Locum Tenens Tips

Locum Tenens and Other Alternative Careers for Physicians

Woman writing outside

Woman writing outsideRemember when you were a child and people asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Was your answer always, “I want to be a doctor”?

Not all physicians grew up knowing they’d become a healthcare provider. Perhaps they had dreams of a different career, but somewhere along the line chose medicine. That choice doesn’t mean the dream career just faded away. Perhaps the thought of it still lingers.

Maybe you always envisioned becoming a doctor but now count yourself among the growing number of physicians feeling the sting of burnout. Some doctors have considering leaving medicine to pursue nonclinical careers or, at least, supplementing their professional lives with another endeavor. Fortunately, these physicians have become entrepreneurs, writers, teachers and consultants and can choose any number of alternative careers, including working locum tenens jobs.

Locum Tenens

The schedule flexibility of a locum tenens career allows room for other pursuits. Because you decide when and where to accept temporary contracts, you have the freedom to take time off to study for another degree or fulfill business interests. At the same time, locum tenens assignments enable you to maintain an active medical practice without a full-time commitment.

Career Coach

If you’re thinking about switching professional paths, connecting with a career coach can help define a plan. If you’ve already been double dipping in the career pool, then share your knowledge with others. For example, if you’ve achieved commercial success, aid business beginners with developing a business plan, mission statement, or strategy to launch a new endeavor. Whatever your expertise, paying it forward helps grow a professional network that could, in turn, bring more success to you as either a clinician or business person.

Writer

From blogger to novelist to healthcare journalist to continuing medical education (CME) contributor, there are many genres through which to express yourself in writing. If you want a creative outlet, set up a blog where you share ideas and thoughts. Then take it to the next level by promoting it through professional and social networks—the more visitors to the blog, the more likely it’ll gain advertisers and earn income. If you want to share your medical expertise, submit article suggestions to health websites such as KevinMD.com or academic articles to professional journals. Inquire with pharmaceutical companies or businesses that develop CME courses about opportunities to contribute as a freelance writer. For more information on medical writing opportunities and qualifications, check out the American Medical Writers Association.

Motivational or Expert Speaker

Not all physicians can become a network regular like CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta. However, community groups and senior organizations often invite medical experts to speak at meetings. Corporations and universities also feature guest speakers. Such engagements are a chance to showcase your expertise and disseminate health information to an interested audience. But you don’t have to limit your presentations to medical topics. You also could speak about personal experiences others might find inspirational or business lessons you’ve learned from managing a private practice. This alternative career option does require self-marketing to make organizations aware of your qualifications and availability.

Consultant

Physicians operating a private practice or leading a hospital department are by definition business and personnel managers. Doctors who accept multiple locum tenens contracts work within different management styles and systems and can determine which elements work well and which ones don’t produce positive results. This knowledge can be valuable to other settings through consulting services. Physicians also have the clinical knowledge to confer with pharmaceutical and insurance companies and be called as expert witnesses in legal proceedings. Even elected officials may need a medical opinion regarding healthcare-related legislation.

Entrepreneur

Do you have a new product or an invention you’ve created? Could that concept or prototype launch a business venture? You may also want to invest in an established business, like a franchise, to set up another revenue source. There are plenty of physicians-turned-entrepreneurs who combine medicine with commerce.

If you want to explore alternative career possibilities but don’t want to leave medicine behind, call a Weatherby Healthcare consultant today to learn how locum tenens can provide you with the balance you seek.

About the author

Anne Baye Ericksen

Anne Baye Ericksen is a journalist and locum tenens subject-matter expert with more than two decades of experience. She was a regular contributor to LocumLife, Healthcare Traveler and Healthcare Staffing and Management Solutions magazines.

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