The challenge
When a multi-hospital health system decided to end its longstanding partnership with its existing obstetric locum tenens staffing partner due to pricing and scheduling concerns, leadership faced an urgent challenge: prevent disruptions to care while replacing a significant volume of OB coverage in a matter of weeks.
The organization needed to replace approximately 60 uncovered OB shifts per month across two hospitals within a 60-day timeframe. At the same time, internal teams lacked the capacity to manage the intensive recruiting, credentialing, scheduling and onboarding efforts required to keep both facilities fully staffed and maintain uninterrupted patient care. Without immediate support, the health system faced operational strain and the potential for gaps in women's health services
The organization needed a partner that could take ownership of the entire staffing process, from candidate sourcing and vetting to credentialing and schedule coordination, all under an accelerated timeline.
The solution
To prevent coverage disruptions and ease the burden on the hospital staff, LocumTenens.com quickly implemented a comprehensive transition management strategy designed to stabilize coverage and streamline workforce operations.
Rather than relying solely on obstetrician staffing, our team developed a flexible workforce model that combined obstetricians and certified nurse midwives (CNMs). This hybrid approach enabled the health system to maintain coverage while the physician recruitment efforts continued, providing immediate relief, controlling costs and ensuring schedules remained fully supported during the transition.
Beyond clinician recruitment, LocumTenens.com managed the end-to-end staffing process, including:
• Candidate sourcing and screening
• Interview coordination
• Accelerated credentialing and privileging support
• Schedule development and management
• Ongoing communication with facility stakeholders
To further reduce administrative complexity, our team implemented a proactive scheduling process that delivered coverage schedules up to three months in advance. This eliminated much of the back-and-forth coordination typically associated with locum staffing, allowing hospital leaders to focus on patient care and operational priorities rather than workforce logistics.
"Working with my recruiter at LocumTenens.com has been a standout experience. The professionalism, responsiveness and understanding of our OB hospitalist staffing needs made all the difference. We were consistently presented with exceptional clinicians who not only brought strong clinical skills but also integrated seamlessly with our existing teams. Communication was prompt and clear, and they took their time to understand the nuances of our facilities."
- Health systems operation leader
Results and impacts
The partnership delivered rapid results during a period of significant organizational change, helping the health system maintain uninterrupted access to care while building a sustainable long-term staffing solution.
Key outcomes included:
• Filled 60 previously uncovered shifts per month across two hospitals
• Onboarded eight physicians within three months of the initial engagement.
• Credentialed and prepared more than 20 clinicians for coverage, including approximately 15-16 physicians and five to six certified nurse midwives.
• Maintained uninterrupted access to OB services throughout the transition from the organization’s previous staffing partner.
• Reduced scheduling complexity and administrative burden through proactive workforce planning and schedule management.
• Successfully transitioned from a temporary hybrid OB/CNM model to a fully staffed OB physician program.
"We were facing tight deadlines to ensure uninterrupted OB hospitalist coverage. LocumTenens.com stepped up immediately, working tirelessly to complete the necessary applications and expedite the credentialing process. Thanks to their dedication and efficiency, we were able to fill critical gaps in our OB service without delay. The responsiveness, attention to detail and commitment to our staffing needs have made them invaluable partners."
- Health system operations leader
Looking ahead
The success of the OB transition led the health system expand its engagement with LocumTenens.com beyond its immediate coverage needs. What began as a solution to a staffing challenge evolved into a broader workforce partnership, with the organization additional workforce management solutions and leveraging support across other service lines.
Today, the partnership remains active, supported by regular strategic planning meetings, ongoing clinician coverage and continued collaboration focused on long-term workforce stability and operational goals.