Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Many healthcare professionals recognize it is time for a change. They have no work-life balance and are struggling with burnout. They’re tired of not seeing their spouses and children, or they feel they spend every moment at work or thinking about their jobs.
Making a significant change can be challenging. However, those working with a locum tenens agency find they can improve their work-life balance, take on temporary positions, improve their skills, and earn an excellent salary. They can take control of their lives once again.
Doctors love having this option available to them. Between 2002 and 2016, the number of physicians taking these temporary positions almost doubled. Healthcare facility managers relied heavily on these individuals in 2016, and demand continues to increase.
The Benefits of Locum Tenens Work
Many healthcare professionals take these temporary positions because they struggle with burnout and want more career flexibility and autonomy. Any professional struggling with burnout is a significant concern because medical errors increase significantly when doctors and nurses suffer from burnout. Healthcare organizations should be more flexible with scheduling to reduce the risk of burnout. Until they do so, locum tenens positions are ideal for many.
Locum tenens positions often have a higher hourly or daily rate. According to Physicians Practice reports, agencies working with these professionals may cover additional costs of working in these temporary positions, including licensing, credentialing, and malpractice insurance. Individuals struggling with medical school or other student loan debt find the increased pay appealing. Certain professionals choose to work a full-time job and take on temporary positions on the side to pay this debt down quicker and augment their income.
The Drawbacks of Locum Tenens Work
Taking on temporary positions does come with some drawbacks. Certain agencies do not handle any paperwork for medical professionals. Each professional must do this independently, which can be time-consuming and frustrating. In addition, the medical professional must review the contract from each agency carefully to ensure they know what is included. Most agencies provide medical malpractice insurance, but not all do, and it falls on the medical professional to know which is the case for the contract they are signing.
Choosing to Pursue Work as a Locum Tenens
People love that they can try locum tenens work without a significant commitment. A person fresh out of medical school may choose to take on these assignments, or an established physician might need a break and take temporary assignments when convenient. Medical professionals need to do a self-assessment and determine why they wish to take on these temporary assignments so they can take ones that fit their needs.
Work with an agency to help navigate open opportunities. They allow individuals to explore their choices to find those that fulfill their requirements. The agency should provide personalized help. Medical professionals may ask around and see which agencies their peers have used. Learn whether they were satisfied with the agency and what they liked or disliked about it.
Medical professionals have different needs, so each person’s advantages and disadvantages will differ. However, every professional should try one or two temporary assignments to learn whether they suit their needs. What works now may not be appropriate in the future, so a locum tenens may decide to take a permanent position at a later time. At the same time, a doctor or nurse may leave their facility or practice and take a temporary position. Both options are always available for those who wish to try something new.