While the convenience of a single system is appealing, healthcare organizations risk compromising contingent labor outcomes. It would be like a surgeon opting to use a Swiss army knife — you wouldn’t sacrifice the right tool for the best outcome.
The essential questions about your all-in-one VMS
When speaking with healthcare leaders, I hear a consistent need for technology that enhances efficiency, centralizes processes, improves reporting, and ultimately drives savings. While a single system may seem like the most straightforward approach, here are critical questions to hone the solution:1. What are the real benefits from a single system?
2. Does it make sense for those managing contingent staffing on a daily basis?
3. What industry-specific support and expertise does the system provide?
4. How much leakage are you willing to endure based on poor performance in certain verticals?
5. Are the industry-specific vendors needed for success participants in the platform?
Limitations of a single management system
One of the most overlooked issues with total talent management (TTM) models is that their broad scope often dilutes the specific needs of locum tenens staffing. These systems are built to provide high-level reporting to executives but lack the depth required to drive operational change at the workforce level. Without actionable insights, organizations risk sacrificing access to quality providers and missing critical financial and workforce goals.While the idea of a single system consolidating all contingent labor data is appealing, the reality is that behavioral and operational changes — key drivers of successful locum tenens management — aren’t adequately supported in these models. These models often result in incomplete reporting, misaligned strategies, and outcomes that fail to meet the organization's needs.
Key considerations for exploring new contingent workforce solutions
When considering an all-in-one system here are some considerations to help you decide the best solution:• Will this vendor gravitate to its core competency (e.g. nursing), rather than spread its support equally?
• What level of domain expertise does this company bring to locum tenens staffing?
• What internal resources does this company provide for ongoing support?
• How flexible is the system in adapting to your specific needs?
• Are you willing to trade high performance in one vertical for poor performance in another?
• Does consolidating into one system outweigh the benefits of an industry-specific solution?
The right VMS should enhance your ability to manage locum tenens efficiently. When considering a solution, prioritize a system purpose-built for physician and APP staffing to ensure you’re not making unnecessary trade-offs that could impact quality, cost, and access to care.
Partnering with a locum tenens VMS can save your organization money, improve efficiencies, eliminate redundancy, and strengthen your relationship with your locum tenens partners. If you're ready to write your own locum tenens success story, email sales@locumsmart.net.