How to build a better locums sourcing strategy.
Healthcare organizations are rethinking how they staff their facilities. With shifting patient volumes, burnout among healthcare workers, and a higher demand for flexible schedules, coverage is more urgent than ever. This is why locum tenens providers are no longer just a temporary fix; they are a key part of long-term workforce planning.
Sourcing locums effectively demands a thoughtful healthcare staffing solution that supports the goals of your organization. Whether your goal is to avoid gaps in care or expand your services, how you source locums providers can shape the future of your organization.
Start with strategy, not speed.
When it comes to hiring a locum tenens physician or advanced practitioner, speed alone is not enough. The most effective sourcing strategies begin with clarity and understanding why you need coverage and what success looks like beyond simply filling a vacancy.
Aligning your hiring practices with long-term goals, like stabilizing departments and expanding services, leads to better outcomes for your facility and your patients. This starts by identifying the purpose behind the need for locum tenens such as maintaining continuity of care, testing new services, or protecting the mental well-being of your staff.
By approaching locum tenens sourcing with intention, you can move from reactive staffing to proactive workforce planning. This shift not only improves the probability of provider fit but may also strengthen your relationship with your permanent staff.
Ask the right questions.
At Jackson and Coker, we approach our partnership with you with curiosity. Before presenting you with potential candidates, it is essential that we understand the full context of your need. That is why our consultative approach makes all the difference when effectively sourcing locum tenens.
By asking the right questions and bringing a fresh perspective, we can help you uncover how locums can best support your facility. Whether it’s addressing patient surges, staff burnout, misaligned goals, or issues in your provider onboarding process, we work with you to make sure you are hiring the right locums at the right time. This leads to better matches, stronger relationships with your providers, and more sustainable healthcare staffing.
Make precise staffing decisions.
Once you understand the “why” behind your need for locums, the next step is sourcing with precision. In today’s market, more isn’t better – better is better. Being presented with a high volume of candidates may seem productive, but it often leads to delays, mismatches, and frustrations on all sides of the process.
At Jackson and Coker, we take the time to thoroughly understand your needs before presenting any potential candidates. Our focus is on finding providers who truly fit all the requirements your facility has for success, not just some of them. With this curated approach, we’re not simply helping you fill a position; we’re helping you secure the provider who aligns most closely with your goals.
This shift from sending a high volume of applicants to sending qualified candidates builds a foundation of trust between you, the provider, and us as your staffing partner. It also reduces the administrative burden of reviewing unqualified candidates and may accelerate time-to-placement.
Credentialing that keeps up with your staffing needs.
For many healthcare organizations, onboarding delays due to long credentialing time is one of the biggest barriers to timely coverage. That is why Jackson and Coker utilizes Axuall, a secure credentialing platform, and the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) to expedite the licensing and credentialing process.
With Axuall, provider credentials can be verified from primary sources and continuously updated. This can mean fewer delays and less headaches for credentialing teams. When you onboard locum tenens physicians faster, you are filling critical gaps without compromising compliance or care continuity.
Axuall also helps physicians maintain their own credentialing profiles, so they are always ready to begin a new assignment. For recruiters and healthcare administrators like you, this means you have real-time access to the verified documentation you need. In a market where speed matters, this way of credentialing is not only convenient, but also a competitive edge.
The IMLC allows physicians to obtain licensure in multiple states more efficiently. This expands your access to qualified physicians across state lines, especially in urgent coverage situations. When paired with tools like Axuall, the IMLC can significantly reduce credentialling delays and help you staff providers faster without compromising compliance.
Retention starts at sourcing.
A successful sourcing model does not stop when the provider accepts the role; it continues through the onboarding process and beyond. How you bring a locum tenens provider into your organization can directly influence if they choose to return in the future or recommend your facility to others.
Simple onboarding practices can make a big difference. A thorough orientation, clear expectations, and even setting them up with a “buddy” can help them feel supported and prepared for work. These simple practices can directly influence the provider experience as well as the patient’s satisfaction.
When sourcing is approached with staff retention in mind, it can become more than a short-term solution. It can become a long-term strategy for creating a reliable network of providers.
When it's time for a change to your sourcing strategy.
When your sourcing strategy isn’t working, there are typically signs that point to a need for change. Roles may stay open longer than expected, locums providers are not returning, or administrators are constantly reacting to gaps in care instead of planning ahead. These are not just staffing issues, they are often signs that something deeper needs attention.
At Jackson and Coker, we can help you recognize these patterns early. We look into the root causes, whether it is credentialing delays, unclear onboarding, or misaligned expectations. Then we work with you and your team to reset the process, align based on your goals, and build a proactive sourcing strategy.
Partnering for the long haul.
Sourcing works best when it is built on a strong partnership. Not just a vendor-client relationship, but a shared commitment to long-term success.
Jackson and Coker collaborates with healthcare organizations like yours to understand what is driving the need for locums, and we help you build a strategy that supports your organization’s goals. When your partner is aligned with your goals, every placement becomes part of something bigger.
