Locum tenens is temporary work where physicians fill in for other colleagues who are unavailable to work. The length of employment can vary from a few days up to a year. Occasionally, the position may even open up and become permanent. A temporary worker is needed when a full time doctor has to be away from work due to illness, family matters or a vacation. Locus tenens is beneficial to the temporary physicians and the healthcare organizations that use them.
There are advantages to working as a temporary physician or in internal medicine jobs. One can experience different types of settings to work and decide what is right for them. This is great for medical students who aren’t sure of what type of practice they want to work at. In fact, a high percentage of physicains are unhappy with their chosen areas. A temporary assignment allows one to try out work assignments without any commitments. It also allows one to sample working with different populations because one can choose from rural, urban or suburban territories before settling in an area permanantly. A locum tenens position also provides flexibility because a physician is able to choose when it is good for them to work. This kind of work also doesn’t come with all the administrative hassles that permanent doctors may experience. A doctor can focus on taking care of patients instead of paperwork. The assignments are available throughout the country and are great for young physicians who want and are able to travel to different places. Also physicians who have been working for many years or are considering retiring could start working less hours this way.
Physicians filling in for temporary work assignments will also be rewarded with higher salaries. This is in fact due to the absence of benefits. The rates are made high enough to attract qualified doctors to fill these jobs. The pay varies for these assignments depending on one’s specialty.
It is important for those seeking work as a temporary physician to make sure they are provided with malpractice insurance when considering an opportunity. Some individuals may only be provided with basic coverage but it is important to make sure that one receives a malpractice tail otherwise this protection would not be adequate. If it is not provided then purchasing the malpractice tail should be considered.
Locum tenans is also beneficial to healthcare organizations. It allows them to fill positions that are temporarily unavailable or find help during employment shortages. Healtcare organizations may also need seasonal workers who are available during busy times. It is cost effective for these facilities to hire temporary physicians as well.
The guidelines and procedures for locum tenans are written by the National Association of Locus Tenans Organizations (NALTO) and are to be followed. The goal of NALTO is to maintain high, professional standards and it strives to create the best relationships between the healthcare organizations, temporary physicians and locus tenens agencies.