Founded in 2003, RPI Consulting Group Inc. serves the needs of both Pharmacy Clients and Pharmacy Professionals throughout Canada. Our Account Managers are unbeatable at recruiting trained pharmacy professionals who will travel to work at your location.
Congratulations! You have decided to open a pharmacy in a rural part of the country. You have decided to open in an under-serviced area. In a way, you have the market to yourself! These are big positive factors. But what happens when you want to take some time off?
Talent is Scarce in Rural Areas
Pharmacists are like any other specialized talent, in the sense that the number of personnel in rural areas is scarce. Trying to find a relief pharmacist to cover your own personal time off or vacation can be a challenge. When you are not able to source a candidate on your own, the only other alternative you have is to contact a pharmacy recruiting agency like ours to help you find a relief pharmacist.
RPI Consulting Group Inc. will source licensed and qualified candidates from all over the country who may be interested in working in your rural pharmacy. But we want you to know that there are downsides to this. Because you are situated in a rural area, travel fees and accommodation costs will be factored in as a significant part of our fees to you.
Fluctuating Travel Costs
Travel costs alone fluctuate daily! If you are a regular flyer, you will know that airlines change their fees as you get closer to the date of departure. Airlines now charge additional fees for baggage. In many cases, meals during the flight are an additional cost.
Flying to your location is convenient if it is just travelling from point A to point B. But what if your pharmacy still requires further travel from the closest airport? In this case, more money would need to be spent for an additional taxi, bus, or car rental to your pharmacy location.
Finding Available, Accessible Accommodation
Accommodation and lodging considerations also play a significant part in the rates we charge. We will need to find a hotel, motel or even an Airbnb for the time they are working at your location. Not all towns in Canada have accommodation available. In these instances, we have to look for accommodation that is as close to your location as possible, and then factor in travel costs from the place of accommodation. It’s worth adding that booking accommodation during the winter months also adds a layer of complexity. Many accommodations are fully booked due to the frequent hockey tournaments that take place throughout Canada.
But remember, no location in Canada is ever “too remote” to place a locum pharmacist. Our pool of pharmacists have a broad range of specifications when it comes to where they want to live and in what kind of pharmacy they want to work. If you are located in rural northern Alberta, we have a candidate who would want to be there. If you have a new relief pharmacist job opening on the east coast, we can bring you a quality pharmacist there, too.
