When you need to fill healthcare positions, you can get the job done on your own, or you can call upon the services of a professional recruiter. There are pros and cons to each approach, but in general, using a recruiter is the more beneficial way to go. Consider just a few of the key benefits.
It Saves Time
Recruiting on your own is a serious time investment. One or more of your managers will have to take the time to write out a job description, broadly distribute it, reach out to candidates and potential candidates, properly vet all candidates and schedule people for interviews. Someone in your organization might have the time and skill for this, but often, that is not the case. A professional, independent recruiter can take care of the recruitment process while your staff focuses on their own work.[1]
It Saves Costs
Going through an outside recruiter is often less expensive than having your team do recruiting in-house. The costs of having your own managers recruit candidates balloons quickly. Between overhead costs, benefits, their cost per hour and the lost progress they could be making in other revenue-generating areas, hiring an independent recruiter starts to look like a bargain.[2] You will also get more experienced help and value for your money.
You Get Clearly Defined Job Descriptions
One major advantage of using a recruiter versus doing it alone is that it forces you to pinpoint exactly what you are looking for. A good job description is key to attracting quality people who will meet the needs of your organization to the role. A recruiter can ask the right questions and come up with a solid job description that will be targeted to the healthcare providers you need. For example, you might not know that someone with an Indian Service background would be a preferred candidate, and a recruiter can make that connection for you.
You Can Attract (and Keep) the Best Candidates
Accomplishing these two things is generally much more challenging than healthcare organizations think it will be. This is particularly true for locum tenens providers because you want the best, most qualified physicians to fill in and service your patients. You will also need to find them quickly and frequently. Recruiters know the right places to look for candidates and what motivates candidates to want to apply for a job. During calls, they know where to steer the conversation in order to get the most relevant information, such as a related hobby, out of each potential candidate. They are also going to know how to treat candidates so that the best talent doesn’t lose interest in the position.
More and more physicians, especially seasoned ones, are turning to locum tenens because it provides them more benefits, including more revenue and freedom.
The Benefits of Locum Tenens for Older Physicians
In the U.S., mandatory retirement where professionals are compelled to stop working is illegal when they reach a certain age. However, there are exceptions, such as pilots who should retire at 65. As for physicians, there is no law mandating when they should retire.
However, those involved in the medical field do not have to choose when they should retire[1] or whether they will work full time or not. There is an option that is a worthwhile compromise: locum tenens. In English, this Latin phrase means “placeholder.”
Mandatory Retirement Among Physicians
An online poll[2] showed that 73% of the respondents were against the so-called forced retirement for aging physicians. And 77% of them did say there should be assessment programs to test if the physicians were still capable of handling their patients and their various conditions.
Working in healthcare usually means a person should have excellent health. It is a demanding industry with many important duties. Furthermore, no recruiter would be willing to hire someone who lacks fine motor skills as well as perfect hand-eye coordination. These issues are sometimes present among people who are aging.
Advantages of Locum Tenens
The American Medical Association (AMA) has agreed to create guidelines for assessing physical and mental health.[3] Based on their findings, one out of four doctors in the U.S. is older than 65 years old. In other industries, this particular age may be troublesome, but a medical provider is highly valued for his or her experience.
Those who are not planning to retire just yet but do not want to bury themselves in mountains of medical work will find locum tenens work beneficial. The temporary nature of the assignments offers terrific opportunities for extra income. There is also the benefit of gaining freedom from routines and tedious responsibilities.
Locum tenens gives flexibility in shaping a physician’s schedule. It may even be a great time to start a hobby. Support from locum tasks gives physicians an opportunity to make sure their skills are up to date. Professionals are needed throughout the country and for specialized programs like Indian Services.
Locums is almost like semi-retirement for the older physicians. After 20 or 30 years of looking after patients and a regular work schedule, it can be a breath of fresh air. There is no need to quit the job that a doctor loves as they can still practice what they were trained to do.
While many people think that enjoying a hobby and attaining one’s professional goals are unrelated, leisure-time pursuits can help you succeed at work.
How Your Hobby Outside of Work Can Lead to Success
Contrary to what some may believe, a hobby is not a waste of time. Making time for a hobby every week can offer plenty of benefits, and this is certainly true for physicians and other healthcare workers. Hobbies can help you learn new skills and properly balance your work and home life. Enjoying a hobby can even help you establish important contacts outside of work.
One study found that those who engaged in hobbies performed better at a nine-to-five job than those who did not.[1] If you are interested in working as a healthcare provider, you may want to consider a healthful hobby to help you reduce the stress and meet the physical demands of working with patients. Hobbies that are even somewhat physically challenging can help lower blood pressure and promote a healthy weight.[2]
How Your Hobby Can Impress a Job Recruiter
Although employment recruiters definitely look at academic achievements and work history when narrowing down a list of candidates for a position, they are not the only things that matter. Today, more and more hiring managers are looking at a candidate’s personal interests to learn about skills that might not be reflected in their work or educational backgrounds.[3]
In addition to boosting self-confidence and improving mood, hobbies can develop desirable traits such as discipline and focus. Hobbies that could be attractive to a potential employer include playing an instrument and volunteering for nonprofit groups such as an Indian service or mental health service provider.[3]
How to Use Your Hobbies to Stand Out from the Crowd
While there is no exact formula for highlighting your hobbies, you’ll want to consider the skills that your employer may be looking for. For instance, if you want to demonstrate your ability to work in a group, highlighting your experience with team sports may be a good idea.[3]
Finding Time for a Hobby
The busy lives of physicians and other medical professionals may make it difficult to find time for a hobby, but there are options that can help you pursue your passions. Taking locum tenens assignments can support a better work-life balance. Additionally, recent studies have shown that locum tenens physicians can earn up to 50 percent more than other doctors.[4] This means that locum tenens assignments can provide you with more time and more money to enjoy the things you love most.
According to a recent survey on physician staffing trends, 94 percent of healthcare facilities reported using locum tenens physicians in 2016.[1] At a time when clinics and hospitals are facing physician shortages and evolving delivery models, locum tenens doctors are playing an increasingly important role in providing medical care.
Why Healthcare Providers Are Turning to Locum Tenens Assignments
One of the main reasons that many physicians turn to locum tenens work is because it offers a more flexible schedule than traditional hospital or clinic placements. With a flexible schedule, physicians can choose when and where to work. Locum tenens assignments also provide physicians with benefits such as:
Diverse experience
Not everyone is ready to settle into a permanent position at one facility. Locum tenens enables a physician to try out various hospitals and healthcare services in different states.
More family time
With so many patients to care for, most professionals do not find enough time to be home with their family. Locum tenens allows physicians to stop thinking about work when they are away from the office.
More “me” time
With a flexible schedule, you can focus on a hobby and other personal interests. You can also use your free time to improve your skills.
More revenue
Some doctors use locum tenens to help supplement their income. If you find a recruiter who is searching for physicians willing to work in place of another physician, you may not want to pass up on the opportunity. It will provide you with new experiences as well as a paycheck.
Locum Tenens and Indian Health Services
Physicians who start taking locum tenens tasks can enjoy improved time management and develop a better attitude about their work. There are a few ways to begin as a locum tenens physician. Many doctors find this type of work through Indian service organizations. Working with Indian services can be rewarding because it gives you the ability to meet the medical needs of underserved Native populations affected by disproportionate disease burdens.[2]
Many physicians endorse locum tenens because of the wonderful volunteer opportunities it gives them, thanks to their flexible schedules.
Great Volunteer Opportunities for Locum Tenens Physicians
A locum tenens provider is in a unique position to become involved in volunteer opportunities because they can take control of their schedules. Volunteering to be a part of locum tenens can be done at home and anywhere you may be, even during the time you have your medical assignments.
Volunteer Opportunities for Busy Healthcare Professionals
Physicians are normally away from home for several weeks to months, which is why trying to give back may not seem practical. A one-time volunteer opportunity or those that only require short-term participation can be ideal. Going door to door for a campaign, chaperoning a youth group’s camping trip, or helping put up a first-aid tent for a charity biking event are just some of the ideas for volunteering.
The activities for volunteer work are great opportunities that enable meeting new people, not just the patients. They also help physicians stay connected in the community while doing a good deed for others.
How Locum Tenens Providers Help in Creating Volunteer Opportunities
Physicians have control over their schedule[1], which makes it realistic to provide help and offer skills that are valuable to medical missions. In states like Alaska and Arizona, you can volunteer with Indian Services even as you provide locum tenens services to these underrepresented populations.
Local and Abroad
Some physicians choose to help during natural disasters. The American Red Cross is one of the organizations that assists people in times of flood, hurricane, earthquake and fire. You can contact them or find a recruiter who you can talk to about how you can be of service.
You may think that if you have assignments, you can no longer be involved in volunteer work. However, one of the benefits of locum tenens is that you can travel [2] and still have time to enjoy your favorite hobby.
If you are in an unfamiliar state or region, you can always find opportunities for volunteer work through local charities, churches, schools, and animal shelters.[3] Some senior centers also allow physicians to help in their activities. During the holidays, many organizations support rescue missions and extra hands are generally appreciated at hospitals.
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