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About Locum Tenens
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What is Locum Tenens?
The term Locum Tenens is Latin and means "to hold the place of". Locum Tenens physicians work temporary assignments for a specified length of time. If the assignment is contracted through a Locum Tenens company, they will arrange for your compensation, transportation and housing and other details of the assignment. Physicians are able to pick where and when they would like to work. Healthcare organizations are able to cover staff shortages, vacations, pregnancy leave, CME time or unexpected illness.
Why would I want to work on a Locums Tenens basis?
Working Locum Tenens assignments offers many benefits. Besides flexibility in scheduling your time, when you are home your time is your own. Physicians like the idea of practicing medicine without the hassles of running a practice. You don't have to worry about billing and collections or dealing with insurance companies.
Many physicians are employed in private or academic practices and find Locum Tenens is a good way to supplement their income. Additionally it is a good way to see how other practices are run and help out a colleague. Academic physicians find it helps with teaching residents what it is like in the world of private practice. |
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| Other reasons for choosing this practice style include the desire to be semi-retired or work part-time while focusing on child rearing. Newly trained physicians sometimes find value in using Locum Tenens to explore different practice situations before committing to a permanent position. |
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| What will I be paid? |
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Pay structures are either hourly or daily depending on your specialty. Most assignments will include compensation for carrying a beeper and additional hours worked. Locum Tenens physicians find pay to be comparable or slightly higher than to earnings in a private practice. Physicians enjoy being paid in a few weeks for their services rather than waiting for billing reimbursements. Travel, housing and malpractice costs are covered for assignments. |
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