Pt 1: COULD A THERAPY STAFFING COMPANY BE THE ANSWER YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR? Dispelling the Myths

Staffing companies sometimes get a bad rap. It’s not exactly clear to me why or where that negative impression originated, but it does exist. Perhaps it’s been erroneously assumed that contractors are not as invested in the work, as their presence is viewed as temporary. Or perhaps contractors are viewed as the “unhirable” or “discarded” employees. The reality is quite the contrary.

Myth 1: Contractors do not put out quality work

An Independent Contractor works under a 1099. Now there are pros and cons to the clinician as a 1099, but mostly it means the contractor can say yes or no to any job/patient. A “no” to a job/patient equals a “no” to pay. That is a huge incentive for the contractor to WANT to work. However, as a 1099, they are not entitled to a certain amount of work. In order to continue getting referrals, the clients must be satisfied with their work. That is a huge incentive for the contractor to WANT to put out quality work. But let’s be honest, no one goes into this line of work for the glamour. Most clinicians have a passion for the job and compassion for their patients anyway.

Myth 2: Contractors are the “unhirables”

“If a clinician is so good, why aren’t they hired on somewhere full time?”

Not only are contractors hirable, many are overqualified. Unfortunately, it’s commonly seen that a clinician with much experience is not hired because new grads are more cost effective to the company. Being a contractor allows them to work on their terms. Some contractors have full time jobs but need the side work to fill the gaps in their schedule. It can also be a good option for semi-retired clinicians or patents that need a flexible schedule for their little ones.

Myth 3: Using contractors will cause more work for my office

Contractors are there to make your job easier. It is stressful trying to staff patients. Getting a contract in place early, BEFORE you are desperate or have the need, means less stress for you should a staff member suddenly go out on FMLA. And you want to grow your business, not turn it away. Having that staffing contract in place assures you will never have to turn down a referral again. The job of a quality staffing company is to make sure the staff's credentials are up-to-date, their background checks are clear, and they are compliant with federal and state regulations. A staffing agency should be saving your office time, money and resources.

Myth 4: It will cost more to use a staffing company

There are actually financial benefits to using a staffing company.

• The company covers the cost of worker’s comp insurance for the contractors.

• The home health agency is not responsible for paying unemployment insurance for the contractor.

• Often times staffing companies will bill the home health agency monthly which can delay the need to make payroll on the increased staff.

In part two of “Could a therapy staffing company be the answer you’ve been looking for?”, I’ll discuss every home health agency’s favorite topic right now- PDGM! (Hope you caught the sarcasm.)