The increased demand for urgent emergency room care has meant increased staff shortages at many hospitals. Many facilities are now turning to locum tenens to compensate for staffing issues.
Locum Tenens as Emergency Medical Professionals
There are more than 100 million emergency room visits in the United States per year, and the demand for such care has been steadily increasing. Because of this increased need for ER staff, more hospitals are turning to locum tenens to fill the void and retain optimal levels of patient care.
Meeting a Demand for ER Care
Even with changes to health care coverage and availability, many people are still in the habit of only seeking care when it’s absolutely necessary. Because of this ongoing trend, there’s an increased demand for qualified ER doctors to provide sufficient care and help manage the patient load. More and more medical facilities are seeking to enhance their ER staff with temporary physicians. According to various estimates, anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of hospitals now use locum tenens to fill ER positions and maintain sufficient staff levels.
Quickly Developing Skills and Competencies
For physicians willing to work in a variety of settings, locum tenen positions as emergency medical professionals present several unique opportunities. Working in an ER setting often means having to apply a variety of skills to address everything from unexplained aches and pains to serious injuries that require immediate attention.
Working in an ER as a locum tenen also means a chance to practically apply skills and demonstrate competencies that may make you a more appealing applicant for future positions, such as the ability to quickly assess symptoms to determine the best approach to care. In addition, pay rates are often higher for ER physicians.
Improving the Patient Experience
The increased reliance on locum tenens as emergency medical professionals also means you’ll be improving the overall patient experience. Well-staffed ERs are often more efficient and full-time doctors won’t be as fatigued from having to work extra hours to make up for staff shortages.
Adding locum tenens physicians to hospital staffs can reduce patient wait times and speed up the process of making a diagnosis, providing care and recommending follow-up treatment. Working in an ER is just one of several opportunities you’ll have as a locum tenen. It can be a rewarding experience because you’ll work with patients with a variety of needs, making your time a positive addition to your resume.
References:
1. Emergency Department Visits. Available at: “https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/emergency-department.htm”. Accessed April 21, 2017.
2. Emergency Medicine: The Good, the bad, and the ugly. Available at: “http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/750482”. Accessed April 21, 2017.
3. Demand Grows for Locum Tenens Emergency Medicine Physicians Nationwide. Available at: “https://www.staffcare.com/demand-grows-for-locum-tenens-emergency-medicine-physicians-nationwide/”. Accessed April 21, 2017.