As your agency, TGL MedStaff contracts with hospitals, clinics, and health systems that need temporary physician and APP coverage, then matches you to assignments that fit your specialty and goals. Your recruiter manages the job search, credentialing paperwork, and coordination with the facility, and TGL MedStaff arranges malpractice coverage for the duration of your assignment.

You're typically paid on a 1099 (independent contractor) basis — ask your recruiter early on about pay cadence and what's reimbursed (travel, lodging, licensing fees) so there are no surprises on your first invoice.

• Your recruiter will walk you through open assignments matching your specialty and preferred locations and dates.
• You're free to also work with other agencies, but many first-timers find it easier to start with a single point of contact until they know what they're looking for.
• Ask your recruiter directly about the Good Life difference — our service model, support during the assignment, and who to call if something comes up on-site.

Credentialing is usually the single biggest bottleneck. Plan for 6–12 weeks minimum before your first start date, and longer for hospital-based or surgical roles.

• Active, unrestricted medical or APP license in the state of practice, or eligibility via the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) for faster multi-state licensing
• DEA registration valid in that state
• Board certification documentation
• Updated CV with no gaps
• CAQH ProView profile, kept current — the standard credentialing database most facilities and agencies pull from
• NPI number
• References, usually three, often requiring direct supervisor or peer contact
• Malpractice claims history and loss runs from prior carriers
• Immunization records, TB test, and BLS/ACLS/PALS as required

• NPDB — National Practitioner Data Bank, where past malpractice payouts and disciplinary actions are logged
• FSMB — Federation of State Medical Boards, for license verification and state requirements
• ABMS — to verify board certification status

As part of your assignment through TGL MedStaff, malpractice coverage is arranged on your behalf at no direct cost to you — one of the core benefits of going through an agency rather than direct-hire. Ask your recruiter to confirm the specifics in writing before your assignment starts, including:

• Coverage type — occurrence-based coverage (which covers incidents from the assignment period no matter when a claim is later filed) is the industry standard and preferable to claims-made, which can require costly tail coverage down the road
• Coverage limits, typically $1M per occurrence and $3M aggregate
• Whether it covers on-site work only, or also telehealth and on-call duties
• Whether the facility also requires you to be added to its own policy

If you plan to also take assignments outside the TGL MedStaff network, you'd be responsible for arranging your own coverage for that work. Quotes are available from The Doctors Company, ProAssurance, or a locums-specific broker.

• Read your assignment contract closely for cancellation clauses, minimum guaranteed hours or days, and any restrictions around direct-hire by the facility after your assignment ends.
• Confirm with your recruiter what's covered versus reimbursed: travel, lodging, rental car, licensing fees, and credentialing costs.
• Ask about pay cadence — weekly is standard across the industry — and what happens if a shift or assignment is cancelled last-minute.
• 1099 income means no tax withholding. Set aside 25–30% for quarterly estimated taxes, or work with an accountant familiar with locums income.

• Orientation is often brief, sometimes a day or less. Ask your recruiter in advance to help you get EMR training access, order sets, and facility protocols before day one.
• Support level varies by site. Before you arrive, ask your recruiter who to call for clinical backup, IT issues, or anything urgent while you're on assignment.
• Housing for travel assignments — extended-stay hotel or corporate apartment — is typically arranged through TGL MedStaff. Confirm details before signing.
• Build relationships with the charting and coding staff early; documentation requirements differ by system.
• Keep in touch with your recruiter throughout the assignment. They're your first call for anything that comes up, from scheduling conflicts to renewal conversations.

• TGL MedStaff — your agency of record. Reach out to your recruiter directly with questions at any stage.
• NALTO — the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations, the industry's code-of-ethics body for staffing agencies.
• Locumstory.com — independent, agency-neutral educational content on locums basics, pay, and lifestyle.