As autumn settles in and patient demand evolves, healthcare leaders are revisiting staffing strategies—and locum tenens professionals are playing a pivotal role. Lets explore why locum providers are more critical than ever for healthcare facilities.

<p>As autumn settles in and patient demand evolves, healthcare leaders are revisiting staffing strategies—and locum tenens professionals are playing a pivotal role. More than 52,000 clinicians participate in locum roles annually, and roughly 82% of healthcare facilities rely on them to address staffing gaps (<a href="https://www.nalto.org/news/national-locum-tenens-week-2025/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NALTO</a>). Let's explore why locum providers are more critical than ever for healthcare facilities.</p>
<h3>Locum Tenens: Thriving While Other Staffing Segments Wobble</h3>
<p>In a time when temporary staffing revenue has seen a general decline—dropping 10% overall and travel nursing plunging by 60%—<strong>locum tenens continues to surge</strong>, with a <strong>35% increase in revenue over the past three years</strong> (<a href="https://www.locumpedia.com/news/locums-digest-91/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Locumpedia</a>).</p>
<p>Why? Locums offer immediate, flexible, and specialized coverage—critical for facilities navigating seasonal surges, shifting patient volumes, and growing burnout among permanent staff.</p>
<h3>Physician Shortage: The Long Game</h3>
<p>The physician workforce is aging rapidly, while rising retirements outpace new clinician entries. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects a shortfall of <strong>86,000 physicians by 2036</strong>, underscoring a deepening staffing crisis (<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40329027/#:~:text=A%20report%20released%20by%20the,a%20diverse%20range%20of%20actions." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NIH</a>).</p>
<p>Locum tenens providers help plug these gaps—whether in underserved rural areas, underserved specialties, or during times when long-term hires aren’t feasible.</p>
<h3>Locums as Strategic, Proactive Assets</h3>
<p>More healthcare systems are moving past reactive gap-filling. Agencies and facilities now see locum tenens as strategic partners—assets that enable pilot programs, service expansion, tech rollouts, and flexible staffing models matched to fluctuating demand (<a href="https://www.locumpedia.com/news/locums-digest-97/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Locumpedia</a>).</p>
<p>Forward-thinking organizations forecast hiring needs 6–12 months ahead, leveraging locum coverage as a flexible lever for growth, innovation, and financial resilience.</p>
<h3>Looking Ahead: Why Now is the Time to Act</h3>
<p>Recent data from Definitive Healthcare shows ongoing physician shortages in key markets like California, Texas, Massachusetts and New York—and locum tenens staffing <strong>grows at roughly 15% year-over-year</strong>, with projections showing a <strong>10% CAGR through 2034</strong> (<a href="https://www.definitivehc.com/blog/healthcare-staffing-trends?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Definitive Healthcare</a>).</p>
<p>The autumn months bring rising demand and unpredictable patient volumes. For facilities, especially those navigating seasonal upticks, locum providers offer strategic, scalable, and quality care continuity.</p>
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<p><strong>Don’t wait until a staffing gap disrupts your operations.</strong> Whether you’re preparing for seasonal demand, expanding services, or navigating physician shortages, Cross Country Locums can connect you with fully credentialed, highly skilled providers ready to step in. Let’s build a staffing strategy that’s proactive, flexible, and built for today’s healthcare realities.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/locums/client-solutions?utm_source=Website&amp;utm_campaign=Blog" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Connect with us today!</a></p>


Fall 2025: Why Locum Tenens Are More Critical Than Ever for Healthcare Facilities