An increasingly attractive option in physician staffing
By Frank Phillips
Senior Vice President
Weatherby Locums Inc., a division of Weatherby Health Care, a physician recruiting firm
The advent of managed care has created many exciting changes and opportunities within the health care field, particularly affecting the ways in which physicians practice medicine. One result has been the increased use of locum tenens, or temporary physician staffing, which has become popular among physicians and health care institutions over the last 10 years.
Prior to managed care, physicians typically were locally-based entrepreneurs. It was the norm for physicians to graduate from residency and begin a solo, fee-for-service practice. However, now, there are a variety of options from which physicians can choose, including locum tenens.
Locum tenens, a Latin term meaning "one holding a place," has become an alternative to full-time practice with physicians in all specialties viewing locum tenens as a viable career option. One overriding benefit is that it gives physicians the freedom and flexibility to practice medicine where they want and when they want, without practice hassles or HMO regulations.
Physicians who choose to use locum tenens services encompass a broad range of age groups and medical specialties. The largest portion of locum tenens physicians consists of older physicians who want to travel and practice at leisure, those that are in between permanent positions, and graduating residents.
A temp to perm’ hiring tool
Graduating residents are more often turning to locum tenens firms to fulfill their needs until they find the right practice opportunity. On average, it will take a graduating resident three to six months, and in some cases it can even take up to one year to secure a permanent practice setting. Locum tenens opportunities allow recent graduates to practice medicine and generate income while they are searching for the right practice opportunity.
When investigating locum tenens firms to work with there are a number of factors physicians should consider. It is important that the firm chosen has an extensive database of practice opportunities and a high placement rate. The firm should be able to locate opportunities in areas of the country interesting to the physician and meet all their personal and professional needs with the highest degree of discretion.
In addition, physicians should research the accuracy and dependability of the firm’s services. The best method of investigation is to ask the firm to supply references from both physicians and clients. Once the firm has secured a practice opportunity for the physician, representatives should be available throughout the period of placement to answer any questions or address any issues and concerns.
It also is important to be aware of the malpractice insurance policies the locum tenens firm offers. Most firms offer a policy, but it is important to discuss the particular policy’s limits, as well as the types available, be it occurrence-based or claims-made.
In addition to becoming more popular among physicians, an overwhelming number of health care institutions are also turning to locum tenens as a viable staffing solution. Institutions find that they save resources, time, and money by having a professional locum tenens company fulfill their staffing needs.
Health care institutions will contact locum tenens firms to fill temporary voids when regular physicians are unavailable to see patients due to vacations, medical conferences or CME training. Institutions also secure a locum physician to staff busy periods in various hospital departments, group practices, etc.
As physician retention issues arise, locum tenens services have now become a successful "temp to perm" tool for hiring organizations, allowing the opportunity to evaluate a physician before hiring permanently. A trend has emerged that more locum tenens doctors are securing permanent positions as a result of their temporary work.
Characteristics hiring organizations should look for in a locum tenens firm are dependability, resource capabilities, and the firm’s reputation within the health care arena. Asking for references from current and past clients is one way to determine if the firm will become a partner with client’s to develop staffing solutions.
It also is important to investigate the firm’s reputation within the medical arena by investigating their professional affiliations. This will allow the institution to determine the firm’s professional standing within residency programs and medical assemblies, as well as ensure the highest quality of candidates were contacted for possible placement.
A locum tenens firm should also have research capabilities that will allow a full and complete background check on all potential candidates. It is also extremely important that the locum tenens firm, once selected, stay in contact and be available in the event of a conflict, or if a problem arises with the placement. Some firms offer a guarantee on placements, promptly providing an alternate candidate, if the first physician does not work out.
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content