What is a Therapy or Allied Traveler?

Hospitals and medical facilities around the nation often have shifting staffing demands. As a result, they need to be able to access a contingent workforce of specialized professionals who are ready and willing to go where needed.

A travel therapist or allied clinician is licensed and ready to take short-term assignments, usually 13 weeks, at facilities that might be experiencing staffing shortages. These shortages can be due to staff leaves of absence, seasonal changes in the patient census, or an overall lack of key skilled primary specialties.

Healthcare delivery has changed in the last twenty years as the demographics of the country change, our population grows, and as we experience advancements in medicine. Travelers help fill the need and ensure that patient care does not suffer.

How Travel Healthcare Professionals Find Assignments

Whether you're a travel physical therapist, travel OR tech, or any of the other therapy and allied modalities, you will be assigned to a facility through a travel nurse staffing agency, like FlexCare, where a recruiter will help build your profile, search for open assignments, and apply. Travelers can also find assignments through numerous online job boards. At FlexCare, all our S1NGLEPOINT recruiters are experts in the process of becoming a traveler, including building your profile and understanding the nuances of the facility where a traveler might be assigned.   

Travel assignments are not the same as per diem assignments, which are generally by the day. Per diem clinicians have more flexibility in their schedules and can take assignments that are closer to their home base. The downside of per diem is that these assignments have minimal job security and are subject to last-minute cancellations. 

Licensing

All travelers are required to have the appropriate license for the state in which they want to practice. Over the past several years, a physical therapy compact license has been approved in some states. It allows a PT holding that license to practice in any of the other Compact states without having to obtain a separate license. If a state is not a member of the compact, like California, a clinician must apply for a single state license. 

Travel Healthcare Career Outlook

Opportunities for travelers continue to look bright as aging baby boomers retire from the profession at the same time that this demographic will need more medical care. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare employment is expected to continue to grow through 2028. The utilization of travel nurses will ensure that appropriate staffing levels are maintained.