The Q4 Oncology Workforce Readiness Check Every Cancer Center Should Run Now
Q4 exposes staffing decisions made in August. Holiday leave stacks against year-end volume, open searches that stalled in the summer sit unfilled through January, and the CY 2027 fee schedule lands on budgets already built. The readiness check below takes about an hour and covers the five variables that determine whether your fourth quarter runs […]
The True Cost of an Unfilled Oncology Position: What You Lose Before You Hire
A single open position in a cancer center rarely stays contained to one line on the budget. It moves outward into the infusion schedule, the consult backlog, and the workload of everyone who stays. Leaders who track only the salary they save while a role sits empty miss the larger number: the revenue, capacity, and […]
The Q3 Oncology Staffing Audit Every Cancer Center Should Run Before Summer Ends
Summer coverage in a cancer center runs on borrowed slack. Physicians and nurses take earned leave, per diem pools thin out, and the schedule holds together until one unfilled position turns a manageable week into a backlog of delayed infusions and rescheduled consults. The programs that enter Q4 in control are the ones that audit […]
Pricing, Risk, and Accountability: Questions to Ask Before You Sign With an Oncology Staffing Firm
Part 3 of 3 You’ve evaluated specialty depth and vetting quality. You’ve asked about credentialing, onboarding, coverage scope, and communication. Now comes the final conversation before you commit, the one about commercial terms, compliance systems, and accountability when things go sideways. In the third of this 3-part series, we’ll explore questions about protecting your program […]
Credentialing and Onboarding: What to Ask Your Oncology Staffing Agency
Part 2 of 3 You’ve found a candidate who looks like a strong fit for your surgical oncology coverage gap. Now comes the part where most locum placements either go smoothly or fall apart: credentialing, temporary privileges, state licensure, and the logistics of a clean day-one start. The agency you choose plays a critical role […]
How to Vet an Oncology Staffing Firm on Your First Call
Part 1 of 3 When a surgical oncology coverage gap puts your program at risk, the pressure to move fast is real. But speed without the right vetting framework can lead to a poor fit, credentialing delays, and operational disruptions that make the situation worse. The first call with a staffing agency tells you a […]
Hiring Surgical Oncologists Faster: How to Reduce Delays Without Disrupting Care
Most oncology program directors know the feeling: a surgical oncologist announces a departure, and within days, the downstream effects are already visible. Cases scheduled 6 weeks out now have no physician assigned. Tumor board coverage thins. Referring surgeons start asking questions you do not yet have answers to. What happens next matters enormously, not just […]
The APP Advantage: Scaling Oncology Staff with Locum Tenens Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
Cancer centers across the country are facing a dual challenge: growing patient caseloads and a national shortage of oncologists. For patients, these pressures translate into longer wait times, delayed treatments, and strained provider relationships, critical concerns in a field where time and trust are essential. In fact, a recent JAMA Network Open study found that […]
The Limits of MSPs in Oncology: A Comprehensive Guide for Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare facilities have increasingly turned to managed service providers (MSP) in an effort to streamline staffing processes, lower costs, and ease administrative burdens. While MSP healthcare models undoubtedly bring advantages, particularly for general staffing needs, their effectiveness diminishes significantly in specialized fields like oncology. Oncology staffing requires deep expertise, speed, and specialized knowledge that traditional […]
Specialized Oncology Staffing: How Locum Tenens Bridges the Gap in Cancer Care
The demand for specialized oncology professionals is outpacing supply, creating a pressing staffing challenge for cancer care facilities. As cancer rates rise and patient survival extends, the need for oncological experts continues to grow. However, a nationwide shortage of oncology physicians threatens the ability of healthcare institutions to provide timely, effective treatment. Facilities must embrace […]