We all know that doctors work hard. It takes years to become qualified, and then even longer to specialize in a particular area. On top of that, a doctor will be expected to do unsociable hours, long shifts and on-call weekends. All this takes place against a backdrop of severe talent shortages in the US healthcare sector, meaning that healthcare providers are often understaffed, putting their employees under even more pressure. If it feels like the healthcare industry is imploding and being a doctor is a route to burnout, read on for why a locum tenens job could be the answer.
What Is A Locum Tenens Role?
A locum tenens position means a temporary medical role which is, essentially, a ‘placeholder’ while the organization recruits a permanent member of staff (we know that healthcare, alongside education, has some of the longest time-to-fill rates out of any industry). It can also be providing cover during medical or sick leave, sabbatical or some other reason for the permanent member of staff’s extended absence. It enables the healthcare provider to continue delivering patient care with minimum interruptions while trying to organize a long-term solution. Usually, this kind of role will be recruited by a physician staffing company that handles temporary positions.
So why would you want to consider temporary work as a medical professional?
Better Pay And Flexibility
Physicians in the USA earn well, with the average physician salary in 2021 being over $252,000. And yet, it is possible for an experienced locum tenens to earn a very competitive salary on an hourly basis, compared to their permanent counterpart. On top of these, there are often expenses that can be deducted from taxable earnings, such as lodging and transportation (including mileage), health insurance, home office (for locum tenens physicians working from home for telehealth providers), licensing and board exam fees, even certain meals if related to your locum assignment.
We must stress that your tax affairs should always be handled by a professional tax expert, with appropriate credentials and qualifications.
As well as providing you with a good income, a locum tenens job can also give you flexibility that may be harder to achieve in many permanent roles. The temporary contract basis of the employment means that you are only committed to a particular location and working hours for a set period of time, after which you can easily change. Exposure to different working environments will broaden your experience, giving you more versatile professional skills. This will be an advantage when looking for your own permanent role in due course if that’s what you decide to do.
While many physicians who work on a locum tenens basis do so between permanent jobs, some also use it to supplement their existing income. This can help if you’re trying to pay off medical school fees or even if you’re retired and looking for ways to boost your pension. Overall, there are more than 50,000 locum tenens physicians working in the US, across all 50 states, with over 81% of them reporting satisfaction levels equal to or higher than those in permanent roles.
