Does your facility employ locum tenens providers? The type of experience you provide locum tenens providers as they begin their assignments can often affect their performance, as well as their ability to work well with your full-time providers. By engaging with your locum tenens staff, you can improve many aspects of your culture and patient care outcomes. Here are some best practices for how to make locum tenens staff feel welcome at your facility:
How to Make Locum Tenens Staff Feel Welcome at Your Facility
Establish an onboarding program
Establishing an onboarding program is one of the most impactful ways to welcome locum tenens providers and prepare them for their roles within your facility. An effective onboarding program can be executed in many forms, such as a one-day orientation or a full week of sessions and trainings. Throughout the onboarding process, it’s important to inform locum tenens staff about the rules and protocols at your practice, as well as answer questions and address any concerns. Additionally, onboarding programs typically include a facility tour in which locum tenens providers can meet other staff members and become familiar with their new surroundings.
Schedule social gatherings
Sometimes informal social gatherings can acclimate locum tenens providers in an engaging and collaborative way. Scheduling a lunch or dinner for your entire medical team will give locum tenens providers an opportunity to connect with your full time staff and ask questions in a no-pressure environment. This also promotes comradery and team building, fostering morale within your organization and strengthening relationships between your permanent staff and locum tenens providers.
Implement a mentorship initiative
Mentorship can be instrumental in helping locum tenens providers get up to speed with your facility’s operations and standard of care, as well as grooming them for potential full-time positions in the future if you are offering locum-to-perm as an option. By assigning a mentor (typically a full-time staff member at your facility) to each of your locum tenens providers, they’ll have a point person who will guide them throughout the course of their assignments. The more supported your locum tenens providers feel in their roles, the more motivated they’ll be to apply their skills and talents on the job.
These are just some of the ways to make sure locum tenens staff feel welcome as they begin their assignments at your facility. Implementing practices that positively engage and promote connection and professional development will serve as a launchpad for a successful team of locum tenens providers and permanent staff.
Does Your Facility Make Your Locum Tenens Staff Feel Welcome?
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