Moving to a managed service provider (MSP) can make it easier to manage contingent staffing, consolidate vendors, and control costs. But it can also change how you work with the specialty staffing agencies you’ve relied on for years.
For your oncology department, that might mean losing direct access to recruiters who understand your clinical requirements, staffing challenges, and the importance of preserving continuity of cancer care.
Here’s what you may not realize: Moving to an MSP doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stop working with your preferred oncology staffing partner.
Depending on your agreement, you may be able to bring a specialty staffing firm into your existing MSP program, set exceptions for difficult-to-fill positions, or maintain separate recruitment arrangements for services outside the MSP’s scope.
If you’ve worked with Cancer CarePoint in the past, there may still be opportunities for us to support your oncology staffing needs within your current structure.
Here’s what you need to know about your options and how to get started.
Can You Still Work With an Oncology Staffing Firm If You Have an MSP?
Yes, in many cases, you can continue working with a specialized oncology staffing firm after transitioning to an MSP.
Your options depend on your MSP agreement, particularly its provisions for approved suppliers, exclusivity, and specialty staffing exceptions.
Your MSP typically manages contingent staffing through a network of approved suppliers, often using a vendor management system (VMS) to coordinate job orders, candidate submissions, credentialing workflows, and invoicing.
That centralized structure doesn’t necessarily prevent you from accessing specialized recruitment partners. It simply means those relationships may need to operate differently.
For example, if you previously worked directly with Cancer CarePoint, you may be able to request that we join your MSP’s supplier network.
Alternatively, you might establish an exception that lets a specialty staffing partner handle certain oncology positions when your existing suppliers can’t fill them.
First things first: understand what your agreement allows.
Instead of assuming a previous staffing relationship must end, ask your MSP if you can continue access to the specialized recruitment resources your oncology department needs.
Why You May Still Need a Specialty Oncology Staffing Partner
Your MSP serves an important purpose. It helps you manage large numbers of staffing requests, maintain consistent processes, and coordinate multiple suppliers across departments and locations.
But oncology recruitment presents challenges that don’t always fit a standardized staffing model.
Oncology specialists are harder to find
Recruiting an experienced radiation oncologist, surgical oncologist, hematologist-oncologist, or oncology advanced practice provider requires access to a relatively small pool of qualified professionals.
Projected physician supply in 2038 is expected to meet approximately 96% of demand for hematology and oncology and 87% for radiation oncology, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration’s December 2025 workforce projections.
These numbers won’t tell you exactly how hard your next oncology search will be, but they do show why finding qualified specialists can be challenging. A staffing firm focused specifically on oncology likely has established relationships with clinicians who aren’t actively searching through general staffing channels.
Your oncology positions require specialized screening
Clinical qualifications can vary considerably across oncology specialties.
Beyond licensing and board certification, you may need candidates with experience in particular treatment modalities, cancer populations, clinical settings, or multidisciplinary care environments. Credentialing and privileging requirements can also affect how quickly a clinician can begin an assignment.
Working with a specialty oncology staffing partner gives you access to recruiters who understand these requirements and can help identify candidates whose qualifications match your specific needs.
Staffing delays can affect your patients
An unfilled oncology position isn’t simply an open requisition.
Depending on the role, a prolonged vacancy can affect appointment availability, treatment scheduling, clinician workloads, and your department’s ability to maintain services.
Some MSP programs use supplier tiers, giving preferred vendors an initial opportunity to fill positions before releasing orders to additional agencies.
That approach may work well for high-volume staffing needs. For scarce oncology specialties, however, delays in reaching qualified recruiters can reduce the time available to identify and secure candidates.
You don’t necessarily have to replace your MSP. You need to make sure your oncology department has access to the right recruitment resources when needed.
For a closer look at these challenges, read Where MSPs Fall Short for Oncology Staffing.
Four Ways to Work With a Specialty Oncology Staffing Firm Within Your MSP Structure
You may have several options for sustaining or reestablishing relationships with specialized staffing agencies.
The best approach depends on your existing MSP contract, your oncology staffing requirements, and the services your specialty partner provides.
Approach |
How it works |
When to consider it |
|
Approved specialty supplier |
Your oncology staffing firm joins the MSP’s vendor network |
You have recurring oncology staffing needs |
|
Specialty staffing exception |
Certain positions can be referred to a specialty firm under agreed conditions |
You’re struggling to fill specific oncology specialties |
|
Direct-sourcing arrangement |
You use an approved process to engage a known staffing partner or identified clinicians |
You have an established specialty recruitment relationship |
|
Separate permanent recruitment |
Direct-hire searches are handled outside the MSP when permitted |
You’re recruiting permanent oncology professionals |
1. Add Cancer CarePoint as an approved MSP supplier
If you regularly need oncology coverage, adding Cancer CarePoint to your MSP’s approved supplier network may be worth discussing.
Under this arrangement, your MSP continues managing the staffing program while we participate as a specialty supplier, subject to approval and agreed terms. You maintain your established processes for job orders, supplier management, and billing while gaining access to oncology-focused recruitment support.
Approving Cancer CarePoint as a supplier is a good first step, but it’s also important that we receive your oncology staffing requests as soon as a position opens. Some MSPs give preferred vendors a set amount of time to fill a position before sharing the request with other suppliers.
By the time it reaches a specialty firm like ours, valuable recruiting time may have been lost.
For positions with limited candidate availability, that distinction can make a difference.
2. Establish exceptions for hard-to-fill oncology positions
Your MSP agreement may allow you to establish exceptions for positions that require specialized recruitment.
For example, you might request an exception for radiation oncology, surgical oncology, or another specialty your existing supplier network has struggled to fill. An exception could allow a designated specialty staffing firm to receive those orders immediately or after a defined period without qualified candidates.
Make sure the terms are documented and approved through the appropriate process.
Clarify which specialties qualify, when an exception can be requested, who authorizes it, and how the staffing firm will participate. A well-defined process can help you avoid unnecessary delays when an urgent vacancy occurs.
3. Ask about direct-sourcing arrangements
If you’ve previously worked with Cancer CarePoint, ask whether your MSP supports a process for engaging a preferred staffing partner or clinicians identified outside its usual supplier channels. Some MSP programs accommodate these arrangements, although the definition of direct sourcing varies.
In some programs, direct sourcing refers to recruiting clinicians from your own talent pools rather than engaging an outside staffing agency. In others, there may be separate provisions for suppliers you nominate. Confirm which arrangement applies to your program and whether additional approvals, administrative requirements, or fees are involved.
4. Keep permanent oncology recruitment separate when permitted
Not every MSP agreement covers permanent recruitment. Some programs focus on contingent labor, including temporary assignments and locum tenens coverage, while permanent placement remains outside the agreement. If that’s the case, you may be able to maintain a separate relationship with an oncology recruitment partner for direct-hire positions.
Before proceeding, find out if your organization has other recruitment agreements or restrictions.
For more information about the differences between specialized and general recruitment providers, read Oncology Staffing Firms vs. General Agencies for Healthcare Facilities.
What About MSP Fees and Supplier Requirements?
One reason you might not see specialized oncology staffing firms in your MSP’s supplier network is the program’s participation requirements. They may require staffing agencies to meet specific administrative, insurance, credentialing, technology, and pricing standards. Supplier participation can also involve management fees.
According to Staffing Industry Analysts, supplier-funded arrangements account for a substantial portion of North American MSP spend. Under these arrangements, staffing suppliers generally absorb the MSP fee as part of their program participation cost.
For agencies recruiting highly specialized oncology professionals, those financial and operational requirements may affect whether participation is feasible.
That doesn’t necessarily mean a specialty firm can’t work within your program. It means you, your MSP, and your prospective supplier may need to discuss whether the existing participation terms are appropriate for the positions you’re trying to fill.
If you’ve lost access to a previously trusted oncology staffing partner, it’s worth asking whether supplier requirements, rather than contractual exclusivity alone, are preventing that relationship from continuing.
Six Questions to Ask Your MSP About Specialty Oncology Staffing
If you’ve previously worked with Cancer CarePoint or another oncology staffing partner, start by asking your MSP how that relationship might fit within your current program. These six questions can help you identify your options.
- Can we request the addition of a specialty oncology staffing firm?
Ask whether your MSP accepts suppliers you nominate and what the approval process involves.
- Does our agreement allow exceptions for difficult-to-fill oncology positions?
Find out whether you can refer certain specialties to a designated agency when your existing supplier network can’t provide qualified candidates.
- How quickly are our oncology orders released to specialty suppliers?
Determine whether supplier tiers or holding periods could delay access to clinicians in high-demand specialties.
- Are there alternative arrangements for preferred staffing partners?
Ask whether your program permits nominated suppliers, approved direct-sourcing arrangements, or other options for working with established recruitment partners.
- Who manages credentialing, privileging, and onboarding?
Clarify which responsibilities belong to your MSP, the staffing firm, and your internal team.
- Can we review staffing performance specifically for our oncology positions?
Request information about time to fill, candidate submissions, and unfilled orders by specialty.
Your MSP may have a strong overall fill rate, but that doesn’t necessarily tell you if your oncology department is receiving timely coverage. Reviewing specialty-specific performance can help you identify positions that would benefit from additional recruitment support.
How Can a Hybrid Staffing Model Support Your Oncology Department?
A hybrid staffing model lets you combine centralized MSP management with specialized recruitment support for positions that require it.
For example, you might continue using your MSP for general nursing, allied health, and other high-volume contingent staffing needs while arranging for a specialty oncology firm to participate in approved oncology searches.
You maintain your existing staffing structure, and your specialty partner provides additional recruitment resources for positions that are particularly difficult to fill. This approach can be useful when you need temporary oncology coverage while recruiting a permanent clinician.
The US locum tenens market reached an estimated $9.6 billion in 2025, with projected growth to $9.9 billion in 2026, according to Staffing Industry Analysts. For your oncology program, locum tenens coverage can help maintain clinical services during an extended permanent recruitment process.
Learn more about how locum tenens clinicians help fill specialized oncology staffing gaps.
A hybrid arrangement works best when you, your MSP, and your specialty staffing partner understand which positions qualify for specialty recruitment, how orders will be routed, and who’s responsible for each step of the placement process.
Rather than creating competing staffing systems, you’re making your existing program more responsive to your oncology department’s needs.
How Can You Start Working With Cancer CarePoint Again?
If you previously partnered with Cancer CarePoint before transitioning to an MSP, reconnecting may be more straightforward than you think. You don’t necessarily need to change your MSP or abandon your current staffing processes. Start with three steps.
Step 1: Review your current MSP agreement
Look for provisions covering supplier exclusivity, approved vendors, specialty exceptions, direct sourcing, and permanent recruitment. Your staffing or procurement team may already know which arrangements are available.
Step 2: Identify your oncology coverage needs
Think about which positions have been the most difficult to fill since transitioning to the MSP.
- Are your radiation oncology searches taking longer than expected?
- Are you struggling to find experienced oncology APPs?
- Do you need temporary physician coverage while permanent recruitment continues?
Having specific needs in mind will make the conversation more productive.
Step 3: Reconnect with Cancer CarePoint
Contact us to discuss your current staffing challenges and MSP arrangement.
Let us know which MSP you’re using, the oncology specialties you need to cover, and anything you already know about supplier participation or exception requirements. Together, we can discuss whether there’s a practical way to work within your existing structure and what approvals may be necessary.
Don’t assume that moving to an MSP permanently closes the door on a previous staffing relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oncology Staffing With an MSP
Can we use Cancer CarePoint if we already have an MSP?
Potentially, yes. Depending on your MSP agreement, we may be able to participate as an approved specialty supplier or through another permitted staffing arrangement. Your organization and MSP will need to confirm the applicable requirements.
Can we request a specific staffing agency through our MSP?
Many MSP programs review suppliers you nominate, but approval isn’t guaranteed. Ask your MSP whether you can request a specialized oncology staffing firm and what requirements it must meet.
What if our MSP doesn’t have enough oncology candidates?
Ask about specialty supplier participation, escalation procedures, and exceptions for hard-to-fill positions. You may be able to request additional recruitment resources while maintaining your existing program.
Do we have to leave our MSP to work with an oncology staffing firm?
Not necessarily. Depending on your contract, a specialty staffing firm may be able to participate within your MSP network or through an approved exception. Permanent recruitment may also fall outside some MSP agreements.
What’s the difference between an MSP and a VMS?
An MSP manages your contingent staffing program and supplier relationships. A vendor management system (VMS) is the technology used to manage job orders, candidate submissions, timekeeping, and other administrative processes.
Can Cancer CarePoint help with both temporary and permanent oncology staffing?
We provide oncology-focused staffing and recruitment services. Contact our team to discuss your temporary or permanent staffing requirements, confirm the appropriate services, and determine how they may fit within your existing agreements.
Your MSP Doesn’t Have to Mean Losing Access to Cancer CarePoint
Moving to an MSP may change how you manage staffing, but it doesn’t necessarily have to end the relationships you’ve built with specialized recruitment partners. If we’ve helped your oncology department find qualified clinicians in the past, we’d welcome the opportunity to work with you again.
Whether that means joining your MSP’s approved supplier network, establishing a specialty exception, or discussing another permitted arrangement, the first step is finding out what’s possible.
Already using an MSP? Let’s talk about your oncology staffing options.
You don’t have to change your current staffing program to start the conversation. Tell us about your oncology coverage needs and the MSP you’re working with, and we’ll discuss potential ways to reconnect.