Why I work locum tenens as an orthopedic surgeon

Nicholas Kusnezov, MD, shares why he started working locum tenens and how this decision has benefited his career.

I first heard of locum tenens toward the end of my orthopedic residency, and it was by word of mouth from my colleagues. Staff surgeons would intermittently leave for a few days to cover call at other hospitals, and I caught wind of this from the more senior residents buzzing about how much money they were making pulling these shifts.

In my experience, most of us will hear about locums by word of mouth. However, locum agencies may sometimes contact you directly, for the most part because you were referred by a colleague or partner who already works with them. More often, though, you have to seek them out.

While locums has been extremely lucrative for me, what I’ve come to realize having worked locums for a good period of time now is that locums is about more than just the money.

Benefits of locum tenens for orthopedic surgeons — beyond the money

Locum tenens is an invaluable resource for several reasons. It not only affords a substantial supplemental income but also permits me to experience a variety of different practice settings, not only in terms of location but also in regard to the set-up and type of practice.

While you may choose to be a “professional locum,” most of us are looking to settle down at some point once we find the right fit. When selecting among the various jobs that are constantly available, you are in complete control of exactly what type of practice composition you take on and the type of cases you work on.

You might choose an ongoing bi-monthly weekend call, a one-time, two-week clinic stretch with or without elective cases, or a combination of all the above.

Often, hospitals seeking coverage — while the jobs may often be presented as temporary — are amenable to permanent positions if the fit is good. Locums therefore allows you to effectively “try out” and see if the practice is a good fit for you and vice versa.

The best advice I received early on was to get plugged in with locum tenens a few months prior to graduation from residency and to start the gears turning early. This way, I could secure future jobs while allotting sufficient time for licensing, credentialing, and so forth and ensuring a relatively seamless transition as I finished residency and went into practice.

Finishing residency or a fellowship? 6 reasons to consider locum tenens

Independent locums vs. agency locums as an orthopedic surgeon

If you’re sharp, you might ask: “Why go through a locum company and not just go straight to the source; cut out the middle man?” 

Clearly, locum tenens isn’t the only route through which you can find work outside your primary practice, and there are indeed advocates for contacting hospitals directly and avoiding the intermediary agency under the premise that you will make more money.

That is true for the most part, though the difference is usually marginal and comes at the cost of peace of mind. I work locums through an agency because it affords me that peace of mind.

Top locum tenens agencies: 6 companies to consider

Locum tenens agencies have the infrastructure in place. The agents have done and will do all the groundwork. They are privy to the constantly changing needs of hospitals nationwide. They supply a daily and ever-changing list of these hospitals and break each down for you in terms of practice setting, type of coverage, duration, and compensation. They will also negotiate your contracts for you.

Moreover, they take care of everything, including travel, lodging, transportation, and, perhaps most importantly, malpractice insurance. If I miss a flight, the agency will put me on the next one. I never have to worry about hotel vacancy or proximity. And I don’t have to purchase my own malpractice, which is extremely expensive and cumbersome to maintain.

When you’re headed into a foreign environment to work among people you haven’t met before in a system you’re unfamiliar with, having the all-inclusive care of the locum agency puts you at ease.

In summary, I work locum tenens because it allows me to maintain my skill set, gives me the freedom to expand my scope of practice as I see fit, substantially supplements my income, and takes care of me.

If you’re an orthopedic surgeon interested in working a locum tenens position with Weatherby Healthcare, call 954.343.3050 to speak to a consultant or click the button below to search today’s jobs.