Staffing gaps in the healthcare sector have been a constant challenge. However, innovative solutions have become the key to giving patients greater access to top healthcare professionals. One such solution has been the adoption of locum tenens. These are temporary physicians and other specialists who take up temporary positions to fill the gaps.
While this is a positive development, hospital administrators may find it difficult to manage temporary workflow without automation. How exactly can hospitals improve locum workflow? This article highlights how healthcare facilities can automate their locum tenens workflow and the benefits of doing so, especially when it comes to continuity of care and improving patient outcomes.
Access to Skilled Providers
Recruitment teams often struggle to fill permanent positions when a medical professional vacates their position. This is where automation of the locum tenens workflow comes in. Automation gives the hospital management more time to find the best candidate while also appraising potential candidates.
Locum tenens agencies have automated platforms with a pool of highly talented temporary workers who may be absorbed by the organization to solve its staffing shortcomings. This means that hospitals do not necessarily have to interview candidates for full-time positions. They can use the platform to find employees within as soon as possible.
Improved Patient Outcomes
Hospitals are mandated to provide the best care possible to every patient, no matter their place of residence. However, this might be difficult to fulfill if hospitals do not have enough medical staff. This is especially more common in facilities in remote areas, where the shortage of providers threatens the quality and continuity of care.
Automating locum tenens workflows can help hospitals recruit travel nurses, physicians, and specialists to fulfill patient appointments and offer professional medical attention. As a result, patients get the best care possible, reducing incidences of misdiagnosis, inappropriate care, and delayed care. Hospital managements also enjoy smooth operations with minimal administrative responsibilities.
Streamlined Processes
Through a vendor management system (VMS), hospitals obtain a consolidated staff repository. Hospital administrators can assess the availability of locum tenens providers and know their specialties and qualifications. As a result, administrators can efficiently source and match healthcare professionals to the needs of their facility.
Hospitals can also automate staff scheduling. This means that healthcare professionals can report to work on time, check their shifts and locations, conveniently. Automating workflow and shifts minimizes errors and eases administrative burdens.
The benefits of automating workflow extend to billing and invoicing. Automation of these two processes reduces mistakes and guarantees prompt and accurate remuneration. This ensures hospitals maintain positive relationships with the locum tenens providers.
Compliance and Risk Management
Not many sectors match the stringent nature of compliance requirements demanded of healthcare hospitals. For this reason, top hospitals have automated hiring of locum staff through a VMS, which functions as a filter to help with compliance.
How exactly does a VMS reduce compliance risks? The system ensures that locum staff have the correct credentials, licenses, and certifications. The system is secure and can safeguard sensitive information in compliance with regulations such as HIPAA. This prevents penalties and non-compliance problems.
Health facilities can automate locum tenens workflows through the use of vendor management systems. They save administrative costs, ensure compliance, and facilitate timely access to reliable staff for continuity of care. Automating locums workflow with the right system improves overall efficiency, minimizes mistakes, increases transparency, and frees up hospital management to focus on patient care.
