Locum tenens is a Latin phrase meaning, “to hold the place of”. This phrase is commonly used in the healthcare industry to refer to practitioners who take on temporary jobs rather than practicing in one location. Locum tenens are becoming more commonplace today and may be of great help in addressing staffing shortages in the healthcare industry. How are they doing so?
Filling In Where Needed
As with any profession, people come and people go. A doctor might wish to take a sabbatical to work on a special project, or a nurse practitioner might take paternity leave when they have a new child. At times, a medical professional might retire and have a locum tenens step in until someone can be found to take their place permanently.
This gives the practice time to find the right person for the job, which is why patients understanding locum tenens and their place in healthcare is so important.
These professionals are often called in to support hospitals, clinics, and facilities. At times, they are only asked to work a day or two, such as when someone is out sick. However, locum tenens take on year-long positions in certain situations.
They may fill in for a vacancy, when someone is on vacation, or when a person is taking time away from work for a project they are completing. These professionals remain in high demand today, and hiring managers appreciate having them to call on in a time of need.
Why Might a Person Choose to Take on This Position?
Locum tenens find they have plenty of opportunities to grow when taking on this role. They can work in different positions to find one that is a good fit for them and travel the country or world when doing so. In fact, locums physicians can be found in all 50 states working in over 75 specialties.
Over 40,000 physicians today choose to work as locum tenens rather than staying with one practice. As most healthcare facilities in the country today use locum tenens, there are plenty of open positions for these professionals to fill.
Solving Healthcare Challenges
Locum tenens get many of the same benefits doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants working in one practice get. However, they also get the satisfaction of solving one of healthcare’s biggest challenges today. Many areas cannot find and keep doctors, and locum tenens are frequently called in to fill open spots until a permanent replacement is found.
America will be short tens of thousands of doctors in a few years, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Filling these positions won’t be easy, but locum tenens can help. They work with patients just as other medical professionals do to ensure the patients get care in a timely manner. Without their help, patients may find their health suffers in one or more ways.
A chronic condition might worsen, or a diagnosis might be missed. Locums often find they can spend more time with each patient to reduce the risk of problems such as these.
Locum tenens are a vital part of healthcare today. They help fill open positions in the industry to ensure patients get timely care. These individuals often work in underserved areas or visit areas where catastrophic events have occurred.
They may even provide support for humanitarian missions. Learn more today about these professionals and their role in healthcare today. Many people are surprised to find just how vital they are to the health of Americans overall.
