A Physician’s Guide to Working as a Locum Tenens

Article Figures & Data

Table 1.

Resources for Locum Tenens Positions.

American Academy of Family Physicians: www.aafp.org/practice/locumtenens.html

American College of Physicians: www.acponline.org

New England Journal of Medicine Career Links: www.nejm.org/careerlinks

National Association of Physician Recruiters and National Association of Locum Tenens Organization: www.napr.org or 800-726-5613

Table 2.

Questions to Ask When Considering a Locum Tenens Position.

Review of contract: is there an “out” clause should the position be unsatisfactory?
What type of malpractice insurance, occurrence or claims made, is offered? What is the rating of the malpractice carrier?
What is the range of opportunities? This answer is particularly important if you want full-time work, yet the positions might be short-term. Are there positions for family physicians?
What is the credentialing process like? Does the agency handle licensing, hospital privileges, and so on? Is there a cost to the locum tenens?
Are 24-hour administrative support services by the company and risk management services available?
What is the payroll history of the company? How often does the locum tenens get paid and when will the physician receive the first paycheck? Will the agency pay even if the client does not pay them? Will the locum tenens be compensated for travel time, call, obstetrics, etc?
What are the specific responsibilities of the position? Ask about hours to be worked, call, obstetrics.
What are the available resources in the area? Are consultants readily available? What services does the hospital offer?
Especially in rural areas, how are patients transferred to higher level facilities? Will the locum tenens be expected to travel with patients on ground or air transports?
What happens in case of personal illness?
What type of accommodation will be provided?