For those of you who are unfamiliar with per diem jobs, I’ll explain them briefly. First things first: per diem is Latin for “for each day”. Unlike a travel assignment which is typically contracted for 13 weeks, per diem work is contracted by the day. Many per diem assignments last weeks, months or even longer, but they can be for as little as 4 hours. The beauty of it is, you can work as much or little as you want, and on top of that, the wages are much higher than permanent jobs (although you’ll make the most moolah traveling).
In general, many PTs, OTs, and SLPs opt to work per diem either as their full-time job, which gives them the opportunity to get their feet wet in a variety of settings and facilities if they so choose, or they use it as a method to supplement their income. This can be great for a therapist who wants to make some extra cash by picking up a few weekend shifts here and there, or for a seasonal worker, such as a therapist working in a school, to supplement income during the off season – and it’s a great way to chip away at student debt!
Due to the day-by-day and rapidly changing nature of per diem shifts, many staffing agencies (Preferred Healthcare Staffing included), are unable to list the actual per diem job positions that are open on their job boards. Because of this, it’s important to find a reputable company that receives enough per diem orders to keep you busy (especially if you opt to work per diem full-time), and also to find a recruiter or staffing manager who you can trust and will always take good care of you.
In terms of looking for a reputable company, one of the things worth checking is to see if they are Joint Commission Certified. The Joint Commission is a government agency that has stringent rules and procedures in place to ensure that every aspect of the business’ practices are not only in compliance, but ultimately that their clients, therapists, and patients care are top notch. Basically, it ensures that the company has all of it’s ducks in a row.
Another attribute to look for in a reputable staffing agency, is to see if they have been awarded Inavero’s Best of Staffing Awards for Talent and Client Satisfaction. These awards are given based upon a third party company that contacts the agency’s clients and therapists to inquire about their experiences doing business with the agency. Less than 2% of staffing firms in North America make the cut, so an agency that has received either or both of those awards will be safer bet than one that has not. Additionally, you can read the reviews that were supplied by the agency’s clients and clinicians to get an inside look at what it would be like to work with them. View our Best of Staffing reviews.
If you’re a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, or Speech Language Pathologist interested in learning more about the prospect of working per diem, feel free to contact us.