If you've worked locum tenens before, you know the agency model. A recruiter calls you (sometimes daily), pitches an assignment, handles the paperwork, and earns a cut of every shift you work — indefinitely.
SANNEXUS is built differently. This article explains the key differences so you can decide which model serves your practice.
The Core Model Difference
Traditional locum agency: The agency is the middleman. Hospitals pay the agency a rate ($250–$350/hour), the agency pays you a rate ($150–$220/hour), and the agency keeps the difference. The agency's incentive is to fill shifts with available physicians — not necessarily to optimize your earnings or career.
SANNEXUS: We are a physician placement marketplace and credentialing platform. Hospitals pay a transparent shift rate. Physicians see that rate before they accept. SANNEXUS charges a platform fee — not a hidden agency markup. You keep more of what hospitals pay for your time.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Traditional Agency | SANNEXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Compensation transparency | Physicians rarely see what hospital pays | Shift rates visible before acceptance |
| Credentialing time | 90–180 days per new facility | 1–2 weeks (passport transfer) |
| Assignment flexibility | Agency-managed, recruiter-driven | Physician-controlled, browse and accept |
| Contract type | Variable (agency-dependent) | IC contract default, standardized terms |
| Malpractice coverage | Varies, often agency-arranged | Physician responsible, platform-verified |
| Facility ratings | Rarely available | Published, physician-submitted |
| Subscription cost | None (agency takes per-shift cut) | $199/month (activates after 10 shifts) |
| Agency markup per shift | $50–$130/hour (hidden) | Transparent platform fee |
Credentialing: The Critical Difference
Every experienced locum physician has a credentialing horror story. A 90-day wait at a new hospital. Documents lost. A credentialing coordinator who went on leave. An assignment that fell through because the process took too long.
This happens because the traditional agency model doesn't solve the credentialing problem — it just manages it. Agencies have credentialing coordinators who collect your documents and submit them to hospitals. But they can't change the hospital's internal process timeline, and they certainly don't invest in reducing the time-to-first-shift for physicians who work with multiple agencies.
SANNEXUS's physician credentialing passport changes the calculus. Because your passport is pre-verified and continuously maintained, SANNEXUS-networked hospitals can accept it as primary source documentation — collapsing a 90-day process to 1–2 weeks.
This matters most for physicians who:
- Take short-notice assignments
- Work at multiple facilities across multiple states
- Move between hospital systems frequently
- Want to compare multiple opportunities before committing
What SANNEXUS Doesn't Do (Honest Disclosure)
SANNEXUS is not a staffing agency. We do not:
- Guarantee shift availability in your specialty or geography (we match based on marketplace supply and demand)
- Provide malpractice insurance (you carry your own, as an IC)
- Handle tax withholding (you receive 1099 income, not W-2)
- Negotiate on your behalf with hospital systems (you see the listed rate; negotiation isn't the model)
If you prefer a full-service agency that handles everything for a cut of your earnings, traditional agencies may still work for you. Many SANNEXUS physicians use the platform alongside their existing agency relationships — using the passport to reduce credentialing time regardless of which channel they work through.
Who SANNEXUS Is Built For
Ideal SANNEXUS physician:
- Emergency Medicine, Radiology, or Hospital Medicine specialist
- Licensed (or IMLC-eligible) in Florida or adjacent states
- Comfortable with IC contractor status and 1099 income
- Values schedule control over agency-managed placement
- Tired of waiting 3–6 months to start at a new facility
- Wants to see shift rates before committing
Traditional agency may be better if:
- You're new to locum work and want guided placement support
- You're in a specialty with very limited platform demand (subspecialties outside EM/Rad/HM)
- You prefer W-2 status and employer-arranged benefits
The Physician Passport Is Free to Build
Your SANNEXUS credentialing passport is free to create and maintain. You can upload your documents, complete passport verification, and browse available shifts before you decide whether the platform is right for you.
The $199/month subscription activates after your 10th shift — by which point your passport ROI (recovered credentialing delays, recovered earnings from faster placement) has paid for years of membership.