Quality Healthcare for Remote Industrial Sites with Locum Tenens

While traditional healthcare facilities frequently require our services, we are equally proud to partner with industrial sectors such as fishing, mining, and oil and gas. High-quality medical care is crucial for the daily operations of these industries, particularly in the rural and remote locations where they often operate. In this article, we will explore the various ways locum tenens contribute to high-quality healthcare and cost savings for remote industrial facilities, demonstrating why they should be an integral part of their operational strategy. At WMS, we believe that both you and your employees deserve the peace of mind and security that comes with having reliable healthcare support readily available.

The Challenges of Providing Healthcare for Remote Industrial Sites

Providing healthcare to remote industrial sites poses significant challenges due to several factors. The primary challenge is these sites’ geographic location. Industrial locations such as factories, mines, oil rigs, and fishing vessels are often very isolated from certain resources, making it difficult to receive adequate care in the event of an injury.

In many cases, it’s not a question of “if” someone will be injured, but “when.” This is why it is best to be prepared with an on-site medical professional for when their expertise is needed. Working with heavy machinery and unpredictable environmental conditions inherently increases risk, despite adherence to best industry practices and safety protocols. Rural industrial occupations are associated with 25% more workplace injuries, with a higher likelihood of encountering events such as fires and explosions, contact with heavy equipment, overexertion, and exposure to harsh substances and environments. These all-too-common occurrences can have significant costs for both employers and employees, including:

• Requiring more leave to recover
• Shortening workers’ careers due to lack of access to proper treatment
• Increasing employee turnover, hiring, and retention costs
• Limited availability of permanent healthcare staff willing to work in remote industrial locations

The Role of Locum Tenens in Addressing These Challenges

As a lead professional in your industry, you likely know these realities and have wondered how to best mitigate these risks and ensure the safety and longevity of your employees. Fortunately, our contracted locum tenens providers are ready and willing to help with assignments at sites like yours. In our experience, these are some of our most popular assignments! We work with a selection of highly trained and highly passionate providers who are dedicated to serving communities like yours.

In the event of an emergency or serious injury, having a locum provider on-site means you may not need to expend precious time or money to medevac an employee. With an on-site locum provider, your employees can access quick and comprehensive triage care for many of the injuries they may experience. For more serious issues, our providers can stabilize and oversee transport to the nearest medical facility, helping to improve patient outcomes.

Additionally, having our providers dedicated to a site takes the pressure off small, remote local clinics. The populations in many of the communities surrounding industrial facilities are quite small, but during peak seasons or emergencies, an influx of injured industrial workers can overwhelm a small village or town clinic. Our contracted providers help fill those gaps by lightening the patient load from industrial sites, which also supports your neighboring village or town clinics.

Benefits of Quality Healthcare in Industrial Sites

Improved Health Outcomes and Safety for Workers

With on-site healthcare professionals, workers receive immediate attention and care, reducing the severity of injuries and illnesses. Prompt treatment can prevent complications, leading to quicker recovery times and better overall health outcomes. This also fosters a safer work environment, as employees are more likely to follow safety protocols and report health issues when they know medical help is readily available.

Reduced Downtime and Increased Productivity

A healthier workforce means fewer sick days and less downtime due to injury or illness. On-site medical care ensures that minor issues are addressed promptly, preventing them from becoming major problems that require extended leave. This leads to increased productivity, as employees can focus on their tasks without the distraction of health concerns. Facility managers appreciate having our providers on-site because they are dedicated to their employees, get to know them, and can follow their aftercare. Our providers significantly help reduce employee downtime, getting people back to work quickly rather than spending a day waiting at a local clinic.

Enhanced Company Reputation

Investing in quality healthcare for employees demonstrates a company’s commitment to their well-being, which can enhance the company’s reputation. This commitment can attract and retain top talent, as workers prefer employers who prioritize their health and safety. Additionally, having healthcare professionals on-site helps ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, avoiding potential fines and legal issues.

Cost Savings and Improved Efficiency

By reducing the need for emergency medical evacuations and minimizing downtime, companies can save significantly on healthcare and operational costs. Immediate access to medical care can reduce the overall cost of treatment, as early intervention often means less expensive care. Furthermore, a healthy and productive workforce leads to improved efficiency in operations, which translates to better financial performance for the company.

Locum tenens providers typically do not require the same level of benefits as permanent staff, such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off, further reducing overall overhead costs. Locum tenens also enable you to avoid long-term financial commitments, such as severance packages or ongoing salary obligations, that come with hiring permanent or direct healthcare providers.

How to Implement Quality Healthcare in Remote Industrial Sites with Locum Tenens

If your facility has never utilized locum tenens before, how can you get started? How can you ensure that locums will meet your needs and provide good ROI? Take these steps to help you visualize how locum tenens providers could benefit your facility:

Assess the Healthcare Needs of Your Site

Start by evaluating the specific healthcare needs of your site. What types of injuries or illnesses occur most frequently? Could further preventative measures be taken to mitigate these issues? In some cases, prevention might not be entirely feasible due to the nature of the work or the equipment that is used. If that is the case, consider how an on-site provider could help manage and treat these incidents when they happen.

Partner with a Locum Tenens Staffing Agency

Collaborate with a locum tenens staffing agency (like us!). We take the time to carefully match your facility with a provider(s) who can offer the level of care your employees need and seamlessly integrate into your facility’s culture. Ensuring a good culture fit is essential for gaining the trust of your workforce. We handle the rigorous process to ensure the provider is highly qualified, saving you time and energy in the hiring process.

Coordinate Logistics for the Provider

With a contracted locum tenens provider, there are logistical considerations to ensure successful integration for the duration of their contract. On your end, this may involve arranging housing and addressing other specific needs ahead of time. Typically, providers handle their own food expenses, but in certain settings, such as fishing vessels, they may require meals provided in the mess hall. These arrangements may vary based on your facility’s requirements and resources. Once a provider has signed a contract with us, our Operations team will act as a liaison between the provider and your facility, ensuring both parties are prepared for the provider’s arrival. Additionally, our Operations team will coordinate travel and ensure the provider reaches your facility promptly and safely.

Welcome and Integrate the Provider

Finally, welcome and integrate the provider into your workforce. We have a thorough guide on how to do that here. To start, provide them with a thorough orientation and introduce them to your team. You can utilize a provider for as long or as short a time as needed. If consistent coverage is desired, it is possible to have several locums rotate through, allowing providers to take breaks and return refreshed for subsequent rotations. If coverage is only needed for peak seasons, that can also be arranged. This unparalleled flexibility allows you to tailor healthcare solutions to your specific facility needs, ensuring the best possible outcomes for your workforce. Once the locum is settled, you can start seeing the positive impact of having on-site medical support.

Conclusion

Implementing locum tenens healthcare providers in remote industrial sites offers numerous advantages. From improved health outcomes and increased productivity to enhanced company reputation and significant cost savings, having dedicated healthcare professionals on-site is a game-changer for your facility. Our highly trained and passionate contracted providers are ready to seamlessly integrate into your workforce, offering unparalleled flexibility to meet your specific needs.

Consider the positive impact that on-site healthcare could have on your operations. Taking proactive steps now can ensure the safety, well-being, and efficiency of your team.

If you’re interested in exploring how locum tenens providers can benefit your facility in Alaska, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, or Washington, we’re here to help. Contact us to discuss your needs and find out more about our services. Together, we can create a safer, healthier, and more productive work environment for everyone.