COVID turned the world of healthcare upside down. While some physicians saw an overwhelming increase in patients — especially in specialties like respiratory, pulmonology, and critical care — many saw demands decline as elective procedures were canceled or patients felt uncomfortable coming into a hospital or facility.
This past year, things started to shift. Demand gradually made a comeback, hitting 2019 patient volumes in June and July in almost all specialties. Although waves of COVID are still impacting patient volume today, hospitals are still experiencing pre-COVID levels of patients and in some specialties that demand is even higher than pre-COVID levels.
With demand increasing, and a physician shortage looming, there’s no better time to be a physician than now.
Adapting to COVID challenges
Hospitals have learned ways to adapt to the challenges brought on by COVID. According to a study by McKinsey & Company, more than 50% of hospitals surveyed expanded clinic hours to increase outpatient access and about 30% increased physician productivity expectations. In addition, facilities are expanding their approach to meeting patient needs, including incorporating telemedicine into their patient-care strategy, optimizing OR scheduling, and shifting surgeries to outpatient settings.
Not only does this create a better experience for patients, but it also increases opportunities for physicians to approach work differently like working in telemedicine roles or working different hours.
A physician’s market
The pandemic has underscored the vital role physicians and other healthcare providers play in our country’s healthcare infrastructure. So, hospitals and facilities should be concerned that the U.S. could see an estimated shortage of 37,800 – 124,000 physicians by 2034, including shortfalls in both primary and specialty care. Even more concerning, the extreme stress and overwork brought on by COVID has healthcare providers leaving their jobs at high rates.
The good news is the demand for physicians is at an all-time high, giving you more options on when and how you want to work. This also gives you negotiating power — not just with salary, but other things just as important like paid time off and growth opportunities.
More options than just full-time employment
Similar to the need for full-time providers, the need for locums doctors has never been higher. And working locums has helped numerous physicians deal with the challenges and stresses that COVID has induced — including burnout.
Nearly half of U.S. physicians have experienced burnout at some point in their career, and the tremendous pressure that COVID has put on healthcare providers has only increased that stress and burnout even more. To fight their burnout, physicians are turning to alternative options like locum tenens. Dr. J. Bradley Hassell turned to locums after realizing he spent most of his days at work, leaving little time to spend with his family. Dr. Roseann Freundel was tired of dealing with the politics and committees that took her away from your patients. Now, she works locums full time, allowing her to focus more on patient care. Whatever the reason for your burnout, there are alternatives to traditional full-time medicine — you just have to be willing to take the leap.
This article first appeared on LinkedIn.
