FAQs

  1. Why should we use a contingent workforce for nursing and allied health jobs?
  2. How do I know that hiring supplemental medical staffing will be good for our organization?
  3. Why should I use the healthcare staffing services provided by RTTEMPS?
  4. How do you prescreen your employees? How can we be assured that RTTEMPS employees are experienced and credentialed in their areas of expertise?
  5. Do I have to guarantee 13 weeks of work?
  6. What does the all-inclusive price include?
  7. Can I send an employee home early?
  8. How do I handle an employee problem?
  9. Do you have professional liability insurance on your employees?
  10. Where will the employee live? Are we responsible for any fees or making arrangements?
  11. What happens if our hospital is a member of a national GPO, MSP, or VMS program?
  12. How do I know RTTEMPS employees will follow the same rules as our full-time employees and not cause any disruptions in our work environment? How can we be assured that your employees are current with their practice standards?
  13. If we really like your employee, can we hire him or her as a permanent employee?
  14. How can we be assured that your employees will meet all JCAHO and other standards? Should we have an inspection, what assurances can you give us that your employees will give the correct answers to an inspector’s questions?
  15. Do you have a reference list? How can I talk to a colleague who has used your service?
  16. When can we start? What is a typical timeline?
  17. After I sign the contract with your healthcare staffing service, when does billing start? Are we responsible for any upfront costs? Anything at the end of a contract?
  18. How can we be assured that your employees will not recruit ours to work with your temporary healthcare staffing service?

Why should we use a contingent workforce for nursing and allied health jobs?

Using a contingent workforce can be a good business decision when patient volumes and procedures fluctuate. They can be used as full-time-staff “extenders” by covering permanent employees’ vacations and medical and family leaves, as well as open positions.

Using a contingent workforce is also beneficial if you use a proactive healthcare staffing approach rather than reactive tactics, which can destroy a budget as well as your business plan. We are able to work with you to adjust the length of assignments so that you remain within budget; unlike most medical staffing companies, we do not insist on the standard 13-week-minimum contracts.

How do I know that hiring supplemental medical staffing will be good for our organization?

Whether filling nursing or allied health jobs, a contingent workforce can improve employee morale by reducing the patient-care load of full-time employees. This is especially true in cases where management faces the danger of hiring permanent employees, only to lay them off in the future.

Consider this: If you design your healthcare staffing models and departmental business plan with fewer FTEs than would be required to cover your average volumes, supplemental staffing can save you money. By integrating RTTEMPS employees at key points throughout the year (when you need the staff to cover greater-than-average volumes), you can save money by reducing your permanent FTE levels. And this strategy can be budgeted.

Why should I use the healthcare staffing services provided by RTTEMPS?

In business since 1987, we have found success as a result of fluctuating supply and demand in the healthcare industry. We are a privately held, woman-owned company, run by healthcare staffing professionals who know the industry inside and out, understand healthcare professionals and respect your facility’s mission to provide good quality patient care. As one of the premiere medical staffing companies in the country, we do not use gimmicks to attract and retain employees. We are a stable, reputable organization that refuses to fall prey to capricious industry trends. Since we are able to streamline our costs, we deliver services that are efficient, effective and affordable.

How do you prescreen your employees? How can we be assured that RTTEMPS employees are experienced and credentialed in their areas of expertise?

All employees are thoroughly prescreened with interviews, reference checks and verification of education, board certifications, and licenses. In addition, we run criminal background checks, require immunizations and yearly physicals, and drug screenings are mandatory. We also ensure that each staff member meets any additional facility, state, local, and/or JCAHO requirements.

Do I have to guarantee 13 weeks of work?

No. Unlike many other healthcare staffing services, RTTEMPS has no such minimum. Prior to the beginning of the contract, your facility determines the length of the assignment.

What does the all-inclusive price include?

We make healthcare staffing easy and affordable. Our all-inclusive pricing system stipulates that the price in the contract is guaranteed for that individual. Speak with your account manager about discount staffing for multiple nursing or allied health jobs.

We guarantee there will be no back-end billing for other charges, such as housing, travel, etc. Nor do our contracts require a deposit or other up-front financial commitment.

We understand your medical staffing budgetary concerns for the position(s) you’ve requested. We also know that the 13-week assignment minimum required by most medical staffing companies can destroy a budget in some instances. With some creative planning, however, there are usually a number of ways to beef up healthcare staffing without exceeding your budget. Just call us to help strategize how you can fill nursing and allied health positions without breaking the bank.

Can I send an employee home early?

Employees from our healthcare staffing service are guaranteed payment for a shift. If the employee volunteers to leave a shift early, the facility is only responsible for the hours the employee worked that day. Daily hours for nursing and allied health jobs may be adjustable; just speak to your recruiter.

How do I handle an employee problem?

In the rare event you have an employee problem, call our account manager at (800) 677-8233 to expedite resolution. This is one of the advantages of working with our medical staffing company. We know you have enough responsibility handling your own employees and we will gladly oversee issues involving those from our healthcare staffing service.

Do you have professional liability insurance on your employees?

All our employees are covered with professional liability insurance. Documentation can be provided.

Where will the employee live? Are we responsible for any fees or making arrangements?

When you hire RTTEMPS professionals, they report to work on the first day of our contract with you. We make all the arrangements for accommodations, which are located as close to the assignment as possible. You are not responsible for any pass-through fees over the all inclusive rate.

What happens if our hospital is a member of a national GPO, MSP, or VMS program?

Our healthcare staffing service is a partner of many GPO, MSP, and VMS programs. If you belong to a staffing resource community, just let your account manager know. We may already be staffing partners.

How do I know RTTEMPS employees will follow the same rules as our full-time employees and not cause any disruptions in our work environment? How can we be assured that your employees are current with their practice standards?

All our employees are contractually bound to follow the procedures of their assignment, as well as the polices and procedures of our healthcare staffing service. This includes HIPAA standards, such as those related to confidentiality and patient records.

Our employees are professionals who have chosen temporary assignments as their career. Just like your staff personnel, they know they are obligated to perform their jobs to the best of their abilities. They are at your facility to fill a healthcare staffing need and will strive to integrate seamlessly into your environment in an appropriate and professional manner.

We give you the opportunity to interview our employees, so you may ask them any questions you may have regarding standards of care. You also set the orientation policy.

If we really like your employee, can we hire him or her as a permanent employee?

Yes. Just call your healthcare staffing account manager to discuss the process.

How can we be assured that your employees will meet all JCAHO and other standards? Should we have an inspection, what assurances can you give us that your employees will give the correct answers to an inspector’s questions?

Before our employees begin their assignments, we pass their profile information on to you and give you the opportunity to ask whatever questions you choose. If you’re scheduled for an inspection, you may wish to ask targeted questions. And remember, you also orient agency staff to your facility. We encourage you to work directly with the employees from our healthcare staffing service. We also provide you with copies of all necessary paperwork.

Do you have a reference list? How can I talk to a colleague who has used your service?

Yes. Ask your healthcare staffing account manager for a reference list of professional colleagues.

When can we start? What is a typical timeline?

We provide short-term or long-term staffing as soon as possible. The timeline depends on the modality and when you submit a request. The more proactive you are with your needs, the better your choices. Rates may be better, as well. However, travel costs can sometimes drive up the pricing in quick-turnaround scenarios.

After I sign the contract with your healthcare staffing service, when does billing start? Are we responsible for any upfront costs? Anything at the end of a contract?

You incur no financial obligation until an employee is physically working in your facility. We do not require down payments or any other pre-pay arrangements for our medical staffing services. Our rates are agreed upon prior to the employee reporting to your facility. We also do not require payment upon receipt. Payment in full is due within 30 days of billing.

How can we be assured that your employees will not recruit ours to work with your temporary healthcare staffing service?

We do not encourage our employees to recruit your staff to work for our medical staffing company. Professionals from RTTEMPS are in your facility to work with you and your employees. It would be unethical for an employee of any healthcare staffing agency to recruit your staff under any circumstance. We feel so strongly about this, we are willing to put a statement in your contract to support our position.