March 25 – 31 is National Physicians Week. This is a time to honor the men and women who have dedicated their lives to healing and the art of medicine. The theme for this year is "This is Our Shot." It is a reminder for doctors to unite, heal, lead, educate, and vaccinate.
The week-long dedication began in 2017 after it was recognized that there is a shortage of physicians in the US against a growing landscape of minorities entering the profession when they are needed most. The founding organization seeks to raise doctors’ recognition across the country and spotlight the years of sacrifice they have given to their patients.
The History of National Doctors' Day
Doctors' Day happens every year on March 30th. The observance began on March 30, 1933, in Winder, Georgia. Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond, set aside the day to honor physicians like her husband with cards, acts of kindness, and flowers placed at the gravesites of those who had passed on. The day was chosen to celebrate the first administration of anesthesia during surgery by Dr. Crawford Williamson Long on March 30, 1842, in Jefferson, Georgia.
Gradually, the idea began to spread. On March 30, 1958, the United States House of Representatives adopted a resolution commemorating Doctors' Day. On October 30, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed it into public law following Congress’s overwhelming approval.
One day expanded to one week in 2016 by Physicians Working Together (PWT) non-profit founder, Dr. Kimberley Jackson. In 2018 the first National Physicians' Week virtual conference was held in connection with the occasion. Doctors were provided with an open landscape to discuss pertinent concerns such as ways to improve their practices and the relationships with their patients as well as navigating the political landscape and taking action through advocacy groups.
Thank Physicians for What They Do
During National Physicians' Week, take a moment to thank your doctors for their services. A simple card or email can go a long way to express your gratitude for the years of training and dedication endured to make our society a healthier place.
Share a notice of the week on Facebook and other social media channels you use. Let your groups know that we're celebrating doctors and encourage them to spread the word. Donate to organizations that support physicians and those training to enter the profession. Fellow professionals can give each other red carnations to acknowledge the contributions of those in their field.
Embrace the New Generation of Physicians
In addition to recognizing the service of physicians, PWT empowers medical students by keeping them on track for success. Mentorship programs educate and inspire future physicians to overcome present challenges so that they can embrace tomorrow's trends.
Donations from the public help PWT to relieve a portion of medical students' financial burdens through the Medical Student Scholarship Fund. Up to and during National Physicians' Week, participants submit a short video that displays their talents and abilities. A winner is announced in April following the week-long celebration.
Physician Locum Tenens Employment
Locum Tenens translates from Latin to "to hold the place of." In the medical field, it is an effective way to relieve physician burnout, remain fully staffed during busy times, and maintain patient satisfaction while searching for a permanent doctor. In underserved areas, like rural communities, urban regions with health professional shortages, Native Health Service facilities, and VA hospitals, locum tenens serve to offset a physician shortage to help more people see a provider and receive care.
Physicians, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, and physician assistants who work on a locum tenens basis are in high demand, earn competitively, and fulfill a sometimes desperate need. Health facilities that make use of these services enjoy the continuum of high-quality patient care, customer satisfaction, and sometimes the opportunity to make hires among the physician pool.
VISTA Can Help With Locum Tenens Employment
Covering more than 60 specialties, VISTA provides physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant staffing solutions to ensure access to care. Focusing on board-certified physicians and experienced NPs and PAs, VISTA is known for quality recruitment and superior service.
With the VISTA Approach, you can expect:
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- Specialty-specific points of contact. A team of experts organized by specialty handles locum tenens contracts.
- Detailed clinical practice descriptions. We help healthcare systems develop a clear picture of the available opening and the type of clinician needed. We then screen the best candidates for the opening.
- CV presentations. Once we narrow down the search, we send the CVs of preferred candidates to the healthcare system.
- Expedited credentialing and privileging. We provide documentation to assist you with credentialing and medical staff privileging.
- Physician or advanced practitioner licensing. We manage the licensing process so you are fully licensed to work in the state prior to the beginning of the assignment.
- Coordinated travel, housing, and transportation. The full-service in-house VISTA travel team works directly with the physician or advanced practitioner to arrange low-cost travel, adequate housing, and local transportation.
- Accurate billing and provider compensation. Providers fill out a work record every two weeks that the healthcare system staff then must sign off on.
- Follow up. Once an assignment has begun, we check-in and conduct post-assignment evaluations with both you and the healthcare system to make sure the match is a good one.
We at VISTA would like to take time to thank physicians for all their hard work and dedication. We are proud to be able to serve you. To find your next adventure, check out our current openings.
