This National Locum Tenens Week, Odyssey Locums CEO Erick Barnett joined Ringo, alongside Jamie Trainor, President of Healthcare at IPL Health Staffing, to talk about what actually makes a locum tenens assignment succeed — for the clinician, and for the facility.
The full conversation is featured in Ringo’s 2026 National Locum Tenens Week piece, “Fill the Gaps, Strengthen the Community.” Here’s a look at what we shared, and why it matters to how we work.
The Bar Has Moved
Five years ago, an available assignment and a competitive rate might have been enough to get a clinician’s attention. That’s no longer the case.
“Today’s locums expect true partnership, not just job matching.”
For clinicians, that means transparency about rates and assignment details from the first conversation, and one dedicated recruiter who actually knows their specialty, their preferences, and their non-negotiables — not a rotating cast of contacts every time they call.
A Great Assignment Starts Long Before Day One
Rate matters, but it can’t fix a poorly set-up assignment. A clinician who understands the case mix, call expectations, EMR system, and team dynamics before they arrive is a clinician who’s set up to succeed. Housing and travel should be handled, not just checked off. And the facility should welcome them as a colleague — not “temporary help.”
That’s the standard our recruiters and credentialing team work to on every placement: fewer surprises, more preparation, and support that doesn’t stop once the paperwork is signed.
The Work Nobody Sees
Getting a “yes” from a clinician is the beginning, not the finish line. Behind every confirmed assignment, our credentialing specialists and recruiters are managing state licensing, hospital privileging, insurance, travel, and scheduling — often solving problems well outside business hours.
“Our credentialing specialists and recruiters work constantly behind the curtain so neither the facility nor the clinician has to chase paperwork or solve logistics at 10 p.m.,” Erick explained.
Why Clinicians Come Back
Great clinicians are often drawn in by reputation and results — strong compensation, honest communication, recruiters who negotiate hard on their behalf. But they come back for a simpler reason: the experience matched the promise.
“When clinicians know their next assignment will be handled with the same care as the last one, they come back and they refer their colleagues,” Erick said.
That’s the relationship we aim to build with every provider we place — one where the relationship never feels transactional.
Read the Full Feature
Ringo’s full piece also includes Jamie Trainor’s perspective from IPL Health Staffing, along with a broader look at how staffing partners and healthcare organizations are adapting to what today’s clinicians expect.
Read the full feature on Ringo →
Happy National Locum Tenens Week to every physician and advanced practice provider who steps in where they’re needed most — this week, and every week.