Practicing medicine comes with many different options. Physicians and advanced practitioners can pursue careers in academic medicine, private practice, hospital work, and beyond. When evaluating these choices, many clinicians overlook the advantages of locum tenens.
As a locum tenens physician or advanced practitioner, you’ll fill a position at a facility when the permanent staff member is on leave or until a new one is hired. You might also provide extra coverage during peak seasons or work shorter assignments to cover someone out on vacation. Assignment lengths can range from days, months, or even years. However, the assignments you take are completely up to you.
Let’s look at some of the advantages offered by locum tenens work and why it could be a good fit for you.
Flexibility.
Whether you’ve just finished residency or are a hospital veteran, one thing you know is that flexibility isn’t something that’s always so easy to find, especially when it comes to scheduling. With locums work, you can maintain better control over your schedule, choosing when and where you work. This can mean asking for specific scheduling accommodations (maybe a certain day of the week off so you can spend time with friends or family) or even just take more time between assignments to recharge, travel, or figure out your next move.
Higher earning potential.
Due to the temporary nature of locums, pay is often higher than permanent positions. This is great if you’re trying to save up money for a large purchase, want to pay down school debt, or make more money without having to moonlight. You’ll likely save on expenses too since many assignments offer free housing, travel reimbursement, and include malpractice insurance.
Experience living and working all over.
Locum tenens work allows you to work in a variety of different settings and areas. If you’ve ever wanted to see what it would be like to live in a different city, locums is a great way to try it before committing to a permanent move.
Sharpen those skills (and maybe learn a few new ones).
With a new place of employment comes new systems, patient populations, and EMRs. This not only keeps you sharp but makes you more marketable to future employers. The confidence you build and the problem-solving skills you get in different environments is also valuable. With locums, these skills are always kept sharp so you’re always learning new skills you’ll take with you.
Focus on practicing medicine.
It’s safe to say you got into medicine because you enjoy helping people and want to focus on patient care as opposed to dealing with administrative tasks like billing or committee work. With locums work, you get to focus on just that: practicing medicine. The changing long-term hospital policies won’t affect you as much as a full-time employee, and you aren’t as invested in workplace dynamics. With locums, you can do what you do best: focus on patient care.
Get help to those who need it.
Locums work allows you to work all over, and that includes rural and underserved communities. Locums can be a great opportunity to serve a vulnerable patient population or area without having to make radical changes in your life. You won’t have to leave your job (as opposed to volunteering) and your contract can allow you to do it for varying lengths of time.
Figure out what kind of clinician you want to be.
For those early in their career, locum tenens presents a unique opportunity to work in medicine before deciding on a career path or practice area. Still thinking about that fellowship? Locums work will allow you to work (and leave) on your schedule without a resume gap or having to explain why you left a job as an attending. Some clinicians even decide that the locums life is just fine for them and make an entire career out of it.
Working a locum tenens role offers a unique opportunity for physicians and advanced practitioners to explore different clinical settings, gain experience, and make a meaningful contribution for communities in need of care. No matter where you are in your career path, locum tenens work can provide you with the freedom to choose what kind of role works best for you.
Considering a locum tenens role?
