Employers//Justifying Cost Benefits: Why Locum Tenens?

Physician Section

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Locum tenens continues to gain acceptance within the medical community due in part to the revenue creation ability of physicians within a volatile, competitive market place. Agencies further contribute to industry growth by implementing heightened screening standards and improved quality of services. Here are a few of the reasons clients utilize locum tenens through Linde Healthcare:

Why Clients Choose Locums:

  • Gap coverage while searching for a permanent physician.
  • Interim coverage for vacation, CME events, medical leave, etc.
  • New service expansion.
  • Turnover in group contracts.
  • Specialty shortages.
  • Long-term usage when a partial full-time equivalent physician is required.

Benefits to Clients:

  • Maintain patient base and revenues while providing continuity of care.
  • Due to independent contractor status, no administrative costs related to physician payroll, taxes or benefits.
  • Malpractice insurance provided.
  • Opportunity to observe a permanent candidate before offering a long-term commitment.
  • Assist retention of overworked staff.

Non-Exclusive Contingency Agreement:

A risk-free arrangement allows you to use other resources. We operate at no charge until you choose to work with a locum tenens physicians through Linde Healthcare.

Justifying the Cost of Locums:

  • Many groups and hospitals choose locum tenens to cost-effectively provide coverage when census does not justify the cost of an additional full-time physician – such as during tourist/seasonal fluctuations.
  • When fringe costs of a full-time physician are added to salary, such as vacation, CME, benefits, tax liabilities and malpractice insurance, the total cost of a locum tenens physician is comparable.
  • Clients bill for work completed by locum physicians. When a permanent physician is absent, daily overhead is still relevant due to fixed costs.
  • When experiencing the temporary or permanent loss of a physician, groups and hospitals maintain their patient base by utilizing locum tenens.
  • Keep referring physicians satisfied by maintaining the usual high level of service when permanent doctors are not available.
  • Retention is more cost-effective than recruitment of doctors. Costs necessary to recruit new physicians when staff leave due to work overload is greater than the costs of locum tenens.