Are you curious about locum tenens jobs? Have you accepted a temporary assignment but would like to find out more about the career alternative?
Regardless if you’re new to the mobile lifestyle or a seasoned locum tenens professional, read on to learn more about how accepting temporary opportunities can benefit you and your career.
You can work locum tenens at any point of your career
For years, locum tenens was viewed as an end-of-career transition option. Older physicians pulled back on hours instead of making the abrupt move from working full time to not working at all. Although this remains a popular motivation, it’s by no means the only phase in a career in which to try locum tenens.
Physicians fresh out of residency use short-term assignments to test-drive various locales and clinical environments. Doctors mid-career use temporary positions to increase earning potential or as a chance to step outside their own practice routine.
You can work locum tenens full time
Even though locum tenens opportunities are short-term, you can turn them into a full-time career because you control the frequency and quantity of assignments you accept.
You do not have to accept every opportunity
Just like you can accept assignment after assignment to make locum tenens a full-time profession, you also can agree to as few contracts as you wish. The frequency of assignments is ultimately your decision.
You can accept long-term contracts
Temporary positions aren’t always just a few days or weeks. There are long-term locum tenens opportunities that last several weeks or even months. However, tax implications start kicking in when staying at one facility for a year or longer without breaks in contracts. If you’re interested in long-term assignments, talk with your consultant for more details.
You can have recurring contracts
If you make a strong connection with a facility’s staff, there’s often a possibility for subsequent assignments. Sometimes contracts arrange for clinicians to return once a month or every few weeks. In fact, this can be an effective approach for communities that cannot support specialists full-time but have a need for their expertise.
You can speed up licensing with the Interstate Licensure Compact
Since the Federation of State Medical Boards established the Interstate Licensure Compact in 2013, physicians have accepted positions in participating states without obtaining separate licenses for each. The Compact’s member medical boards agree to accept each other’s licenses.
What that means for physicians is you can accept opportunities in these states without having to go through the entire process of applying and waiting for new licenses. This enables you to accept assignments on short notice.
Many physicians may be considered for a single assignment
Oftentimes hospitals, outpatient centers and private practices work with more than one staffing agency and receive multiple physicians’ profile submissions. The phone interview is your chance to make a convincing argument that you’re the best doctor for the job.
You are responsible for paying taxes on locum tenens income
Locum tenens physicians are neither employees of the facility seeking additional clinicians nor the staffing company through which assignments are arranged. Instead, you work as independent contractors. That distinction is important because taxes are not withheld from payments during a contract.
You can travel with family and pets
Taking loved ones, even the four-legged variety, along on assignment is a great way to turn a contract into a working vacation or attend a special occasion as a family. Key in your consultant on the family’s plans so they can make appropriate travel and housing adjustments.
You have a team working to support you
From application to travel and housing to payroll, a credible locum tenens staffing firm has systems in place to make sure each experience goes as smoothly as possible. For example, if there are delays or flight cancellations, Weatherby Healthcare has a representative on call 24/7 to assist in rerouting you to an assignment.
Of course, your consultant becomes a most valuable person of the team because he or she is your go-to contact before, during, and after an assignment if you have any questions or concerns.
To learn even more about locum tenens jobs, call a Weatherby Healthcare consultant today.
