Is Locum Tenens Work Right For You?
Whether you are at the stage in your career where you are looking to learn new skills or maybe you are someone who just completed physician’s training, there is a good reason why locum tenens can be a good career move for you. The ability to work as little or as much as you want has its benefits, which you can always use to your advantage.
The Benefits of Locum Tenens
While different physicians are at various career stages right now, there is always one benefit that a physician can relate to. Take a look at these benefits below and assess if it is time to give locum tenens work a try:
- Full Control of Your Work Schedule
Locum tenens work gives you full control of your work schedule. Do you want to work three times a week? Do you only want to work 4 hours a day? Do you want to work six months a year? All these options are possible because you are in the driver’s seat of your schedule.
- Travel and Work
Apart from being in control of your work schedule, you also have the luxury of picking where you want to work. Perhaps you want to try working and living in a different city, locum tenens work will let you do that. On top of the freedom, locum tenens staffing agencies usually cover travel fees and lodging costs as well. Basically, you are traveling while earning money.
- Test Drive
If you are fresh from training or just want to test the waters before fully committing to a health care facility, doing locum tenens is the best way to do that. Assess a new city before working there full time, check out different work environments, or better yet, test drive different work positions to see which is the perfect fit for you.
- Expand Your Skills
If you are already an accomplished and practicing physician, but you want to expand your skills, you can do that with locum tenens work. You can study or try a different position without leaving your current job and still keep your license.
- Earn Extra
For physicians who need extra income, like those who need to pay off student debts or medical school debts, locum tenens work is the perfect opportunity to earn money on the side.
- Retiring from Full-Time Medicine
Are you already planning your retirement? You do not have to quit your full-time physician job just yet. You can still practice medicine with part-time locum tenens assignments. Also, you can continue enjoying this line of work, but without the intense work hours and demanding responsibilities.
- Build a Network
By working in different places and facilities, you get to work with plenty of people—healthcare professionals and patients alike. This allows you to build your own network of professional and personal contacts, which will always come in handy later in your career.
- Focus on patient care
With less work, less responsibility, and less pressure, you can focus on providing quality healthcare to your patients. No more rushing into appointments or consultations just to meet the next patient in the queue. No more managing your solo practice. You can now give your full attention to your patient.
- Avoid burnout
Locum tenens work is one of the best ways to fight physician burnout, a problem that has plagued the healthcare industry for years. Since you will be in full control of your work schedule, there is minimal stress and pressure to meet the demands of a healthcare facility or establishment.
- Work-life balance
Best of all, you can achieve great work-life balance with locum tenens work. For female physicians, they can enjoy flexible hours while trying to balance raising a family and giving the family extra financial cushion at the same time. For male physicians who want to run a business and practice medicine at the same time, this is the perfect opportunity to do that, too.
Where are you at in your career now? Are you just starting out? Are you someone who wants to continue working, but can no longer commit to a full-time work schedule? If the benefits of locum tenens work interest you or if you want to know more about how to get started, feel free to call Adelphi Medical Staffing at 770.485.1684 or email us at [email protected].
