Last Updated Sep 2012
What Cirrus Medical Staffing has been at the forefront for almost a decade is travel therapy. This article will touch on a few important points for selecting a travel therapy company that will best fit your situation and some insight in what to look for in making your decision.
A great recruiter relationship
Being on this side of the coin for quite some time, I feel like this is the most important aspect of a travel therapy company because it technically is your lifeline and day in/day out contact in the travel therapy world. Great therapy recruiters know how to get to the bottom of what it is that you’re looking for from day one. We’re not just here to show you open positions, we can also be a huge asset as a “career counselor” too. Great recruiters get to know your hot buttons, goals and preferences so we can anticipate the market and help you make the most informed decisions possible. Knowledge of market conditions, compensation and other specifics and sharing this info in an open dialogue can make the process an easier thing to navigate than someone just trying to push a travel therapy job that they’re looking to fill. Enjoy speaking with your recruiter, they’re someone that you can have open conversations and ask questions with, not to mention throw in an off topic chat that can take some daily stress away. It’s our job to make sure you’re informed so you can make a good decision, but can also help you understand trends and specifics so you’re not stuck behind the curve.
Plenty of clients/positions
Since the travel therapy market changes daily, positions can open/close in the same morning. It’s best to have a relationship with a company that staffs with the “big boys” in rehab (SNF groups, large hospital systems, national homecare agencies, etc.) as well as area specific clients and many different settings so there are things to choose from. If current needs aren’t of interest, being a great over all company makes it more than likely that they can go out and market to find you the right travel therapy job you’re looking for. Now don’t get me wrong, a lot of 
companies have similar contracts/needs, but a company to look for has exclusive relationships with facilities, personal contact with direct managers and staff and ways to get around the standard process of submitting and getting you to the right person so time isn’t wasted.
Perks
In today’s travel therapy market, almost all companies are paying great rates (it’s why a lot of people choose travel in the first place)! Another way to find a great fit is a company with additional perks that may be a huge bonus in the overall package you’re signing on to. Pay attention to things like day one insurance, matching 401k with quick vesting, loyalty bonuses and/or PTO and licensure/CEU reimbursement. It can only help in the decision making process. It’s sometimes hard to just make “pay package” comparisons, but when you take into account the other perks it can hopefully make your choice a no brainer.
Good support staff
Even though your main contact and problem solver throughout the process is your recruiter, the company also needs to have internal specialists that deal with specific things that you will utilize in your travels. Pay attention and have contact info for other staff members in the know such as payroll specialists, credentialers, HR/Benefits directors, housing coordinators and even the account managers on the client side as well. Your recruiter can handle most issues, but when there’s a specific question on insurance cards or direct deposits for example, another person needs to be available to answer specifics that a recruiter may not know or deal with. If your recruiter is your benefits administrator/housing coordinator/etc. as well, it may be a red flag that the company you’re dealing with is spread too thin which may cause issue on a travel assignment going forward.
Ethics
Above all, make sure to try and deal with ethical companies, ones that uphold contracts and agreements that are in place and know that your best interest is number one. This could really help in landing you a position in case of issues like double submittals or assisting with a problem on a current assignment. There’s always a possibility of an obstacle or two along the way, but the way that a company deals with bumps in the road and helps make the overall assignments enjoyable ones, is a major factor in knowing how ethical they really are.
I hope these tips help in making your decision. It’s always a good thing to 
simply ask questions in order to inform yourself on a possible travel therapy company. Most recruiters will help as best they can, but if trying to get further information or assistance is like pulling teeth, could be reason enough to simply eliminate them from the discussion. Let me know your thoughts/questions. I would love to hear your feedback and experiences on selecting the right travel therapy company. Happy travels!
About the Author: Tom Hidock, Sr. Staffing Specialist for allied travelers, has been with Cirrus Medical Staffing since 2003. Tom has won the recruiter of the month award over 40 times and continues to field a national group of traveling therapists some who have been continuously traveling with the Cirrus since 2004. Having 13 total years of healthcare staffing background, including Physicians and all allied modalities, he is extremely familiar with the travel industry as well as having experience in both recruiting and on the client side as an account manager.
To learn more about travel nursing and travel nursing job opportunities, please visit Cirrus Medical Staffing.