What is Locum Tenens?
In recent years, the shortage of healthcare professionals has become a growing concern in the medical field. With an aging population and the increasing demand for healthcare services, organizations have been struggling to find qualified, experienced medical professionals to fill their staffing needs. However, there is a solution that is revolutionizing medical staffing - locum tenens.
The term "locum tenens" is derived from a Latin phrase that means "to hold a place." In the context of healthcare staffing, locum tenens refers to a temporary physician or other healthcare professional who steps in to provide coverage when a permanent professional is absent due to vacation, illness, maternity leave, or other reasons.
The Benefits of Locum Tenens
Locum tenens has gained popularity among healthcare organizations for several reasons:
- Filling Staffing Gaps
One of the primary advantages of using locum tenens is the ability to quickly fill staffing gaps. When a healthcare provider needs to take time off unexpectedly, or when a hospital experiences a surge in patients, locum tenens professionals can step in immediately to ensure uninterrupted care. This flexibility is especially valuable for rural areas or regions with a scarcity of medical professionals.
- Maintaining Continuity of Care
When a permanent healthcare provider is absent, patients may face disruptions in their care. Locum tenens help maintain continuity of care by stepping in and providing the same level of expertise and attention patients expect. By ensuring consistent access to medical services, locum tenens help improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.
- Enhancing Work-Life Balance
Locum tenens work on a temporary basis, allowing experienced healthcare professionals the opportunity to choose their work assignments and locations. This flexibility enables better work-life balance, giving professionals the chance to take breaks or explore new healthcare environments without compromising their careers.
- Addressing the Physician Shortage
The current physician shortage poses a significant challenge for medical organizations. Locum tenens offer a practical solution, as they provide temporary relief while organizations search for permanent healthcare professionals. By bridging the gap in staffing, locum tenens help alleviate the strain on an already burdened healthcare system.
- Expanding Professional Networks
For healthcare professionals, working as a locum tenens offers the chance to expand their professional networks. They have the opportunity to work with diverse medical teams, gain exposure to different healthcare settings, and acquire new skills. These experiences can enhance their professional growth and open up new avenues for collaboration and career advancement.
Locum tenens is available for all specialties.
However, family practice and internal medicine are the specialties most impacted by staffing shortages and have the highest locum tenens. But I’ve known locum doctors in radiology, obstetrics & gynecology, psychiatry, family medicine, critical care medicine, pediatrics, and oncology. I’ve also encountered several locum surgeons and hospitalists in my travels.
According to a 2023 report by Definitive Healthcare, the specialties that have the highest demand for locum tenens physicians are:
- Family practice
- Internal medicine
- Emergency medicine
- Nephrology
- Nurse practitioner
- Orthopedic surgery
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Pediatric medicine
- Obstetrics/Gynecology
- Gastroenterology
Some highly specialized medical fields have fewer locum opportunities due to the complexity and rarity of cases they handle. For instance, specialties like pediatric neurosurgery or interventional radiology have limited locum tenens options.
How Long Can a Locum Tenens Physician Work?
Depending on the position you are looking for, physician locum tenens work can be short-term and long-term. This physician side gig can last anywhere from several days to months and sometimes as long as years.
For example, some facilities may need locum tenens to cover the absence of a physician on vacation. Due to staffing shortages, others may need extended locum tenens. The most common length of a locum tenens position is between two weeks and several months.
Locums Give You Freedom
Freedom is something I write about a fair amount. An often-used synonym for Financial Independence is Financial Freedom. Choosing to work as a locum gives you considerable freedom, which can be gained without retiring.
You can work as little or as much as you like as a locums doc. You can work in major metropoles or podunk mountain towns. You can make like a teacher and have summers off to enjoy the sunshine, take the winters off to escape the cold, or embrace it as a ski bum.
If you’ve grown tiresome of your surroundings, you can make like a hockey player and get the puck outta here. You can travel the country in an RV, hopping from job to job, or stay put, accepting jobs only in your hometown.
There are typically vacancies across the country. A quick look at Gaswork shows locum work available in nearly every state. You can also find work in Australia, New Zealand, and other far-flung international destinations. A U.S. medical license is quite valuable globally
Locums Work Pays Well
- Unlike positions with partnership tracks, locum tenens positions pay well from day one. If you are qualified to do the job, you are paid accordingly.
- If you are a new graduate and used to working like a resident, working a similar schedule as a locum can be quite lucrative.
- With most locum tenens contracts I have signed, every quarter-hour you work beyond an 8-hour day is rewarded with additional pay.
- Call coverage can also generate additional income. A hard-working locum can earn close to double that of a colleague putting in his or her time in hopes of becoming a partner.
- It’s not unusual for a physician to earn $200 to $300 an hour or more. You may get additional pay for being on call for the hospital, even if you’re not called in.
- Your availability and time are valuable and short-notice jobs can pay more. Much more.
- Travel costs on these medical staffing assignments are typically reimbursed, and you may also receive a per diem for meals and incidentals.
The Future of Medical Staffing
As the demand for healthcare services continues to rise, locum tenens will play an increasingly vital role in addressing staffing challenges. By offering flexibility, continuity of care, and expanding professional networks, locum tenens have proven to be an effective solution in revolutionizing medical staffing.
Medical organizations that embrace locum tenens will not only be better equipped to provide seamless care but also attract and retain experienced healthcare professionals. As the healthcare landscape evolves, the utilization of locum tenens will undoubtedly continue to reshape the way medical staffing is approached, ensuring quality care for patients and a sustainable workforce for healthcare providers.