By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN
As promised, here are the highlights of a very informative conversation I recently had with a representative from Atlanta, Texas and Charlotte based Cirrus Allied, a valued travel agency partner of Allied Travel Careers. I spoke with President Candace Berk about her company, what they look for in travel therapists and advice she has for aspiring travel therapists.
What makes Cirrus Allied stand out from other travel therapy companies?
Cirrus Allied, formerly MDI medical, has been in the travel therapy market for 7 years. We dedicated ourselves specifically to the therapy market before it was cool to be in therapy. Our therapist clients find it great that we have a niche focus in a broad setting. We place therapists in schools, government settings, home health agencies, hospitals and in skilled nursing facilities across the country. We have also received outstanding recognition for our customer service. We understand that therapists have their choice of companies to work with and are honored that they choose us. We also offer excellent benefits, something we’re seeing competitors drop in the current market. We have a broad client base and get travel therapy jobs anywhere in the country.
Who are the best candidates for a career in travel therapy?
Therapists who have at least one year of experience who want to grow their resume, experience level, and make more money doing it. They have to be adaptable to different clinical settings while understanding that certain personality traits match up with each setting. It’s not just about matching up clinical skills.
What are the most important questions new travel therapists should ask about a new assignment?
They should get a clear expectation of the pay rate, benefits, housing specifics (some companies really shave money on the housing), job expectations including caseload and really the totally package from their recruiter and the client. Unfortunately in this market there are many verbal commitments so they should make sure the promises are all in writing. Also ask about the orientation provided. Most places provide anywhere between 8-24 hours. Once a therapist has some experience traveling, they generally know how things work other than learning a few new idiosyncrasies of each new place. Very often we’ll sit in on the phone interviews with clients to make sure it’s the right fit, especially if they’re new to travel.
See our next blog for the conclusion of my interview with Cirrus Allied President and travel therapy industry expert Candace Berk.
Cirrus Allied (formerly MDI Medical)
www.mdimedical.com
Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.
