If you work regularly as a locum tenens, you often return to the same location. But just as often you’re “the newcomer” in a facility where you’ve never worked.
It can be a little daunting and you may feel, well, a little out of place.
Fortunately, no matter how long or short your assignment, the hospital where you are working is invested in your success. So most will do what they can to orient you and integrate you into their team as quickly as possible.
At some hospitals, you’ll participate in a formal orientation program. These programs are helpful, but can vary from location to location in terms of quality and duration. On some assignments, your orientation will be comprehensive, while on others, it may be brief and somewhat informal–so be prepared for all of these possibilities.
One approach to hit the ground running is to be pro-active in your information gathering. Try using a self-orientation checklist to ensure that you know everything you need to know to be successful in your locum tenens assignment. Our Chief Medical Officer recommends the list below as a starting point for hospitalists. If you’re in a different specialty or work outside of a hospital, you can modify this list accordingly.
A final tip: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It shows interest on your part and a commitment to quality patient care.
Orientation to the Hospital
Program Office
ICU
ED
Physicians Lounge
On-Call Room
Medical/ Surgical Units
Orientation to the Medical Records
CPOE Brief version(if appropriate)
Review of normal patient chart
Standardized Orders – access and use
How to retrieve old records
MAR/Pharmacy records access
Patient Documentation
Billing System Orientation
Online orientation for electronic system, if available
Paper based system explanation/workflow
Medical Director Briefing
Job specific requirements:
Pre-op clinic
Code coverage
Procedures
“Special” admissions for hospitalist program
Rapid Response Team
Key medical staff relationships
Case management interface, if appropriate
Patient Handoff Process
