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FAQs

What does Locum Tenens cost?

Medstaff's success is built on a commitment to long-term relationships with our clients and our dedication to providing the highest quality temporary staffing available. We do more than just find a physician to fill a staffing need. We work hard to provide staffing that will produce satisfaction –– and revenue –– for our clients.

In a typical facility, the Medstaff-supplied providers will generate more revenue than the actual cost of the service. Because the locum tenens coverage pays for itself, you can be assured that the Medstaff-supplied physician is a wise investment. The real value, however, is that you are able to maintain a continuum of healthcare services without the disruption that can occur because of an unexpected absence or loss of a key provider. No cost can be affixed to the decline of your patient population as a result of a staffing shortage or a temporarily closed practice.

You can be certain Medstaff's combination of providing continuity of staffing along with the availability of our highly trained physicians is a rewarding investment.

What are Medstaff's Credentialing Standards?

To qualify for an association with Medstaff National Medical Staffing, physicians must meet the highest professional standards in locum tenens. We follow guidelines to meet both JCAHO and NCQA standards. We demand extraordinary clinical references, personal recommendations, and supporting documentation unsurpassed by any other locum tenens firm.

Medstaff's recruitment effort is directed toward well-trained providers with excellent clinical and strong interpersonal skills. We seek relationships with only those who are committed to the highest standards of patient care.

For each Member Physician, Medstaff conducts an uncompromising credentialing and referencing process before we ever present the candidates to our clients. Following is a detailed listing of our credentialing requirements.

• A Medstaff application, which outlines the personal and professional history of the applicant along with signed authorization to verify information provided
• Review and screening of information provided by applicant, including previous employment, training, and malpractice history
• Telephone interviews with practicing physicians and other healthcare professionals who can personally attest to the applicant's current clinical and interpersonal skills
• Additional written reference letters from physicians and other healthcare professionals who have personal knowledge of the applicant's abilities
• Medical license screening by our credentialing department, including status on each state medical license known to be held by applicant
• If warranted, review by Medstaff's Medical Review Committee, which consists of licensed Medical Doctors
• Copies of all pertinent documents required to support privileging and licensure applications, including diplomas, training certificates, DEA and license registrations, Specialty Board Certificates, etc.

How about Professional Liability Insurance?

We assist each Medstaff-supplied independent contractor physicians by procuring professional liability insurance through our policy with Lloyds of London. This policy provides limits of $1,000,000 per medical incident and $3,000,000 annual aggregate (higher in Virginia and New York) and is a claims-made policy written on a group basis. Therefore, should an incident occur after the Medstaff-supplied physician has ceased providing services, he or she will continue to be covered by the group policy. In the event that the group policy is not renewed, an extended reporting endorsement (tail policy) will be obtained by Medstaff at no cost to you or the physician.

What is our commitment?

Initially, there is no specific commitment to engage in a search of a locum tenens or permanent physician through Medstaff. We will review with you in detail the specifics of your need and the responsibilities of the physician. We will then offer you a standard two-page working agreement that details our relationship with you, the facility or clinic. This agreement basically makes a formal request for us to present physicians for you to review and allows us to represent the specifics of your need to our physicians. We will then review your opportunity with the appropriate Medstaff member physicians and present to you only those physicians that have specifically given us permission to do so. We will never send you a physician CV without the physician's request for us to do so. Once you have determined that you are interested in a specific physician that Medstaff has presented, we can arrange a phone introduction and interview call for you with the physician. After you and the physician agree to work together, we will then send you a confirmation letter with all the details for your authorization. Once authorized, you are now committed, as is the physician.

Can I choose the physician?

Always. Medstaff will provide you the physician's CV, including all credentials and references. We will also arrange a phone interview with the physician if you desire. Making the right fit for you and the physician is most important to everyone's success, so we will always take extra effort to ensure the best match is made.

How long are Locum Tenens assignments?

We have assignments that are from one day, one week, or one month in length, to one year and everything in between. The length of an assignment is based on your needs. Some physicians prefer longer rotating opportunities; some prefer weekends only and others weekdays. The options are endless. Additionally, if you and a physician later feel that you’ve found a perfect match indefinitely, we do have provisions available to enable you to recruit the physician permanently.