Most healthcare facilities work with 3-5 locum agencies simultaneously, believing more options means better outcomes.
But managing multiple vendor relationships leaves many facilities spending more time coordinating agencies than actually securing quality coverage.
The issue isn’t the number of agencies you work with — it’s whether any of them function as a strategic partner rather than a transactional vendor.
Transactional Locum Tenens (Vendor Model)
Transactional vendors respond to immediate needs. You post a gap, and they submit candidates.
The relationship ends when the placement is made. If the provider doesn’t work out or cancels, you start over. There’s no continuity, no institutional knowledge, and no proactive planning.
Strategic Locum Tenens (Partner Model)
Real partnership shows up in observable behaviors, not marketing claims. Strategic partners anticipate and prevent gaps.
Plan Proactively for Locums
Your partner in locum tenens doesn’t wait for you to post urgent needs. They track seasonal patterns (e.g., summer ER surges, flu season hospitalist demand) and reach out 90-120 days before gaps emerge.
They know which of your contracts are ending and when credentialing timelines require early action.
Maintain a History of Partnership
A strategic partner tracks which providers have worked successfully at your facility before. This allows faster placements in the future.
They understand your credentialing processes and know your preferences well enough to present candidates that match the first time.
Solve Problems During Assignments
When conflicts arise between your staff and a locum provider, strategic partners mediate rather than disappear. When a provider cancels 48 hours before the start, they have backup options already identified.
Provide Market Insights
Your partner in locum tenens advises on realistic timelines for your specialty and region. They communicate honestly about provider availability and help you navigate competitive rates for quality candidates. They care more about serving your facility than their margins.
How To Build Your Agency Network
Many healthcare facilities do not rely on one staffing relationship to fill all open roles.
They may have one agency they trust to place quality matches, one or two agencies that place hard-to-fill specialties, and a general pool when an emergency placement is needed.
A tier model invites better organization and less administrative management.
For example, when you send every open role to six different agencies, you create more management for your team.
Who’s interviewing, and where’s that CV we really liked? Which agencies did we like last time, and which ones delivered candidates on our timeline?
A tier model helps healthcare facilities identify locum agencies that work best for them.
A Tier 3 partnership may be able to handle emergency one-off needs. Alternatively, a Tier 1 partnership is a facility’s go-to agency for high-volume needs across specialties.
Here’s what a tier model may look like for you:
Vetting Agencies and Building Partnership
Identifying which agencies deserve Tier 1 status requires more than reviewing sales pitches.
Ask questions that reveal operational capability, verify specialty expertise, and identify unrealistic promises.
Partnership also requires facilities to hold up their end:
- Provide thorough job descriptions
- Move quickly on credentialing
- Give candid feedback on provider performance
Agencies that know your preferences send better candidates.
Where Consilium Fits in Your Locum Network
For facilities working to build a more intentional locum strategy, the right partner should offer more than candidate volume.
Partners provide informed support with a deep understanding of your specialty, your market, and the pressures shaping your workforce decisions.
Consilium operates as a Tier 1 partner in locum tenens. Our specialty-focused teams bring regional expertise and consistent communication to support continuity.
We work to provide facilities with clarity, confidence, and counsel for every stage of your locum search.
Add Consilium to your locum network this year. There’s no upfront cost or obligation.
Schedule a consultation and start your search today.
