Medical facilities face continued challenges in adequately staffing their neurology departments to cater to the needs of their communities; this is especially true for rural facilities. In a recent case study, one Level IV trauma center in the Midwestern U.S. needed to staff for a neurologist who could overview Electromyography (EMG) and consultative services to provide undisrupted patient care and coverage. Failing to fill this position would disrupt patient coverage, resulting in patients having to travel two hours away for EMG examinations and return for basic consultations.
Introducing such a delay is not just an interruption–it is antithetical to trauma care. With the limited availability of neurologists, the hospital needed to find a reliable alternative solution quickly.
Acting as a consultative partner, LocumTenens.com delivered a tactical solution drawing on available resources. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) doctors have the qualifications and expertise to read and interpret EMG results. Keeping this in mind, the LocumTenens.com representative proposed bringing in a PM&R doctor to take on the role without any available neurologists.
This solution ensured patients' continuity of neurological care while continuing the search for qualified, full-time neurologists. Despite the difficult realities of the neurologist labor market, LocumTenens.com was able to come up with an innovative solution that allowed the client to maintain an critical offering for trauma care, and prevented the introduction of a potential “dealbreaker” of a service interruption.
About the author
Kristie Cronce
Senior Account Executive, Neurology
Kristie brings a strong passion for helping others to her role in the healthcare industry. After attending Orange Coast College to earn a sales/marketing degree, she made the move from Southern California in 2018 along with her husband and daughter. Kristie mentors associates, and excels in building and nurturing client relationships, managing physician assignments across 28 states, negotiating rates, and signing client contracts into place. With a commitment to connecting and sharing core values, Kristie is proud to be a part of the LocumTenens.com mission to improve the healthcare experience.
