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Michelle Lathan: Why I’m a NALTO Board Member

Originally published by Nalto.

Michelle Lathan

VP of Organizational Effectiveness

Floyd Lee Locums

Why did you want to get involved in NALTO® as a board member?

Even though locum tenens has been around for decades, it is still an industry that’s evolving at a rapid pace. NALTO® is an organization that connects the great people of locums with the future of where it is headed. When given the opportunity, I couldn’t help but jump at the chance to volunteer and contribute to the preservation and transformation of our industry. I am someone who loves continually learning and growing—and the work and leaders in and around NALTO® allow me an extraordinary opportunity to do so.

Why does quality assurance matter, specifically in the locum’s industry?

At its core, I can think of no place where quality is more important than in healthcare. When you weigh in locum’s place in healthcare, then, it becomes paramount for us to have the highest set of standards and ethics. Only by doing so will we ensure the sustainability of the locums way of practicing, continue dispelling myths about the locums lifestyle, and preserve the continuum of care for so many patients and communities in need of high-quality healthcare.

How does your experience translate to your position at NALTO®?

Like the providers we place, my 10+ years in locums tenens has taken me on so many fulfilling journeys in my career. From training to sales, credentialing to operations (and more!), I’ve had the great fortune to experience this industry up-close on the leadership, strategic and implementation sides of locums. That education is brought to bear every time I assume my responsibilities as a NALTO® board member; it helps ensure I’m making the right recommendations, connecting the right people, and helping drive the organization toward positive change.

How can NALTO® assist individual locums’ providers?

On a broad scale, NALTO® is bringing together the locums subset of healthcare under one umbrella to build a community, share a mission, and abide by a Code of Ethics. We want locums providers to rest easy knowing we are working to protect and preserve not just the industry but also the facilities, providers, and communities we impact. We also offer very directed support to providers in the form of training resources, locums placement recommendations, and complaint resolution support.

Is NALTO® making a difference in the locum’s industry?

NALTO®’s commitment to quality assurance has absolutely made a difference to the locums industry—and we continually work to stay in front of major issues that may impact providers and the industry as a whole. An example of that, currently, is in our work with McGuireWoods Consulting. In partnership with this firm, we are urging congress to amend the PRO Act for Locum Tenens. This initiative advocates for permanent legislation that would codify physicians, surgeons, and advanced practitioners as independent contractors, so the estimated 20 million patient interactions that occur every year will continue uninterrupted.

Click here to read more on NALTO.

About Floyd Lee Locums

Floyd Lee Locums provides an elite concierge experience to Physicians, Dentists, and advanced practice healthcare clinicians in hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide. Named the 2020 and 2021 “Best Staffing Firm to Temp For” by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), their hands-on approach to delivering best-in-class service, personalized career solutions, and coverage that positively impacts patient outcomes is setting a new standard in the locums industry.