Navigating the World of Recruitment Agencies: A Guide for CRNAs

Understanding Recruitment Agencies

A recruitment agency is a third-party company that connects healthcare professionals like CRNAs with healthcare facilities or practice management groups. They act as intermediaries, matching candidates with job openings for a commission.

Recruitment Agency vs. Practice Management Group…What Is The Difference?

Practice Management Group (PMG)

A practice management group is often a larger organization that directly employs healthcare providers, including CRNAs. They provide administrative and operational support to hospitals they work with as well as the clinicians. They make money by helping the hospital streamline their anesthesia operations, since most hospitals aren’t familiar with managing specialty providers and would therefore prefer to outsource it.

There are cases where hospitals manage their own anesthesia services, but that is less common. Examples of Practice Management Groups: US Anesthesia Partners, Sound Physicians, North American Partners in Anesthesia, Mednax, etc.

Key Differences

• Employment Status: With a recruitment agency, you’re typically an independent contractor. With a PMG, you’re often an employee. In the current anesthesia market, many PMGs offer independent contracting positions to CRNA and you will find several of those on Lokum App.
• Benefits: PMGs often offer benefits packages, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• Control: You may have less control over your schedule and assignments with a PMG compared to an agency.

Added Layers with Recruitment Agencies

• MSP (Managed Service Provider): Some larger healthcare systems use MSPs to oversee the entire temporary workforce, including those from recruitment agencies. This adds another layer to the process.
• VMS (Vendor Management System): MSPs often utilize digital VMS platforms to manage and track the performance of staffing agencies and contractors. This technology further complicates the process for CRNAs. Understanding these distinctions can help CRNAs make informed decisions about their career paths. See our recent blog [Link to VMS, MSP, Agency blog] on the role VMSs play in how your job finding process will go.

Reasons you may use a recruitment agency?

• Expanded job opportunities: Agencies often have connections to numerous healthcare facilities because of their ability to have access to a large pool of jobs through VMSs, offering a wider range of job options.
• Negotiation support: Agencies can help negotiate salary, benefits, and contract terms if a CRNA doesn’t feel comfortable doing so. See below for the potential drawbacks here.
• Streamlined process: They handle much of the administrative work of getting you credentialed once they have your information.

Potential drawbacks:

• Fees: Most agencies charge fees on the CRNA’s labor. Typically 25%-35% of the CRNA’s rate. That is a cost that is usually passed to the hospital and is usually from a temporary budget, meaning they see you as a temporary resource and will want to move on to a permanent CRNA as soon as possible.
• Restrictions: Should you decide to want to work with that hospital, the hospital typically owes that agency an average fee of about $25,000-30,000 as a buy-out. This is where most CRNAs get “locked in.”

  • A CRNA may be doing work through agencies and potentially be willing to work at that facility permanently. Here are the potential pitfalls if this is you.

    • You are contractually off-limits to the hospital and may be expensive to buy. The hospital or group may protect its relationship with the agency by refusing to work with you outside of your contract with the agency.
    • If an over-zealous or unethical agency presents your resume at other facilities they have relationships with (but that you didn’t show interest in), you may be locked in. That hospital may not work with you because they are bound to a buy-out obligation and it would cost too much. At Lokum, we know this can be a risk for CRNAs and take steps to protect you.
    • Agencies on Lokum App are here to provide CRNAs who want to work with them with more work opportunities. They MUST NOT present your resume at any facility without your explicit and written permission. You should look out for this step in the process.

Preparing to Work with a Recruitment Agency

• Update your resume: Ensure your resume is polished, accurate, and highlights your skills and experience. If you want to feel extra safe, watermark your resume with the phrase “not for presentation.”
• Research agencies: Look for reputable agencies specializing in healthcare and CRNA placements. Ask about their reputation. You won’t see a lot of Agencies on Lokum App because we make sure our values align first.
• Understand your needs: Clearly define your desired job location, specialty, salary expectations, and work schedule.
• Be prepared to discuss your availability: Clearly communicate your start date, work schedule preferences, and any restrictions.
• Gather necessary documents: Have your licenses, certifications, and references readily available. Your credentialing wallet in Lokum App will make storing and sharing these a breeze.

How the Process Works

1. Registration: Create a complete and updated profile on Lokum App. To make their clients happy, agencies will need to vet you. You should make that easy to streamline the process.
2. Initial Contact: An agency recruiter will reach out to discuss your goals and preferences.
3. Interview Process: If interested, you’ll be scheduled for interviews either with the healthcare facility or the recruiter will do a phone screening.
4. Job Matching: You and the recruiter will decide if you are a match and will move forward to the credentialing step. You will get an email saying you have been selected.
5. Job Offer: If selected, you’ll receive a contract outlining terms and conditions. Should you be reluctant to sign a non-compete clause (that locks you into a buy-out) or that you want to change the terms, you should let the recruiter know that explicitly.
6. Contract Negotiation: The agency can assist in negotiating salary, benefits, and other terms. Remember that their earnings are factored into what you receive. If a hospital has agreed to pay $230/hour and the recruitment agency takes 25% of that, your negotiating for more will mean they have to take less.
7. Onboarding: The agency will guide you through the onboarding process for that specific facility, including paperwork and credentialing. Your credentialing wallet in Lokum App will make storing and sharing these a breeze.

Using Lokum App to Optimize Your Experience

• Create a comprehensive profile: Ensure your profile accurately reflects your skills, experience, and job preferences.
• Utilize advanced search filters: Use Lokum’s search features to find assignments specializing in your desired area.
• Leverage job alerts: Job alerts are coming to Lokum App. Set up job alerts to receive notifications about new opportunities.
• Track your applications: Use Lokum’s application tracking feature to stay organized.

Additional Tips

• Be honest and upfront about your expectations.
• Build strong relationships with recruiters.
• Understand the agency’s fee structure.

Following these steps and leveraging the resources available will help you can increase your chances of finding a perfect match for your current needs on Lokum App.