Healthcare Staffing Firm Expands Locum Tenens Capabilities

Written by

Published on

June 5, 2025

TL;DR

Growing clinician shortages and competitive hiring landscapes challenge healthcare staffing firms to innovate beyond traditional recruitment models. Frontera Search Partners is addressing this by expanding its locum tenens capabilities, bringing in experienced leader Josh Ahlberg to scale business development and strengthen nationwide clinician sourcing and placement strategies. This investment signals a shift toward deeper specialization and improved recruitment processes that better connect temporary medical professionals with facilities in need. The broader implication is that strategic leadership and focused locum operations can enhance staffing agility and continuity of care in a tight labor market.

Frontera Search Partners hires Josh Ahlberg to lead its Business Development and Recruiting Teams

Dallas, TX, June 5, 2025 – Frontera Search Partners, a leading healthcare staffing firm, is proud to announce its continued expansion and investment in the Locum Tenens space. Locum tenens and healthcare veteran, Josh Ahlberg, has joined the organization as its new Director of Business Development to lead the locum tenens sales and recruitment teams. As a member of the leadership team, he is tasked with building new relationships that expand Frontera’s nationwide presence.

“As Frontera’s impact and influence in healthcare staffing continued to grow, it became natural for us to bring in an adept locum tenens expert who could scale our business development and recruitment initiatives,” said Frontera Co-Founder and Managing Director Jody Talbert. “Josh’s healthcare acumen, collaborative approach, and partner-first mentality made him the perfect fit for us.”

In his role as Director of Business Development, Ahlberg will be a leading voice in the company’s growth strategy, bringing expanded focus to its Commercial Locum Tenens division, which serves partners in hospitals, clinics, community health centers, government and veteran services, and more. Along with leading the Business Development group, he’ll also oversee the locums recruitment team, prioritizing process improvement, new talent sourcing strategies, and the end-to-end recruitment experience for clinicians.

“In my career, I’ve been lucky to get to experience enough cultures and teams to know the real deal,” said Josh Ahlberg. “The Frontera team stands out. They see the possibilities—and improvement areas—in healthcare staffing and they approach them with collaboration, candor, and innovation. I feel proud to join them on the journey of being changemakers in our industry and true value-add partners for our clients.”

Prior to joining Frontera Search Partners, Ahlberg brought his pace-setting strategies to both healthcare and non-healthcare roles, honing his senior leadership background along the way. With two decades of experience—and knowledge of business development, recruiting, operations, and more—he has delivered big-picture strategy to bear at organizations of all sizes. Ahlberg’s history of excellence includes having been a consultant, and leader in multiple companies, including Matchwell, Aya Healthcare, Advanced Behavior Analysis, Martin Fletcher, Floyd Lee Locums, and Supplemental Health Care.

Frontera Search Partners is a healthcare staffing firm providing services for hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. We specialize in Physicians, Dentists, Optometrists, Advanced Practice Providers, Allied Health, Clerical Staff, and more into temporary staffing assignments. With over 20 years of experience, our team of search partners work collaboratively with each client and candidate to ensure that all involved in the process benefit from our best practices. https://fronterasearch.com/

For press and media inquiries, contact Kelly Starkey at kelly@starkeyconsulting.com or 435.901.3278.

FAQs about: Locum Tenens Services

What does expanding temporary clinician coverage actually mean for recruiting organizations?

Expanding short-term clinician coverage typically means adding new specialties, increasing provider availability, or improving placement speed across regions. For recruiting organizations, this reduces fulfillment gaps during peak demand, turnover, or service line growth. It can also improve responsiveness to client needs without committing to permanent hires. Firms like Frontera approach expansion by strengthening provider networks, credentialing workflows, and operational infrastructure, which helps recruitment teams offer more flexible workforce solutions while maintaining compliance and quality standards.

How does broader short-term staffing capacity support healthcare workforce planning?

Greater access to temporary clinicians allows workforce leaders to manage fluctuations more strategically. Instead of over-hiring or risking burnout, organizations can use interim coverage to stabilize schedules, maintain patient access, and protect revenue continuity. This approach is especially valuable during seasonal spikes, onboarding delays, or program launches. From a planning perspective, it creates a buffer that supports long-term hiring goals while keeping care delivery consistent. Frontera emphasizes alignment between staffing flexibility and operational forecasting to support sustainable workforce models.

What operational changes are required when a staffing firm scales interim provider services?

Scaling interim provider services often requires investment in credentialing systems, compliance oversight, and provider experience management. Recruiting firms may also need stronger data tracking for placement timelines, licensure status, and performance feedback. Without these foundations, growth can create risk instead of value. Successful expansion focuses on process standardization and visibility across teams. Frontera’s model highlights the importance of backend readiness, ensuring that growth in provider supply doesn’t outpace the systems needed to support quality placements.

How does expanded short-term coverage impact time-to-fill metrics?

When done correctly, broader short-term coverage can significantly reduce time-to-fill for hard-to-staff roles. A deeper, pre-vetted provider pool shortens sourcing cycles and minimizes last-minute scrambles. Faster placements help recruiting firms meet client expectations and protect service-level agreements. However, speed depends on credentialing efficiency and communication workflows. Frontera’s approach demonstrates that time-to-fill improvements come from preparation and process optimization, not just increasing the number of available clinicians.

What ROI indicators should marketing and HR leaders track after expansion?

Key ROI indicators include placement velocity, assignment completion rates, repeat client demand, and provider retention across engagements. Revenue diversification is another signal, as expanded coverage can open new specialty or geographic opportunities. Marketing and HR leaders should also track client satisfaction and internal workload balance. These metrics reveal whether expansion is driving sustainable growth or operational strain. Frontera frames ROI around long-term relationship value rather than short-term volume alone.

How does this type of expansion affect employer branding for recruiting firms?

Offering reliable short-term coverage enhances a recruiting firm’s reputation as a problem-solver rather than a transactional vendor. It signals adaptability, scale, and understanding of healthcare operations. For providers, it can improve perception around support, transparency, and assignment quality. Strong employer branding emerges when expansion is paired with consistent experiences on both sides of the marketplace. Frontera positions brand strength as an outcome of operational maturity, not just market presence.