Speakers
Rajee Hari, Founder & CEO, Protean Med Inc.
Cory Kleinschmidt, Founder, Locumpedia

From “Necessary Evil” to Strategic Workforce: The Future of Locum Tenens | The Protean Pulse Podcast

🎧 Introduction: An Industry That Outgrew Its Reputation

The future of locum tenens in the United States is no longer speculative — it’s structural.

There was a time when hospitals described locum tenens as a stopgap solution. As Cory Kleinschmidt recalls:

“It was the phrase that I heard a lot was ‘necessary evil.’”

Fast forward 25 years, and the locum tenens industry evolution tells a very different story.

In this episode of The Protean Pulse Podcast, Rajee Hari, Founder & CEO of Protean Med, sits down with Cory Kleinschmidt, Founder of Locumpedia, to unpack how locum tenens moved from reactive coverage to strategic workforce infrastructure in U.S. healthcare.

📞 The Analog Era: Relationship-First Staffing

In 2000, recruiting was phone-driven. Email campaigns were basic. Healthcare staffing was fragmented and low-tech.

Cory describes the industry as:

“Historically notoriously low tech, low-fi, not very tech-savvy and the information space has always been very fragmented.”

Yet one thing never changed:

“Staffing in general is still a relationship business.”

Technology improved speed.
But trust still drives placements.

The best recruiters weren’t transactional. They were advisors — “almost like a career counselor,” as Cory puts it.

That remains true today for physicians, NPs, and PAs navigating locum tenens jobs.

📈 From Cost Center to Revenue Protection

The shift from “necessary evil” to strategic workforce pillar happened gradually — then rapidly.

  • Physician burnout increased
  • Rural hospitals faced severe staffing shortages
  • Retirements accelerated
  • COVID intensified workforce instability

Hospitals realized locum tenens wasn’t just temporary coverage — it protected patient access and revenue.

As Cory explains:

“They look at it as more proactive solution as opposed to a cost… at least protecting revenue… as opposed to a cost center.”

Locum tenens became embedded in healthcare workforce strategy.

🩺 What This Means for Physicians, NPs & PAs in the U.S.

This is where it becomes practical.

If you are a physician, NP, or PA considering locum tenens jobs, here’s what this evolution means:

Faster Credentialing

AI-powered credentialing automation reduces delays in state licensing, hospital privileging, and onboarding — meaning quicker start dates and less paperwork.

Greater Transparency

Providers today are more informed about pay rates, contract structures, and assignment details. Transparency is no longer optional.

Increased Demand for APPs

Advanced Practice Providers (NPs & PAs) are playing a growing role in U.S. coverage models. Demand for APP locum tenens opportunities continues to rise.

More Strategic Flexibility

Hospitals now use locum tenens as part of long-term workforce planning — not just emergency staffing. That creates more predictable opportunities for job seekers.

🤖 AI in Healthcare Staffing: Hype vs Reality

AI dominates conversations about healthcare staffing.

Cory’s perspective is grounded:

“It’s overhyped and underutilized.”

AI is not replacing recruiters overnight.

But it is improving:

  • Candidate matching
  • Credentialing workflows
  • Data processing
  • Communication efficiency

He explains AI excels at:

“Taking information and structuring it.”

For clinicians, this means faster processes — not fewer opportunities.

🏥 VMS, MSP & Platformization

Vendor Management Systems (VMS) and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are reshaping how hospitals source locum tenens coverage.

Some agencies resist.
Some adapt.
Some specialize deeply (rural medicine, oncology, APP staffing).

The locum tenens industry evolution now includes:

• Technology platforms
• Private equity investment
• Staffing consolidation
• Workflow automation
• Provider-side transparency

And an expanding role for Advanced Practice Providers in hospital staffing models.

🔐 The Big Idea: Trust-Based Infrastructure

Cory describes the future of locum tenens as evolving into “trust-based infrastructure.”

He cautions agencies:

“Don’t say that you’re the leading staffing firm because everyone says that.”

In today’s market, credibility wins.

Physicians and APPs demand transparency.
Hospitals demand accountability.
Recruiters must deliver both.

🔮 Five Words for the Futur

When asked to describe the next phase of the industry, Cory said:

“Continued growth, platformization, normalization.”

Locum tenens is no longer fringe.
It is institutional.

🎯 Key Takeaways

• Locum tenens has shifted from reactive to strategic
• Relationships still drive outcomes
• AI is accelerating credentialing and workflows
• VMS & MSP models are reshaping access
• APP demand is rising
• Trust and transparency are the new differentiators
• The future of locum tenens in the U.S. remains strong

💬 Closing Reflection

Locum tenens is not disappearing.
It is institutionalizing.

For physicians, NPs, PAs, and job seekers across the U.S., that means more structured opportunities — and a workforce model that is here to stay.

If you’re exploring locum tenens opportunities, understanding these shifts helps you make smarter career decisions.