A few years ago, officials at Western Maryland Health System in Cumberland, Md. confronted what has become a common issue in this age of physician shortages. Emergency room on-call requirements were starting to wear down the full-time staff in certain specialties at the system’s two hospitals. “After we lost two urologists to relocation and retirement,” said Dotsy Malone, Western Maryland’s physician recruitment coordinator, “we began to worry that we did not have adequate emergency coverage.” The health system was concerned about turnover, increased malpractice risk, and other potential consequences associated with overburdened employees. So, they sought the help of a (...)
The nurse manager is an increasingly important role at hospitals and medical facilities across the country. Experienced, well-qualified nurse managers are getting harder and harder to find. But Concorde is here to help. The ongoing nursing shortage is cause for concern in the health care industry, and nurse managers represent perhaps the most pressing need. In addition to being excellent nurses, these individuals must master a wide range of business disciplines including quality management, safety compliance, finance, human resources and more. Clearly, the role requires a talented, driven person with well-rounded set of skills. It’s just the kind of niche (...)
A More Effective Approach to Locum Tenens. In filling the physician staffing gaps at your facility, perhaps you rely on locum tenens physicians. You might do so somewhat reluctantly, not realizing that there is a better alternative. At Concorde, we call this alternative supplemental staffing. Unlike the typical locum tenens arrangement—where a physician works at a facility for a very short time and then leaves for the next assignment—Concorde’s supplemental staffing approach involves a regular pool of doctors who support your staff over time. We work hard to develop a small group of doctors who match the unique needs and (...)
According to a recent study, 71 percent of physicians searched for jobs online. Establishing an online presence—including on social media platforms—is more important than ever for medical facilities and the staffing firms that serve them. Here’s what we’re doing at Concorde. Concorde recently launched a presence on two social networks to connect with clients and candidates. Come visit us on: LinkedIn Twitter We’re using these platforms to make and maintain personal connections, as well as to participate in ongoing discussions with professionals throughout the medical staffing industry.
Under increasing economic pressures, many medical facilities are struggling to advance important quality and performance initiatives. But independent physicians are feeling the same pinch, and they’re uneasy about taking on additional responsibilities for less money. What can be done to improve these tenuous hospital-physician relations? Medical facilities would probably prefer to employ all their physicians and specialists if they could. However, for many reasons (including the looming potential jump in demand), that’s simply not feasible. Instead, their staffs are patchworks of full-time employees, independent physicians providing care through contractual arrangements and supplemental staff. Getting all these people on board with (...)
Are you ready? Some 30 million new patients will be insured if the U.S. Senate passes the healthcare reform act. You will need quality physicians to ensure patient care remains a high priority. Concorde Staff Source can help you solve this challenge but in a new and effective way. Not all supplemental physician staffing agencies should be treated equally. At Concorde, our physicians become more fully integrated into the medical facilities they’re serving. They’re just like any other member of the team. How do we make this happen? When you work with Concorde, you have one point of contact. Because (...)
With the number of staffing firms servicing the health care industry, choosing a locum tenens partner can be difficult. Here are four key questions you can ask that will help you identify an LT staffing firm that makes sense for your organization. How do you recruit your physicians? Choose an LT firm that fills positions with physicians who live in or have connections to your area. Doctors with close ties to your region relate better to your patients. Plus, they present a lower malpractice risk, because patients are less likely to sue a doctor they’re comfortable with. How do you (...)
Everybody wants to fill physician openings as fast as possible. But doctors are the face of your organization. It’s worth it to make sure you find the right locum tenens doctor for your situation. And that takes higher standards. Here are some of the ways Concorde Staff Source finds physicians who fit best with your practice and your patients. Insist on More Selective Recruiting Your patients and the public don’t differentiate between a locum tenens doctor and a physician on your staff. He or she represents your group or hospital, either way. You want doctors who are committed to their (...)
To us, it’s a matter of trust. You deserve to know where your money goes when you work with a medical staffing firm. How much is the doctor actually being paid? How much is going to malpractice insurance, travel expenses, etc.? At Concorde Staff Source, we’ve built our business on honest relationships with our clients. One of the fundamental elements of these partnerships is our transparent billing process. We provide detailed, itemized quotes and invoices for every client, every time. Meanwhile, some firms will only give you a vague document that leaves you in the dark about exactly how your (...)