It’s a Calling

Locum tenens physicians feel the difference of the Floyd Lee Locums approach

Doctors build their careers around caring for other people. Their work is often mentally, physically and emotionally draining, and they see patients in circumstances ranging from joyful to mundane to devastating. While doctors are busy taking care of everyone else, who is taking care of them? Just ask Laura Grandpre, a locums emergency medicine physician with staffing firm Floyd Lee Locums.

“With Floyd Lee, I have someone negotiating and advocating for me who is easy to communicate with and who wants the best for me,” Grandpre says.

Filling a Gap

Locums is a Latin phrase meaning “to stand in place of” or “to substitute for.” Communities or hospital systems may need temporary locums physicians for a variety of reasons, ranging from increased demand, limited access or vacancies created by another physician’s departure. Yet it is not easy to find these qualified professionals. Staffing firm Floyd Lee Locums bridges this gap, connecting doctors and other medical professionals with regions and facilities where their skills are most needed.

The benefits abound: Doctors benefit from flexible assignments, and their firms handle paperwork and other administrative headaches. The locums life appeals to doctors in every stage of their careers: new practitioners who want to explore opportunities without long-term commitments, mid-career doctors who want to focus their energy on patient care instead of hospital system politics, and others nearing retirement who want flexibility in how much, when and where they work.

Ziad Skaff, a hematology oncologist and internal medicine physician, has several reasons for choosing to work through Floyd Lee Locums instead of a permanent practice. Though he lives in a large city, he is dedicated to helping people in smaller communities that lack specialized healthcare service access. Working on locums assignments enables Skaff to make a difference in a community that otherwise would not have oncology care. He travels a few hours to see patients in person and then checks on them later via telehealth. This gives Skaff the freedom to be home more with his family. “I could get a permanent job anywhere,” he says, “but I opted for locums because I can have the best of both worlds.”

Beyond enjoying the flexibility, Skaff says he specifically loves working with Floyd Lee Locums. When he first started exploring locums work, Skaff’s experience with another firm left him cold: He felt isolated and was left to navigate the process on his own. Floyd Lee Locums offered a concierge experience tailored to his individual needs.

A Concierge Experience

As Skaff and others have discovered, Floyd Lee Locums handles a wide array of onerous tasks, including managing credentials and licensing, paperwork, booking travel arrangements and even making restaurant recommendations. Martel Samuels, a pediatrician on assignment in Oklahoma, chose Floyd Lee Locums for his first foray into the world of locums tenens. About three months into working with Floyd Lee, Samuels says he has been pleased. “They are very attentive,” he says, adding that they maintain “regular interaction, especially in the early phases.”

Grandpre, who divides her time among locums assignments in Oklahoma, Wisconsin and her home state of Florida, agrees. She appreciates the flexibility of living somewhere she loves while working in places she is most needed. Floyd Lee manages all the details of her assignment scheduling, and they “consistently stand out as far as the quality of the healthcare systems they match me with, highly competitive rates, and personalized care and follow-up via their dedicated staff.”

She goes on to say she appreciates their professionalism. “Floyd Lee has an elite organizational structure that lends to seamless integration across functions, resulting in a smooth experience with very little effort on the provider.”

Because It’s Personal

Floyd Lee Locums’ reputation is built on a foundation of thoughtfully developed standards. “We examined the actions we take that bring alignment and our commitments as an organization,” explains CEO and co-founder Natasha Lee. “These elements evolved into standards that articulate our culture.” The firm has published its standards in an aptly titled book, Because It’s Personal, which serves as a starting point for new internal employees. In addition, leaders frequently speak with the staff about the impact they have on doctors as well as the ripple effects that extend to patients. “We make an impact by putting great doctors on the ground where they are most critically needed,” Lee says. “When you realize you are an important part of this process, it creates a fire to show up. It’s a calling, not just a job, and the physicians can feel the difference.”

Leslie Munn, a Floyd Lee Locums senior healthcare consultant, sees her primary role in simple terms: taking care of people. “I want to make their experience as nice as possible, which could mean finding restaurants, amenities or activities for their downtime,” she says. “If one of my doctors is sick, I send them a care package.” Skaff raves about the level of service Munn provides. “I never have to worry about where my next assignment will come from,” he says. “Working with Floyd Lee removes the stress from the process and frees me up to be more present with my family, which is what I wanted all along.”

Attention to detail, personal service and a staff that cares are just a few reasons Floyd Lee Locums stands out. Lee says she is driven by something a mentor said several years ago: “You are a topic at dinner every night.” This sentiment serves as a daily reminder to her and the rest of the team that their actions make a difference to the doctors they serve and beyond. “You can’t have a better partner than Floyd Lee Locums,” Skaff says.