I’m having to deal with this issue with a low volume center in our network, not mine.
With the numbers we have, paying $1500 a day is a stretch. Really. I’m at a place where I have advised for $2000/day b/c I want a certain person usually, but our margins get slim every time I go to Asia.
If the center is treating 3-4 day, it makes more sense to shut down then have locums for 6 weeks a year. Even as a loss leader, we can’t make it worthwhile. Needs to be 7-9, then can pay $2k locums. But you’re right if 20+, $3k absolutely should be minimum.
Your strategy works for you, but if you came to me with that, I’d laugh and say either come down to something reasonable or we can find someone else. Or shut down, if we can’t.