What Is Locum Tenens?

Locum tenens is temporary employment for physicians. Most locum tenens positions are designed to fill staffing gaps for regular physicians who are on leave. There are a number of reasons why physicians would consider a locum tenens position. However, there are also concerns which must be addressed when considering temporary employment as a physician.

What Is Locum Tenens?

• Locum tenens is Latin and means "to substitute for." A physician in a locum tenens appointment takes the place of another physician during an extended absence, such as for a maternity leave or a sabbatical. However, the understanding is that the appointment is temporary.

Requirements and Compensation

• While different agencies may have specific requirements, the basic requirements for a locum tenens appointment are: U.S. residency training; eligibility to work in the United States; one or more medical practice licenses in good standing and active federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration. The placement agency is usually responsible for obtaining any additional licenses required for the locum tenens physician.

  Most locum tenens physicians operate as independent contractors and register with one or more placement agencies. Pay rates vary; however, it is customary for the placement agency to provide malpractice insurance and lodging at no cost to the physician.

Advantages

• Locum tenens appointments allow physicians to experience a number of practice settings, as well as possibly expanding their skill sets. The opportunity to travel is another advantage of locum tenens positions. Locum tenens appointments also make it easier for physicians to schedule their own hours, which is often important for older practitioners who are not ready to retire completely. Finally, much of the burden of a practice, such as billing and liability insurance, is handled by the placement agency.

Disadvantages

• Physicians seeking the stability of an established practice could find life as a locum tenens physician challenging. It is also important to ensure that liability insurance is included, especially with long-term assignments. Between assignments, maintaining malpractice coverage is left to the physician. While pay as a locum tenens physician is often comparable to pay in an established practice, it is left to the physician to ensure that she obtains enough assignments to generate a desired level of income.

Finding Locum Tenens Appointments

• Physicians usually register with one or more locum tenens placement organizations (see Resources). Most agencies will require registration and will thoroughly check the credentials and qualifications of each physician. This process can be lengthy. Additionally, placement agencies may do follow-up checks on registered physicians to ensure they still meet the requirements of the agency.