Locum Link

• Locum Tenens Jobs Help Parents Strike Balance

  June 23rd, 2010

  Physicians who are parents face difficult work-life choices. I’m reminded of this in my conversations with many of our candidates. Mothers and fathers are sometimes reluctant to consider assignments that take them away from their children.

  A recent article in Locum Life magazine offers good advice for first-time or long-time locum tenens physicians who feel the tug of family responsibilities when they travel.  One great idea from the article is to hold a family meeting before your assignment to discuss why your career involves trips away from home. 

  Locum Leaders CMO Bob Harrington, MD adds, “it’s best to let your family know where you’re working, your contact information, hours that you’re working, and good and bad times to get in touch with you.” And take particular care to explain to younger children why you need to leave home. “I think it needs to be portrayed in a positive light,” he advises.

  Work-life choices are also highlighted in a job satisfaction survey I recently came across on MomMD.com. The survey found a strong correlation between hours worked and a desire to leave the practice of medicine.  Women who worked more than 50 hours a week as an attending physician were almost twice as likely to want leave medicine as those who worked less than 50 hours a week.

  If you seek a better balance, locum tenens jobs offer a viable alternative to full-time employment. Many locum assignments don’t require travel and can provide consistent part-time income for parents who want to adjust their schedules.

  Tags: locum tenens, physician jobs, work
  Posted in Ask The Recruiter | Comments Off

• Five Reasons To Attend Medical Conferences

  April 6th, 2010

  One sure sign of spring is the number of physician conferences that are happening over the next few months.  Locum Leaders be at many of them, which has me thinking about reasons you should attend professional events as a locum tenens provider.  Here are five that come to mind:

  Enhance your education.   Your skills are what keep you marketable as a physician job seeker and locum tenens.  If you can get most or all of your CME out of the way for the year at a single conference, then that’s a pretty good use of your time.  You might even learn a thing or two.

  Catch up on health care reform.   Most of the major medical conferences have sessions on health care reform.  These are great opportunities to dig into the specifics of the recently passed federal healthcare legislation and learn more about what organized medicine is doing to protect your interests.

  Network with hiring managers.  The exhibit halls at medical conferences are typically filled with recruiters of all types.  Those representing agencies, like ours, as well as direct hiring managers from hospitals and clinics are on hand to learn more about you.  It’s a great way to get your name out in a short amount of time, and to meet recruiters face-to-face to discuss your ideal work scenario.

  Take a breather.  An interesting or new locale is always a good reason to take in a medical conference.  Use the event as an excuse to squeeze in a little sightseeing or some well deserved down time.  The old adage about “all work and no play” is true for doctors, too. Even a brief break from patient care can reinvigorate you and perhaps provide a new perspective on physician life.

  Take a write-off.  As a locum tenens, your conference expenses may be tax deductable (check with your tax professional). 

  Can you think of other reasons?   If so, perhaps we’ll see you soon at an upcoming conference.

  Tags: conference, locum tenens, physician
  Posted in Ask The Recruiter | No Comments »

• Five New Year’s Resolutions for Locum Tenens

  January 8th, 2010

  A new year is a great time to revisit some of the elements required for locum tenens success. The 2010 job market promises to be an active one, and the simple tips below will keep you prepared for the next opportunity.

  Update your CV. Are you current with recent work experiences, address and other contact information? What about the addition of new skills, licenses, publications or certifications? If you haven’t checked out your CV in a while, chances are it’s time for a quick review and revision.

  Refresh your References. You’ll need three to five strong references for almost any job, but keep a longer list ready just in case some of your contacts are unreachable. Make sure your references include previous supervisors (not just peers), and don’t hesitate to ask for a new reference at the end of a positive locum assignment. If you’re listing someone you haven’t spoken with in a while, now is a great time to reach out and renew that relationship. Remind the individual that you are still listing them as a professional reference, and consider asking them to write a newly dated reference letter.

  Acquire New Licenses. Want to work in sunny Florida? Then you better have a Florida license (unless you plan to work at a federal facility). If you have your eye on locum work in a new locale, now is the time to become licensed in your states of choice. Remember that licensure in some states can take three months or longer, so don’t delay. It’s also a good time to check on certifications (like ACLS) to be sure you are up to date and, if not, renew as applicable.

  Organize your Locum Life. Working as a locum tenens requires some organization. Some tips: Keep a log of assignments and facilities to which you’ve been submitted. Keep a folder of expenses and pay information for tax purposes. Maintain electronic files of references and other common locum tenens paperwork, and transfer copies to a flash drive so you have them on the road for easy access.

  Talk to Your Recruiter. The best way to book consistent locum work that meets your goals is to partner with a recruiter who knows your interests, pay expectations, skills and availability. Even if you have worked with a recruiter or firm in the recent past, a periodic check-in is a good idea. Have your personal circumstances changed? Do you have more or less availability than you have had in the past? Are there new locations you seek to work in? All of this information will help you and your recruiter build a plan to keep you happily employed throughout the year.

  Tags: 2010, locum tenens, recruiter
  Posted in Ask The Recruiter | No Comments »

• Four Common Myths Surrounding Locum Tenens

  September 9th, 2009

  Every once in a while, I have to remind myself that the concept of locum tenens is still foreign to some physicians and hiring institutions.

  Luckily, there are many resources that help explain the basics of locum tenens work, including this recent article featured on the career center at the NEJM.  In the article, author Bonnie Darves addresses common myths surrounding locum tenens.  See for yourself whether you agree or disagree with these statements:

  Myth:  Locum opportunities are scarce or limited to undesirable locations. 

  Reality:  Assignments are available in most parts of the country–in rural, suburban, and urban locales, and in varied types of practice environments, notes Darves.

  Myth: The locum lifestyle suits most physician personality types.

  Reality:  According to Darves, locums practice may be “a poor fit for physicians who either require a great deal of direction or desire a consistent work structure.” Conversely, she writes that being personable and prepared to fit in are key attributes for locum tenens success.

  Myth:  Locum tenens attracts doctors with spotty work histories or competency issues.

  Reality: “This is far from the truth,” says the author. “Physicians who work locums must have a good practice record and documentable skills and are as thoroughly vetted by hiring agencies as their counterparts seeking permanent positions. In addition, surveys show that hiring facilities routinely rate locums’ skills as very good.”

  Myth: Locum tenens doctors won’t be accepted by full-time colleagues at the hiring facility.

  Reality:  This might have been an issue three decades ago, says Darves, but that rarely happens now. “For the most part, colleagues are often so desperate for help or so concerned about the impact of short staffing on patient care that they welcome locums physicians wholeheartedly. Ideally, the physician contemplating a several-month assignment will have had either on-site or extensive phone discussions with prospective physician colleagues.”

  At Locum Leaders, we can help you separate myth from reality and find a suitable match for your career and lifestyle goals.  Contact us today to assist you in your job search.

  Tags: job search, lifestyle, locum tenens
  Posted in Ask The Recruiter | No Comments »

• Gear Up for Golf

  August 9th, 2009

  On this the week of golf’s final major championship for 2009 (the PGA championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club, August 13-16), our column takes a spin through the pro shop.   Check out these four golf gadgets that can increase your cool factor while lowering your score. 

  RadarGolf.  If your tee shots find the trees more often than the fairway, then RadarGolf may be for you.  Using tiny sensors inside USGA-conforming golf balls, the RadarGolf system comes with a handheld receiver tuned to listen for an audio signal from the ball. The signal gets louder as you hone in on your wayward ball.  $179.99 at intheholegolf.com.

  Callaway idTECH Rangefinder.  Forget hard-to-find yardage markers.  This precision scope has a measurement range of up to 550 yards (+/- one yard accuracy) and incline/decline technology, which adjusts yardage for up or down slopes. An external LCD view shows the range, angle and compensation yardage needed for your shot. $429.95 at CallawayGolf.com.

  Adams Idea Tech a4OS Hybrids.  If you haven’t put a hybrid (or two) in your golf bag yet, then start with the brand billed as the “#1 hybrid on tour.”  The Idea Tech a40S (available in Men’s and Women’s) promises more forgiveness, higher ball flights and extra distance.  $119.95 at Edwin Watts Golf.

  Evolve epoch golf tees.  This is truly a ‘green tee.’ Manufactured from biocomposite material that is 100% biodegradable, the Epoch is less likely to break compared to wooden tees. This performance golf tee has small posts that span the width of a golf ball dimple, lowering friction at impact, while increasing ball speed and control.  50 pk $5.95 at Intheholegolf.com

  Tags: golf gear, locum tenens, MD, tees
  Posted in Gear & Gadgets | No Comments »

• Understanding Malpractice Coverage for Locum Tenens

  July 1st, 2009

  A recent article in Medical Economics by Bryan Kern, JD, suggests that locum tenens doctors should better understand tail coverage. 

  I couldn’t agree more.

  As a provider, you should have assurances that you’re protected beyond your temporary assignment, even if your locum tenens firm changes their insurance carrier or goes out of business.

  Many locum tenens/staffing agencies offer claims-made coverage.  Locum Leaders offers occurrence coverage, which provides more comprehensive protection.

  Claims-made policies, according to Kern, “offer only temporary coverage, which expires unless it is either renewed or continued through the purchase of extended reporting coverage, a ‘tail.’”

  With occurrence malpractice insurance, the coverage trigger is whether the incident in question took place during the policy effective dates.  That means you don’t need to worry about tail coverage or insurance carrier changes or whether the staffing agency will maintain coverage for your prior activities into the indefinite future.

  If you decide to work with a staffing organization that only offers claims-made coverage, it is in your best interests to know the details of the tail coverage. Are the limits sufficient? Is the tail coverage shared by a large number of doctors? Will coverage cease before the statute of limitations expires?  These are all important questions to ask.

  Tags: insurance, locum tenens, malpractice, tail coverage
  Posted in Ask The Recruiter | No Comments »

• What to Ask When You Don’t Know What to Ask

  June 23rd, 2009

  A question I get asked with some regularity goes something like this:  “How does this whole locum tenens thing work?”

  Admittedly broad and open-ended, it’s usually someone’s way of saying, “I’m interested in locum tenens, but I’ve never done it and don’t know what to expect.”  It’s a conversation starter that often leads to a series of more specific questions about pay, travel, insurance, credentialing—you name it.

  The reality of my job as a recruiter is that I provide a lot of education to our potential candidates.  I try to help you understand whether locum tenens is a fit for your current or future situation, and then we’ll usually end up talking in greater detail about the specifics and logistics of a locum tenens assignment.

  Resources for Research
  If you’re just starting your research on locum tenens, let me recommend a few resources.  For starters, check our website and our Frequently Asked Questions page.  Other great web-based resources are NALTO, the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations, and LocumLife, a publication dedicated exclusively to locum tenens physicians.

  Another tip:  talk to someone who does locum tenens.  You may know a friend or someone at your current workplace and they can be a good resource for advice.

  The bottom line is, don’t worry if you don’t know the right questions to ask—just start asking.  I’m here to help, so call or email anytime and let’s get started!

  Tags: FAQ, locum tenens, recruiting
  Posted in Ask The Recruiter | No Comments »

• Locum Tip: Take Better Travel Photos

  June 19th, 2009

  If you’re like many traveling locum tenens, you’re just as likely to pack a digital camera in your bag this summer as you are a stethoscope. 

  In search of some quick pointers to help you shoot better travel photos, we came across sound advice from the Brave New Traveler website.  Among their tips:

  Use your flash outside. Using flash outdoors brings a new dimension to your photos and can help eliminate harsh shadows created by high, strong sunlight.

  Move in close. When photographing a person or something roughly the same size as a person, take a step or two closer before taking the picture and zoom in on your subject. Your goal is to fill the picture area with the subject you are photographing. Don’t get too close, however, or your pictures will be blurry.

  The rule of thirds. Bring some added dimension to your photo by simply moving your subject away from the middle of your picture. Imagine a three by three grid in your viewfinder and position your subject within one of the intersections of these lines.

  Go vertical. If you have never turned your camera sideways to take a picture, you’re missing out! All sorts of things look better in vertical. From a lighthouse on the edge of a cliff to the Eiffel Tower blazing with lights to your dog splashing around in a puddle.

  Need more inspiration?  Check out the website of Naomi Liu, the photographer who authored these tips, as well as the beautiful travel photography of physician Bill Yeaton, a longtime locum tenens physician.

  Tags: camera, locum tenens, photography, Travel
  Posted in Travel | No Comments »

• Can Locum Tenens Improve My Work-Life Balance?

  June 2nd, 2009

  As a recruiter, I often talk about locum tenens as a way to earn extra pay above and beyond a salaried position.  But for physicians who want to reduce their hours or have greater autonomy over their schedule, locum tenens is an equally viable option.

  A new American Medical Group Association report on physician retention highlights the challenges of striking a work-life balance.  The survey shows that many physicians leave a group practice to move closer to family or to simply reduce their workload. 

  The report adds that women 39 and under are significantly more likely to leave a medical practice than their male counterparts.

  In another recent survey of women in healthcare, only 9% of women rated themselves as “very satisfied” with their work-life balance.  Respondents reported that at least once each week they had to make choices between work and family.

  Becoming a locum tenens physician isn’t a cure-all for work-related stresses, but it does allow you to practice medicine without the worries of managing a practice or chasing reimbursement and other administrative hassles. In addition, consider these benefits:

  • Locum tenens gives you choice and flexibility, allowing you to decide when, where and how often you work.
  • Locum tenens jobs can be close to home or travel assignments. While some doctors associate locums work with relocation or travel, the reality is that many locum tenens providers only accept shifts in their immediate area.
  • Locum work can ease a career transition.  If you want to re-enter the workforce after an extended leave or if you are between full-time positions and don’t want to make a permanent commitment, locum tenens is a great option.

  As a critical care nurse, recruiter and parent, I appreciate the work-life choices that impact your career decisions.  If Locum Leaders can help with your unique situation, don’t hesitate to let us know.

  Tags: career, Locum Leaders, locum tenens, schedule, work-life balance
  Posted in Ask The Recruiter | No Comments »

• Review your Retirement Readiness

  May 4th, 2009

  It’s a sign of our troubled economic times. As American Medical News reports, many retired physicians, who thought they had their finances in order, are now re-entering the workforce to recoup their losses after the recent market meltdown.

  If you’re retired or nearing retirement, you undoubtedly took a big hit in the past year.  But if you’re younger, you have a longer time horizon in which to make up losses and put your financial house back in order.  But where to start?  Should you lower your debt?  Take on more locum tenens work?  Change your investments?

  You Need a Plan
  My first recommendation is to create a personal retirement plan working with a trusted financial advisor.  Don’t be daunted by the thought of working with an advisor (ideally, a certified financial planner) or the planning itself, because it’s fundamentally a three-step process.  If you and your advisor follow these steps, you’ll be far ahead of most Americans in terms of your preparedness.

  The first step is determine a savings goal for retirement.  That means figuring out much money you are you going to need to live well, however you define that, when you stop working. To do that you need to assess your financial needs for retirement and, in essence, project a budget for the future.  You will need to estimate all of your potential sources of income (social security, pensions, investments, etc) and all of your potential expenses (healthcare, housing, travel, etc). 

  To help with this type of goal setting, an online retirement planning calculator is a surprisingly easy and informative tool that can be a great starting point.

  Charting your Path
  Once you’ve determined your retirement goal, step two is to figure out if you’re on a realistic path to reach that goal.  That path is different for different people and there are a variety of factors to review and consider.  What is your current and anticipated future income?  Is your current spending in check?  Are you maximizing retirement plans, such as 401Ks and IRAs?  Are you diversifying your investments to mitigate risk?

  Working with your advisor, it’s a fairly straight forward process to take your retirement goal, evaluate your current status toward your goal, and then to put a plan in place to ensure that you meet the goal.

  The final step is one of annual review and assessment.  Your retirement plan is like a business plan it needs to be constantly updated and re-evaluated to ensure that it’s still sound.  During an annual meeting with your advisor, you can revise your plan to accommodate unanticipated life changes, like disability or job loss, or more positively, a financial windfall, like an inheritance.

  If you don’t currently work with a financial advisor, this search tool can help you find a certified financial planner in your area.  I’ll also devote future blog posts to financial planning.

  Tags: financial planning, locum tenens, retirement, savings
  Posted in Money | No Comments »