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| What is a locum tenens physician? |
| Locum Tenens is a latin phrase commonly used in the medical profession that means “place-holder” or one who temporarily fulfills the duties of another. When physicians and hospital personnel are looking for locum tenens work or a locum tenens physician, they simply use the term locums. A locum tenens job may entail weekend coverage or may last for a few weeks, a few months, or up to a year or longer. |
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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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Why do hospitals, physician practices and other healthcare facilities use locum tenens physicians?
There are a variety of reasons that hospitals and physician groups utilize locum tenens physicians. In many specialties it is due to a shortage of physicians available to handle the work load, issues with emergency call coverage, or to fill a gap while a permanent physician is recruited. In other specialties, such as Anesthesiology, Hospitalist or Pulmonary Critical Care, the need may be due to seasonal changes in patient volume that coincide with the facility’s, case load or inpatient census.
Why would a physician choose to do locums work?
Twenty years ago, the perception of a locum tenens physician was one of skepticism. Locum tenens were considered “Doctors on the Run.” Some of those perceptions back then were well-founded, but not anymore. Today’s physicians are more concerned with the “work/life balance” and have become much more mobile as they take on other pursuits. To them, locum tenens represents a lifestyle choice.
Are locum tenens physicians as qualified as other physicians?
Locum tenens physician’s credentials are literally “scrubbed” at least three times before the physician actually goes to work. First we step each physician through our own internal credentialing/due diligence process, then the malpractice insurance carrier’s approval process and then at the facility level where more verifications and National Practitioner Data Bank queries are done. This doesn’t leave much room to sweep some problem under the rug.
Before accepting a locum tenens physician, here are a few questions, you might want to ask:
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What do you know about the agency you’re considering and what is their reputation in dealing with their clients and the locum tenens physicians who provide services? |
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How well do they screen candidates before presenting them to you? |
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How much experience does the person coordinating the coverage have in matching physicians with healthcare facilities? |
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How confident are you in their ability to handle any physician performance or risk management issues that may arise? |
How much does locum tenens coverage cost?
It depends on the specialty and like anything else, the laws of supply and demand are a factor. It’s difficult to apply any of the published MGMA physician compensation data to locum tenens rates, since agency rates for locum tenens services and pay to physicians are on a daily rate and hourly basis.
Before contracting for locums coverage, here are a few questions you might want to ask:
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How well does the agency you’re working with understand the intricacies of the specialty needed? |
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Have you provided the agency with enough information about the practice to pass along to the locum tenens physician so the physician understands the scope of the services he will be expected to provide? |
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Are the rates quoted reflective of Fair Market Value for the specialty? |
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How many hours of clinical work will the locum tenens physician provide before you get billed for overtime charges? |
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What is the expected total cost per day and how does that compare with the market? |
How much can a physician make doing locums work?
It depends on the specialty. Locum tenens physicians work as independent contractors and are paid on a daily rate or hourly basis or both. All travel and lodging expenses are covered as well as the professional liability insurance coverage. Generally, when you do the math, locum tenens physicians do not make as much as their counterparts in the same specialty who are engaged in full-time permanent practice, but the locum tenens physician gains autonomy and control of his or work/call schedule. |
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