Permanent vs. Locum Tenens – Which is Right for You? Part 2

Part 1 of this article series compared some pros and cons of the traditional, permanent physician job vs. a locum tenens position, and how to determine which would be the best fit for you.

In this article, the locum tenens industry is discussed in more detail, and further information is given to assist you in considering this career path.

Locum is a Latin word meaning “to hold a place;” a locum tenens physician job is typically a short-term position in which a physician substitutes for a staff physician who is absent, such as due to illness, vacation, retirement, or maternity leave. Due to the physician shortage in the United States, the locum tenens market has expanded and continues to grow. Over 50,000 physicians work locum tenens positions annually.

Many medical facilities use locum tenens doctors to help cover staffing shortages or increased patient load. In fact, about 94% of hospitals in one study have used locum tenens staffing in the past year, up from 74% in 2012. This number is expected to increase due to increased demand for medical care due to the ongoing repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic.

Locum tenens physicians provide tangible benefits to the employing medical facility, such as shorter wait times for scheduled patients, decreasing gaps in service, and reducing burnout among employed physicians already working long hours. Locum tenens physicians help hospitals stay well-staffed and enable maintenance of patient satisfaction.

If you are interested in a locum tenens position, an easy way to get started is to contact one of the many physician recruiting firms. These recruiters will discuss the available job opportunities, which vary based on start date, length of contract, geographic location, and medical specialty. The typical position can pay between $150-$300 per hour, depending on the assignment, and the contract can last between two weeks to two months on average.  As discussed in part 1 of the series, no benefits package is offered to a locum tenens physician, meaning that you are responsible for your paying for your own health insurance, and no taxes are withheld from your paycheck. You are responsible for ensuring that all accounting issues are addressed properly. Your licensing and malpractice fees are usually by handled by the recruiting firm, and the recruiter can help guide you through this process. The recruiter can help you complete all the necessary forms and documentation. Additionally, your travel and lodging expenses are reimbursed during the time of your contract.

If you are currently in a permanent physician position and are considering switching to a locum position, there are a number of details you should consider. You may want to try a short locum assignment close to your home base during your vacation time to see if the experience is something that would further interest you.  Some physicians continue to work in their permanent position and supplement their income with short term locum positions intermittently. Other physicians decide to make the leap to a becoming a solely locum physician after trying it out first on a limited basis.

Deciding to become a locum physician requires some introspection as to what will work best for your personality and lifestyle.  An obvious benefit of working as a locum tenens physician instead of a permanent physician is the ability to have autonomy over your work schedule and work only the number of days that you want. You may be adventurous and enjoy travel to different geographical areas, practicing medicine in a variety of health care systems, and treating a diverse range of patient demographics. Changing your practice environment enables you to gain new skills and a wide range of experience that you might not obtain if you work in only one health care system routinely. For all these reasons, a locum tenens position may be a great fit for you.

On the other hand, frequent travel can become cumbersome, you don’t have the luxury of a set salary, steady work is not guaranteed, and your schedule could change or be cancelled on short notice. You may find it difficult to learn a new medical records system on a frequent basis. You have no paid time off or production bonuses. Finally, you should strongly consider the fact that it will be difficult to establish long term relationships with patients over time. For some physicians, this is an aspect of medicine that is very fulfilling and brings both personal and professional satisfaction. This is much more likely to be attained in a permanent physician employment situation.

As a physician, you are fortunate to have many employment options available. Whether a permanent or locum position suits you best – or a combination of thereof – do your research, know thyself, and best of luck in your endeavors!