Older Physicians Turning to Locum Tenens

by Rob Berton | Jan 19, 2018 | Locum Tenens, Uncategorized | 0 comments

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.

References:

[1] http://www.physicianspractice.com/performance/should-physicians-have-mandatory-retirement-age

[2] http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20160611/NEWS/306119999/modern-healthcare-readers-reject-mandatory-retirement-age

[3] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ama-seeks-to-test-older-physicians-states-association-of-american-physicians-and-surgeons-300097734.html

Working for a Locum Tenens Agency vs a Medical Group

by Rob Berton | Dec 21, 2017 | Locum Tenens, Uncategorized | 0 comments

A recent survey[1] showed that there are now 48,000 physicians who work as locum tenens. Three years ago, this number was just 44,000. Back in 2002, there were only 26,000 physicians. The growing number may signal to other people who work in the healthcare industry that there are indeed benefits when working as locum tenens.

Many physicians who face the choice of whether to work in a locum tenens agency or a medical group often lean toward the latter. Being a “placeholder” can have several perks.

Opportunity to Be More Selective

When you choose to be a locum tenens provider, you can be more selective regarding the positions you will work on. For instance, you can opt for assignments in underrepresented states or in areas where you have family roots. You may also work on behalf of veterans, Indian Services or other special health organizations.

Gain Skills and Enjoy New Hobbies

If you are a physician, you might think that no time exists for you to have a hobby. With locum tenens, it is possible. Since you can seek out assignments that you prefer, you can gain skills that you know would offer you an advantage.

The schedule is also flexible. After the locums task, you can go straight to your home without worries about your job. This is why locum tenens is considered a family-friendly assignment.[2]

It Is Not About Productivity

When you work with a medical group, oftentimes you need to focus on being more productive rather than treating your patients. Agencies consider you as an independent contractor[3], so you get paid based on the number of hours you work. On the other hand, medical groups might require the physician to complete certain procedures. Therefore, the focus is on meeting the numbers and not the patients, which is one thing that doesn’t occur with a locums assignment.

If you have ever encountered a recruiter from a locum tenens agency and he or she promised you that you will earn more money, you may have found it hard to believe. Medical groups are often regarded as high-paying employers, but many times agencies may provide better compensation. They also reimburse housing and gasoline expenses among other expenses.

References:

[1] https://www.staffcare.com/survey-use-of-temporary-locum-tenens-physicians-increasing/

[2] https://www.nalto.org/locum-tenens-family-friendly/

[3] https://www.medpagetoday.com/kevinmd/41085