| Some guess that as many as 60% of physicians still | | | | they might never have met otherwise. |
| do not know of a quite popular career option available | | | | This practice option for physicians is especially popular |
| to them--locum tenens. Locum Tenens is Latin for "one | | | | with two sub-sets of physicians. The first is physicians |
| holding a place." Basically, physicians fill in for other | | | | just finishing their residencies. They might not yet know |
| physicians who are out on vacation, extended leave, | | | | where they want to settle down, or what type of |
| CME requirements, or other activities. | | | | practice they want to be in. Working locum tenens for |
| Hospitals and medical practices around the United | | | | a few months, or a few years, lets them see all |
| States use locum tenens for a variety of reasons. The | | | | aspects of medicine, and the country, and choose the |
| most popular is as a money saving tool. If a facility's | | | | option that is best for them. |
| patient census rises for three months of the year, it | | | | The second group of physicians who enjoy working |
| doesn't make sense for that facility to hire a physician | | | | locum tenens is those who want to slow down their |
| for an entire year. It does, however, make sense to | | | | practice of medicine, but not completely retire. Those |
| hire an independent contractor physician, a locum | | | | physicians love medicine, but are tired of the politics, |
| tenens, to come fill in for those three months to help | | | | the paperwork, the worries. Some might want to use |
| with the work load. When a medical facility utilizes a | | | | locum tenens as a way to slip into semi-retirement. It is |
| locum tenens physician, they ensure continuity of care | | | | a great option for them, because they can still practice |
| for their patients, and a continued revenue stream for | | | | the medicine they love, without the headaches. |
| their facility. | | | | Physicians can work as a locum tenens independently, |
| The benefits for physicians who select this practice | | | | finding temporary jobs and setting up contracts on |
| option are limitless. They can practice medicine | | | | their own, or they can go through a locum tenens |
| anywhere in the country that they want. They can | | | | company. physicians might make a little more money |
| explore new communities, discover new practice | | | | per day working independently, but there are benefits |
| types, and develop relationships with colleagues whom | | | | of going through a locum tenens agency. |