Locum Tenens can be a great option for providers and employers alike
The phrase “locum tenens” comes from Latin and means “one holding a place, to substitute for.” In the medical community, Locum Tenens refers to physicians, dentists, and other advanced practitioners who are contracted on a temporary basis when a healthcare provider is experiencing a shortage of staff due to illness, vacations, maternity leaves, the expansion of a hospital or medical group. The employment period for a Locum Tenens can be anywhere from a few days to several months.
Benefits for Providers
Locum Tenens providers range from physicians in various stages of their careers — from residents who are interested in broadening their experience by working in a variety of clinical settings to physicians who are interested in leaving private practice for a career change, to retired physicians who want to keep their skills and license active while working part-time.
Other benefits to being a Locum Tenens provider include:
Flexible work schedule
No practice overhead or malpractice insurance cost
Freedom to travel
Avoiding physician burnout
Working as a Locum Tenens can also help to supplement your income, especially if you’re retiring and would like to continue working part-time or need the added income to pay down medical school debts.
Benefits for healthcare facilities
Locum Tenens can be very valuable assets to healthcare facilities. Locum Tenens can help a facility when it’s looking to increase patient load. Using Locum Tenens can be a more cost-efficient option than hiring for a permanent position. And, if a facility is searching for a permanent provider, hiring a Locum Tenens can provide continuity of care until that provider is hired.
An important added benefit of using Locum Tenens providers is that healthcare facilities are not responsible for paying their malpractice insurance costs which reduces the risk for the facility and lessens their financial burden.
