VISTA Voice

A growing number of medical professionals are working locum tenens because of the many benefits it brings. Physicians choose locum tenens as a career path to travel to desirable destinations, give back to rural communities in need, and support our nation’s veterans by delivering excellent healthcare, to name a few. However, as more professionals become interested in locum tenens because of their advantages, it’s also important to know what to expect to determine if working locum tenens is right for you.

You love what you do for a job, but there are days when you wonder if you could be doing more. You're not necessarily looking for a career overhaul but wouldn't mind changing things up a bit. At this stage, a bit of travel would not be a bad thing.

If you're a clinician looking for your dream position at a healthcare system you can't wait to work for, you'll need to get noticed. So, how do you stand out among a sea of qualified applicants? One way is by creating a solid curriculum vitae (CV) about you and your experience.

National EMS Week happens this year on May 16-22, 2021. First authorized in 1974 by President Gerald Ford, the proclamation dedicating the week came on the heels of the EMS Systems Act, which provided funds to create more than 300 EMS systems around the country. It remains a time to express recognition and gratitude to Emergency Medicine (EM) practitioners and their vital work in our communities.  

Professionals in many industries take advantage of their travel jobs by turning required work trips into mini-vacations. While they have to complete their work obligations during the day, they get to spend time exploring new places in their free time. It can be a fun way to gain new experiences and check out other cities if you consider relocation in the future. However, it can be challenging to get a good feel for a place when you are only there for a short time. 

As part of the global effort to combat COVID-19, clinicians are coping with historical mortality rates and extreme burnout levels. Long, intense work shifts compounded by the fear of contracting the virus or bringing it home to family members have left medical staffers exhausted. One year in, hospitals are still dealing with an illness that has no cure while now having to treat an influx of patients who had previously put off care because of the pandemic.

With stimulus checks starting to hit bank accounts in March, it's easy to overlook the less exciting annual torture that is tax season at the IRS. At this writing, the IRS has extended the 2020 tax filing deadline, and taxes are due on May 17th. This is an excellent time to remind locum tenens professionals to keep a few things in mind. 

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.

In 2019, 85% of healthcare provider groups used locum tenens physicians. With increased patient demand and the American healthcare system being short, almost 122,000 physicians by 2032, the need for locum tenens physicians is in high demand. This working arrangement offers many benefits, such as increased flexibility and more career options.

In the professional healthcare provider field, two groups are always in demand: anesthetists and anesthesiologists. Within a given healthcare facility, these two professions often touch just about every department or practice. That's why it's important to understand and honor the work they do — notably, nurse anesthetists — to help improve patient outcomes.