[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":358},["ShallowReactive",2],{"headerMenu":3,"blog-article:what-to-look-for-in-a-locums-agency":38,"footerMenu":342},{"items":4,"title":37},[5,11,16,21,27],{"internalPage":6,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":10},{"parentPage":7,"slug":8,"title":9},null,"jobs","Find independent physician jobs and telemedicine jobs","Jobs",{"internalPage":12,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":15},{"parentPage":7,"slug":13,"title":14},"physicians","Claim Your Independence as a Physician","Physicians",{"internalPage":17,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":20},{"parentPage":7,"slug":18,"title":19},"hire","Hire independent locums physicians","Employers",{"internalPage":22,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":26},{"parentPage":23,"slug":24,"title":25},{"slug":13,"title":14},"telemedicine","Telemedicine Jobs","Telemedicine",{"internalPage":7,"link":28,"subItems":29,"title":36},"#",[30,33],{"internalPage":7,"link":31,"title":32},"/blog","Blog",{"internalPage":7,"link":34,"title":35},"/podcast","Podcast","Resources","Header",{"article":39,"related":290},{"_createdAt":40,"_id":41,"_rev":42,"_system":43,"_type":46,"_updatedAt":47,"author":48,"categories":65,"content":75,"excerpt":273,"headerImage":274,"metaDescription":279,"metaKeywords":280,"metaTitle":281,"openGraphImage":282,"openGraphImageUrl":277,"publishedAt":286,"slug":287,"tags":7,"title":289},"2025-12-09T14:26:48Z","c78ff85e-4896-4820-8c03-76aaa88492c4","KViipMLc6PTaJPhMaE0Koo",{"base":44},{"id":41,"rev":45},"CYFwW21RFMkM64PbFK814f","article","2025-12-09T14:55:47Z",{"_createdAt":49,"_id":50,"_rev":51,"_type":52,"_updatedAt":53,"bio":54,"image":55,"name":59,"slug":60,"socialMedia":63},"2025-10-31T00:49:05Z","36780c4d-4cd4-4b24-bd22-7e4babb43cf6","MvNmR47t15uESvmPkYghGn","author","2025-10-31T00:58:00Z","Heidi Roberts has worn just about every hat at Sycamore — from recruiting, scheduling, and credentialing to account management and team leadership. Her experience building and leading recruiter training, writing operational playbooks, and refining internal processes gives her a unique, behind-the-scenes perspective on what truly shapes the physician experience.\n\nShe’s passionate about making sure every doctor who partners with Sycamore feels valued, supported, and seen. Whether it’s improving systems or reimagining how Sycamore serves its physicians, Heidi’s focus is simple: create a seamless, human experience that puts doctors first.",{"_type":56,"asset":57},"image",{"url":58},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/00ed8f95761bea80c92695e1087b8c8cda37c4dd-2413x2648.jpg","Heidi Roberts",{"_type":61,"current":62},"slug","heidi-roberts",{"linkedin":64},"https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-b-roberts/",[66],{"_createdAt":67,"_id":68,"_rev":69,"_type":70,"_updatedAt":71,"backgroundColor":72,"borderColor":73,"textColor":73,"title":74},"2025-11-11T23:16:57Z","2d12c367-4db1-4ff3-9861-27560ee8adc0","WI0u9A1iAM1Mha5eVo6TMf","category","2025-11-11T23:17:55Z","Green ","black","Career Strategy",[76,87,95,105,113,121,129,137,145,153,161,169,177,185,193,201,209,217,225,233,241,249,257,265],{"_key":77,"_type":78,"children":79,"markDefs":85,"style":86},"a28be857c3ea","block",[80],{"_key":81,"_type":82,"marks":83,"text":84},"80413ae308870","span",[],"Choosing a locums agency is a big decision. You are trusting a company with your schedule, your income, your career direction, and your professional reputation. The right partnership can make locums feel smooth and empowering. The wrong one can leave you frustrated and stuck.",[],"normal",{"_key":88,"_type":78,"children":89,"markDefs":94,"style":86},"41106baacea9",[90],{"_key":91,"_type":82,"marks":92,"text":93},"20cc06e0ea370",[],"Here are a few things every physician should consider before committing to an agency.",[],{"_key":96,"_type":78,"children":97,"markDefs":103,"style":104},"e6c3e324b3ed",[98],{"_key":99,"_type":82,"marks":100,"text":102},"800091d06c250",[101],"strong","Transparency Means Everything",[],"h2",{"_key":106,"_type":78,"children":107,"markDefs":112,"style":86},"cef2b19375cd",[108],{"_key":109,"_type":82,"marks":110,"text":111},"a8d3185e47890",[],"You should feel completely comfortable asking what an agency is making. A credible company will answer that directly. If an agency avoids the question or downplays it, that is usually a warning sign.",[],{"_key":114,"_type":78,"children":115,"markDefs":120,"style":86},"b74f66b5ed51",[116],{"_key":117,"_type":82,"marks":118,"text":119},"e09e6041437a0",[],"There are situations where a physician is placed at a low rate, while the agency is making an unexpectedly large margin. That cost lands on the facility. When that happens, the doctor may appear more expensive than they actually are, and the hospital becomes hesitant to schedule them going forward.",[],{"_key":122,"_type":78,"children":123,"markDefs":128,"style":86},"ba482cf0d61a",[124],{"_key":125,"_type":82,"marks":126,"text":127},"9926db9a072a0",[],"A fair deal should work for everyone involved.",[],{"_key":130,"_type":78,"children":131,"markDefs":136,"style":104},"b751d963a5de",[132],{"_key":133,"_type":82,"marks":134,"text":135},"3f45db9e02a90",[101],"Be Selective With Who Gets Your CV",[],{"_key":138,"_type":78,"children":139,"markDefs":144,"style":86},"6ed38f1a9b55",[140],{"_key":141,"_type":82,"marks":142,"text":143},"b40368381b450",[],"Your CV is valuable. It represents your work history, your professionalism, and your future opportunities.",[],{"_key":146,"_type":78,"children":147,"markDefs":152,"style":86},"61632430a754",[148],{"_key":149,"_type":82,"marks":150,"text":151},"219219d1b2990",[],"Some agencies have been known to submit physicians to facilities without permission. In many cases, the first agency to submit a CV becomes the only group allowed to represent that physician at that site. Once that happens, you lose control. Even if you never intended to work with that agency.",[],{"_key":154,"_type":78,"children":155,"markDefs":160,"style":86},"6c0d1cbf1d90",[156],{"_key":157,"_type":82,"marks":158,"text":159},"5e170a0fe3e40",[],"Always work with groups that communicate clearly and ask before sending anything.",[],{"_key":162,"_type":78,"children":163,"markDefs":168,"style":104},"4e16788670a2",[164],{"_key":165,"_type":82,"marks":166,"text":167},"6fe09f361b4d0",[101],"Beware of Offers That Sound Too Good To Be True",[],{"_key":170,"_type":78,"children":171,"markDefs":176,"style":86},"1325880ffbe1",[172],{"_key":173,"_type":82,"marks":174,"text":175},"a665a831882f0",[],"You have likely seen them. A random text offering incredible rates and immediate availability. It sounds exciting, and sometimes it is legitimate, but we have seen many situations where a doctor responds to a text like that, gets excited about a very high rate, accepts, gets credentialed, and then the rate suddenly changes with an excuse.",[],{"_key":178,"_type":78,"children":179,"markDefs":184,"style":86},"79af6e75741c",[180],{"_key":181,"_type":82,"marks":182,"text":183},"09b8d425cf000",[],"Usually something like:",[],{"_key":186,"_type":78,"children":187,"markDefs":192,"style":86},"088675cc9bac",[188],{"_key":189,"_type":82,"marks":190,"text":191},"352db8f9fabe0",[],"“Oops, that rate expired.” or “The client came back lower.”",[],{"_key":194,"_type":78,"children":195,"markDefs":200,"style":86},"97b9a88c3703",[196],{"_key":197,"_type":82,"marks":198,"text":199},"d89201d9c93b0",[],"Meanwhile you already committed yourself.",[],{"_key":202,"_type":78,"children":203,"markDefs":208,"style":86},"c59d9258725b",[204],{"_key":205,"_type":82,"marks":206,"text":207},"9102ec106b230",[],"If you get a message like this, always reach out to your trusted placement coordinator first. Many hospitals use multiple locums agencies, and we can confirm the actual going rates and expectations.",[],{"_key":210,"_type":78,"children":211,"markDefs":216,"style":86},"fa026b870c72",[212],{"_key":213,"_type":82,"marks":214,"text":215},"ee109732bb4e0",[],"A second set of eyes can save you a lot of frustration.",[],{"_key":218,"_type":78,"children":219,"markDefs":224,"style":104},"d7c5f6eed388",[220],{"_key":221,"_type":82,"marks":222,"text":223},"979ae910d3e00",[101],"Look For Relationship, Not Just Transactions",[],{"_key":226,"_type":78,"children":227,"markDefs":232,"style":86},"4214bedc4365",[228],{"_key":229,"_type":82,"marks":230,"text":231},"03c3a448da600",[],"A good locums agency is proactive. They care about keeping your schedule full, advocating for fair compensation, preparing you for credentialing, and staying ahead of problems before they happen.",[],{"_key":234,"_type":78,"children":235,"markDefs":240,"style":86},"a01ecf624120",[236],{"_key":237,"_type":82,"marks":238,"text":239},"c6bfc621fd030",[],"They should help you think strategically and support your goals over the long term, not just fill shifts.",[],{"_key":242,"_type":78,"children":243,"markDefs":248,"style":104},"eb36c783b9e9",[244],{"_key":245,"_type":82,"marks":246,"text":247},"d9fc40885b840",[101],"Final Thought",[],{"_key":250,"_type":78,"children":251,"markDefs":256,"style":86},"366c2ed096b0",[252],{"_key":253,"_type":82,"marks":254,"text":255},"1bbe41a9cb910",[],"At the end of the day, your agency should feel like a trusted partner. Someone who protects your interests, respects your time, and keeps you informed. Ask questions, protect your CV, and look for transparency from the very beginning.",[],{"_key":258,"_type":78,"children":259,"markDefs":264,"style":86},"d0ac4b76622d",[260],{"_key":261,"_type":82,"marks":262,"text":263},"9344dcba31730",[],"You deserve a locums experience that feels supportive, aligned, and honest.",[],{"_key":266,"_type":78,"children":267,"markDefs":272,"style":86},"bad3aaac4d76",[268],{"_key":269,"_type":82,"marks":270,"text":271},"2792d7b52a740",[],"\n",[],"Locums agencies are a lot like dating apps. Profiles look great until the red flags appear. Here’s how to spot the green lights before handing over your CV.",{"_type":56,"alt":275,"asset":276,"caption":278},"Multiple hands joined together as a symbol of teamwork",{"url":277},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/1bb854050ed58d6d9690a127a112f9d3c0380d6f-6000x4000.jpg","Strong locums experiences are built on trust and teamwork","A helpful guide for physicians choosing a locum tenens agency. Learn how to find a partner who protects your goals, schedule, income, and reputation.","locum tenens, locums agency, physician staffing, choose a locums agency, physician advocacy, CV submission rules, healthcare credentialing, physician schedule protection, fair pay practices, medical staffing support, locum tenens red flags, physician career guidance","Choosing the Right Locums Agency: A Physician’s Guide",{"_type":56,"asset":283},{"_ref":284,"_type":285},"image-1bb854050ed58d6d9690a127a112f9d3c0380d6f-6000x4000-jpg","reference","2025-12-09T14:28:00.000Z",{"_type":61,"current":288},"what-to-look-for-in-a-locums-agency","What To Look For In a Locums Agency",[291,308,325],{"_id":292,"author":293,"categories":296,"excerpt":298,"headerImage":299,"publishedAt":304,"slug":305,"title":307},"af2dc3f7-5d65-44e0-ac20-d0ee7c263c6d",{"image":294,"name":59},{"_type":56,"asset":295},{"url":58},[297],{"_createdAt":67,"_id":68,"_rev":69,"_type":70,"_updatedAt":71,"backgroundColor":72,"borderColor":73,"textColor":73,"title":74},"ER locums isn't always a straight path. For some physicians, experience at rural hospitals and critical access facilities can open doors and create new opportunities along the way.",{"_type":56,"alt":300,"asset":301,"caption":303},"Country road leading into the distance, representing opportunities for physicians building experience in emergency medicine and locum tenens work.",{"url":302},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/756f76e8cf55049e418196adef570dce3f48a9d2-5529x3317.jpg","Sometimes the best opportunities are found off the beaten path.","2026-06-16T15:54:00.000Z",{"_type":61,"current":306},"the-road-to-er-locums-isn-t-always-a-straight-line","The Road to ER Locums Isn't Always a Straight Line.",{"_id":309,"author":310,"categories":313,"excerpt":315,"headerImage":316,"publishedAt":321,"slug":322,"title":324},"c63c18a3-487d-4a90-aa12-faef5722454a",{"image":311,"name":59},{"_type":56,"asset":312},{"url":58},[314],{"_createdAt":67,"_id":68,"_rev":69,"_type":70,"_updatedAt":71,"backgroundColor":72,"borderColor":73,"textColor":73,"title":74},"Want more shifts? Your reputation may matter more than your CV. Discover why being easy to work with is one of the most valuable assets in locums.",{"_type":56,"alt":317,"asset":318,"caption":320},"Emergency medicine physician reviewing a busy schedule and managing locum tenens shifts.",{"url":319},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/c4f8e1040282604403c85bad4253db8722816b53-5760x3840.jpg","A strong reputation doesn't just build relationships. It builds schedules.","2026-06-04T12:35:00.000Z",{"_type":61,"current":323},"your-reputation-is-currency-why-being-easy-to-work-with-pays","Your Reputation Is Currency: Why Being Easy to Work With Pays",{"_id":326,"author":327,"categories":330,"excerpt":332,"headerImage":333,"publishedAt":338,"slug":339,"title":341},"ed327a14-aaa6-4166-a542-22d653e9e6b2",{"image":328,"name":59},{"_type":56,"asset":329},{"url":58},[331],{"_createdAt":67,"_id":68,"_rev":69,"_type":70,"_updatedAt":71,"backgroundColor":72,"borderColor":73,"textColor":73,"title":74},"In locums, the number on the rate sheet is only part of the story. Timing, flexibility, and positioning often matter just as much.",{"_type":56,"alt":334,"asset":335,"caption":337},"Chess pieces on a board representing strategy, timing, and market dynamics that influence locum tenens physician pay.",{"url":336},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/acafae967cf8ee2255e868175595a3c08b12f562-6000x4000.jpg","In locums, compensation and opportunities often reflect timing, flexibility, and individual goals.","2026-03-20T13:25:00.000Z",{"_type":61,"current":340},"locums-pay-isn-t-one-size-fits-all-and-that-s-a-good-thing","Locums Pay Isn’t One Size Fits All. And That’s a Good Thing.",{"items":343,"title":357},[344,346,348,351,353,354],{"internalPage":345,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":15},{"parentPage":7,"slug":13,"title":14},{"internalPage":347,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":20},{"parentPage":7,"slug":18,"title":19},{"internalPage":349,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":26},{"parentPage":350,"slug":24,"title":25},{"slug":13,"title":14},{"internalPage":352,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":10},{"parentPage":7,"slug":8,"title":9},{"internalPage":7,"link":34,"subItems":7,"title":35},{"internalPage":7,"link":355,"subItems":7,"title":356},"/contact","Contact","Footer",1792785216261]