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MEDTECH Are you ready to explore the potential of locum tenens, the flexible alternative to traditional physician employment?
As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, the concept of locum tenens is offering physicians an alternative employment option, combining flexibility, potential higher pay, and exposure to different practices. Understanding the pros and cons, and navigating through the associated complexities can help make the most of this opportunity.
Key Points:
- Locum tenens work is a contractual arrangement where a physician is employed through a third-party service to fill gaps in hospitals and medical practices.
- This type of work offers the ability to travel, flexibility in work hours, and potentially higher pay.
- Contracts can range from a few weeks to several months, and even a year.
- Challenges include complex contract negotiations, and the necessity of purchasing personal medical insurance.
- Hospitals and practices usually pay a combined sum to the third-party company which then compensates the physician.
Additional Points:
- Locum tenens positions are often in remote areas where there is a shortage of local physicians.
- Real-world experiences of locum tenens physicians highlight the importance of having a termination clause and ensuring direct payment from the hospital or clinic.
- Some physicians find locum tenens work similar to being entrepreneurs as they have control over their work conditions and pay.
- Physicians are advised to negotiate their contract to ensure appropriate work hours, malpractice insurance, pay rate, termination clauses, and other concerns.
Conclusion:
- Locum tenens can provide a unique and flexible career option for physicians. However, careful contract negotiation, personal insurance procurement, and understanding of salary structures after staffing agency fees are critical considerations for success.
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“One of the greatest challenges I find working as a locum tenens is that you have to carry your health insurance, as a hospital does not employ you. Additionally, you must be very diligent about negotiating your contract regarding work hours, malpractice insurance, pay rate, and termination, and you ‘pay’ the locum tenens staffing agency as an intermediary.”
Adebayo Fasanya, MD
