Thriving as an ENVOY Traveling Physician or Advanced Practice Provider
Physicians and APPs are discovering how a clinical ambassador position combines the rewards of a travel role with the benefits, professional development and stability of a staff position at a leading national medical group.
There is a stereotype of the travel clinician as the lone wolf who drops into a clinic on a moment’s notice, fills a staffing gap and then moves on. While adaptability and self-reliance are essential for traveling clinicians, where they truly shine is in their ability to mesh efficiently with local teams and focus on the core elements of patient care.
Shawna Gelormino, DO, FACEP
ENVOY Ambassador Physician
“The challenges that come with each location are extremely different, but the goal is the same — providing high-quality care to patients who need me at often-stressful moments in their lives,” said Shawna Gelormino, DO, FACEP, an Envision ENVOY emergency medicine ambassador and interim medical director at Baptist St. Anthony Hospital in Amarillo, Texas. “Because I work in different environments, I never feel tied to local workplace politics, and I enjoy being able to really focus on why I do what I do.”
Autonomy Plus Workplace Culture
ENVOY travel physicians and advanced practice providers don’t work alone. They are backed by Envision’s physician leaders, peers and the ENVOY operations team. This unique model offers the advantages of travel work while maintaining the stability and perks of a staff position. Members of the ENVOY team are part of a workplace culture where they can grow as a clinical leader and advance within the organization.
“With ENVOY, I’m still a full-time employee of Envision,” said Dr. Gelormino. My benefits never change and being part of the same team never changes, but where I practice medicine does. ENVOY is different from a locums agency because I’m truly part of the Envision team and family. ENVOY gives me the opportunity to help stabilize and improve sites staffed by my fellow Envision teammates, and I always feel very much a part of the local team where I am deployed.”
According to Medical Economics, more than 40,000 physicians work locum tenens, and there are about 1.7 million travel nurses across the U.S. in 2023. Motivations for seeking travel jobs include a better work-life balance, flexible schedules, avoiding burnout and better compensation.
The Benefits of a National Medical Group
Richard Wiernicki, DNP, CRNA and ENVOY APP Ambassador, opted for clinical travel early in his career to learn new skills, get hours, receive top compensation and gain valuable experience — all within the same position. He chose ENVOY over locums agencies for better staff benefits and learning opportunities at regional sites that fit his career path. Like many travel clinicians, he’s a highly adaptable lifelong learner.
“When adjusting to a new location and maintaining high performance, it comes back to having a balance,” said Wiernicki. “Ask for help when needed and be receptive to suggestions. Stress and time management are keys to success. Have fun in the new city, explore and be open to the experiences that made you want to travel in the first place!”
The ability to be both an independent spirit and a team player may seem contradictory, but accomplished travel clinicians alloy these traits into a source of strength and energy.
“I’ve worked in a rural critical access ED, a mid-size suburban community hospital, and an inner-city tertiary care center, all in different states within a week or two,” said Dr. Gelormino. “To truly change someone’s life is a special part of practicing emergency medicine, and having the opportunity to do so in many different settings in a short time keeps my passion for my work alive. Even on the hardest days, I can’t imagine doing anything else.”