations, illness, medical meetings, continuing medical education training, maternity leave and military deployment. Locum tenens physicians also frequently help staff practices while permanent physicians are being recruited," he says.
The term locum tenens (Latin for "one holding a place") is used to describe physicians who choose to work in temporary assignments.
VISTA personnel responsible for the company’s new oncology unit have extensive experience placing oncologists in locum tenens assignments. Torrie Gentry, oncology division manager, has 20 years of experience in the locum tenens industry. Alice Boone Suarez, lead scheduler, has been matching locum tenens oncologists to the needs of oncology practices for nearly 10 years.
"Cancer centers and clinics must provide uninterrupted care for their patients and keep their staff busy enough to maintain financial stability," explains Ms. Gentry. "Access to a pool of high quality oncologists with impeccable credentials is key to making this happen."
Many oncologists seeking locum tenens assignments are military physicians who want to experience different practice settings prior to retiring from the service. Others are just out of training, seeking freedom and flexibility before settling down. Still others are experienced physicians who want to transition into part-time work without losing their clinical skills and credentials.
VISTA will distribute copies of "A Guide to Locum Tenens," by Therus C. Kolff, MD, MPH, founder of the locum tenens industry and an executive member of VISTA’s Board of Directors, at the October 3-5 annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) in Atlanta.
The new oncology unit will be based in VISTA’s Atlanta office. The employee-owned company, headquartered in Salt Lake City, employs more than 100 people. It was founded in 1990.
The company is a founding member of the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO), which establishes and enforces standards for ethics and sound business practices within the locum tenens industry. Katie Abby, VISTA’s chief operating officer, is NALTO’s president-elect.
In 2003, at least 25,000 physicians took locum tenens assignments and the locum tenens staffing industry had an estimated $2 billion in revenues.
VISTA Staffing Solutions (www.vistastaff.com) is a leading provider of temporary physician staffing and permanent physician search services. Founded in 1990, the employee-owned company helps hospitals, medical practices and government agencies solve their physician staffing challenges. VISTA is the only agency that offers short- and long-term domestic jobs, international work opportunities, and permanent placement for physicians. The company is a founding member of the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO).