An increasing physician shortage leaves clinics, private practices, and hospitals searching for high-caliber medical practitioners. The forecast over the next ten years is grim, indicating that this shortage will worsen tremendously.
It’s not restricted to physicians but all healthcare professionals, including nurse practitioners and nurses. Countrywide, medical facilities are reaching out for temporary solutions like the one this healthcare staffing company offers in the form of locum tenens.
Facilities like Caliber Health connect locum physicians with healthcare facilities experiencing shortages in their staff.
Not only do recruitment teams like these help medical practitioners find assignments, but they also assist with travel arrangements, help with credentialing, secure housing, offer the possibility of malpractice insurance, and more.
Locum tenens work might not be the best option for you. It’s important to weigh the benefits to see if it’s a good fit for you both professionally and personally. Find the pros and cons of working locum tenens by visiting https://passiveincomemd.com/locum-tenens-pros-cons/.
Benefits Associated with Locum Tenens Work
Roughly two years ago, 90 percent of the country’s medical facilities used locum tenens medical personnel. This demand continues to increase as the shortage of healthcare professionals grows.
Recruiting teams like Caliber Health find positions for more locum tenens physicians, who are turning to these positions as a preference to standard roles. While it won’t be the right choice for everyone, several benefits draw professionals to staffing firms. Here are some to consider.
A supplement to income
As a new doctor just starting your career, you might want as many extra shifts as you can grab. Sometimes, the practice or hospital might not have these to offer those with the least seniority. These physicians will often turn to locum tenens to add to their income.
When working with a recruiter, you have the option of taking on as many assignments as you can handle. Medical facilities hire these practitioners when they’re in dire need of qualified healthcare professionals, and these clinics, practices, and hospitals are willing to compensate for the services.
A locum tenens doctor will average roughly “$30+” more than a practitioner holding a standard position. Pay is a deciding factor for some who choose to switch to locum tenens in a full-time capacity.
Bridging the gap
A locum tenens position can bridge a gap if you’re between roles. Your previous position might have been downsized, you could have completed a contract that wasn’t renewed, or you are moving to a new location.
The temporary assignments help maintain your skillset, bring in an income, and avoid a gap in employment until you settle into a new position.
Adapting to different settings
When you’re a resident, you might be uncertain which setting you want to practice as an attending physician. The locum tenens option will allow you to try different facilities to see which is a better fit. You can gain experience in a private practice, hospital or clinic, or an urgent care center.
Not only are each vastly different, but you’ll also need to decide if you prefer gynecology, anesthesiology, family medicine, pediatrics, or another specialty. When you’re through with your locums, you’ll have a better idea of where you want to concentrate your qualifications.
You could even decide that you want to pursue locum tenens on a more full-time basis, either taking various assignments regularly or settling on a more specific routine as you travel.
A flexible schedule is a bonus
The medical profession is traditionally inflexible with its scheduling and hectic pace, whereas locum tenens is highly flexible. The only commitment you have is to work out the contract assigned to you, and these are usually extremely short-term.
You also have the convenience of taking the assignments you prefer when you want to work. In a traditional role, doctors typically get a few days off. In a locum position, there’s greater control over the schedule. The temporary arrangement is attractive to medical professionals as it allows a positive work-life balance.
Many doctors miss important personal milestones due to their professional commitments. With locum tenens, the doctor can free their schedule to accommodate those crucial moments and still maintain their income resource.
Final Thought
The primary benefit for practitioners when working locum tenens is that they can focus on the reason they went into the profession, which is to practice medicine, provide quality patient care.
With a recruiting team like Caliber Health handling most of the logistics associated with the assignments, healthcare professionals can have more time to concentrate on the facilities that need their expertise and experience.
In that same vein, however, ensuring the contracts are in your best interest is wise. That means having a contract review lawyer assess the contents. This way, you’ll receive fair market value for your services and favorable terms and conditions.
