Refresh your CV. If you haven’t reviewed your CV in a while, chances are, it could use updating. See our tips and ensure that you’ve added all of your new skills, licenses and other relevant information since your last update.

 Enhance your skills. CME is a must, and if you’re going to do coursework, focus on classes that improve your skills and marketability. If you’re a hospitalist, consider procedures training. If your specialty demands other skills, make this the year that you get up to date.

Contact your References. A new job typically means reference checks—so when was the last time you reached out to someone you’re listing as an employment reference? If it’s been a while, a New Year’s greeting is a great excuse 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.

Check-in With Your Recruiter. While you’re doing outreach, renew that relationship with your recruitment professional.  Even if you have worked with a 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?  All of this information will help you and your recruiter build a plan to keep you happily employed throughout the year. (See our tips for building strong recruiter relationships).

Review your Licenses. Up to date licensure info is a must. Do you have yours handy? January is also a good time to get started on new licenses if you seek to move to or work in a new state in the new year. Locum Leaders can help get you started. We’ll often reimburse you for your license costs if you work for our firm in a new state.

Good luck in 2012! We look forward to hearing from you—and working with you—in the New Year.

But any medical career—whether working full-time or part-time—can put be stressful. Just because you take a locum job, doesn’t mean you’ll immediately achieve a healthy balance between your professional and personal responsibilities. It takes some effort on your part. Here are some ways to ensure that your locum life doesn’t overwhelm your family life.

Work with your recruiter. Let them know about your family and your personal goals and interests. They can help you find an assignment that allows for flexibility to work around these things.  And the more they know, the better they’ll be able to find an assignment that fits your lifestyle.

Planning and lists are your secret weapons. Keep your calendar handy so you’re always in the know about family events and milestones.  You can create a shared calendar online using sites like Google. Have your family go in and update it with activities and events, so you always have the latest schedule handy. Also, make a list of your priorities and goals. This helps you to focus on what you need and want to get done, so you can get to spending time with your family quicker.

Now that you’ve set your priorities, don’t be afraid to say no. For most people, work and family come first. So if you’re being asked to do something that would interfere with either, it’s ok to politely decline.

When it comes to family time, unplug. Give them your full attention. Though it might be hard to step away from your Blackberry for a few hours, spending quality time with your kids and spouse will make it worth the sacrifice.

There’s no secret formula when it comes to achieving the ultimate balance.  Whatever your perfect mix of family, friends, work and hobbies makes you feel fulfilled is what’s right for you.

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Share a complete, accurate employment history. Your recruiter needs all relevant information about past work, including disclosure of malpractice history, known credentialing issues, or gaps in employment. Employers seek reasonable explanations for past work issues. If you have concerns, a good recruiter will help you portray your history in a factual, but positive way. Trying to hide work-related issues or employment discrepancies, especially in the age of internet databases, usually leads to trouble—and is a good way to burn a bridge.

Be forthcoming about assignment preferences.  Are you looking for work in a certain geographic area? Do you have specific pay  or shift requirements? Are there jobs and institutions you’d like to avoid? Letting your recruiter know this kind of information upfront is a real time saver and can help ensure that you’re quickly matched with opportunities that best fit your needs.

Track and disclose your recruitment activity. Recruiters understand that doctors may work with several agencies. If you’ve been submitted for a job by an agency, don’t let other agencies submit you for the same assignment. Multiple submissions from different agencies are frustrating for employers as well as the recruiters involved. Keeping a log of where and when you have been submitted—and sharing that information, upon request, with a recruiter is greatly appreciated.

Stay in touch. Once you’re placed, be sure to keep in touch with your recruiter and provide updates on your experience, particularly if you’re having issues. Use your agency as an ally to help get things back on track. Over the long-term, periodic check-ins with your recruiter can be beneficial, especially if you need to update information in your profile or if you are looking for different types of opportunities.  

Expect honesty and outstanding service from your recruiter. Relationships are a two way street. If you’re being professional and helpful to your recruiter, you should expect the same. If you have an issue that you feel wasn’t dealt with appropriately by a recruiter, let them know or contact his or her boss.

If you stick with these principles, you’re sure to establish a long, successful relationship with your locum tenens recruiter.

To speak to a Locum Leaders recruiter, call 877-562-8656.

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For many, packing light can be a challenge. Deciding on the essentials can become an arduous task and can leave you with a headache and a heavy suitcase. In this situation, preparation is your best defense against poorly packed luggage.

When you’re deciding what to put in your bag, think about essentials. Clothing in neutral colors can easily be jazzed up with easy-to-pack accessories. Rolling clothing is also a tried and true method for space-saving and wrinkle reducing.  Check on the weather before you arrive to know what wardrobe you’ll need. Websites like the Weather Channel and AccuWeather will give you current temperatures, plus the average for the time period.

Beware of bulky items, such as shoes. These take up a lot of space and can be reduced to the essentials. A pair of dress shoes, sneakers and a casual pair, which can be worn to the airport or along your travels. If you’re an avid reader, eliminate heavy book packing with an eReader, such as the Kindle or the Nook.  Better still, a Kindle or iBook app on your iPad or smart phone can eliminate the eReader.

There are, of course, no shortages for online tools and applications that help you create the ultimate packing lists. Some of the most popular are:

Universal Packing List Creator: This handy web tool allows you to input details like the duration of your trip, temperatures, transportation and accommodations, and will spit out a list of pre-trip tasks and suitcase essentials.

Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush: This site requires free account registration, but is fully customizable. It allows you to input your destination, transportation and travel dates. It then provides you with average temperatures, travel advisories, a currency converter and several checklists.

The iPhone and iPad have certainly cornered the market on useful travel applications. Some of the best reviewed are:

Packing +To Do ($.99 for iPhone): This app helps you create a packing list of your own, or start with one of their sample lists. It also gives you a list of predeparture to-do’s and allows you to share it all on Facebook and Twitter.

Pack & Go ($.99 for iPhone): This app allows you to create and edit lists, email them to family and friends and set alerts and reminders on your phone.

Packing Pro ($2.99 for iPad): This has been described as a “personal assistant for packing.” You’re in control with this app that lets you customize fonts, color and layout. You can create custom lists and to-do’s or use their templates. It’s the ultimate packing tool.

Remember, preparation is key to packing light and tight. If you have a well thought-out list, you’ll be sure to pack just what you need and not forget the essentials. Safe travels!

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Best among U.S. carriers:  Southwest Airlines Co., which had award seats available for 99.3% of the queries made, and jetBlue Airways, which offered seats 79.3% of the time. Southwest and jetBlue both use points instead of miles, and IdeaWorks Co., the consulting firm that conducted the study, searched for award seats available at 25,000 points, the equivalent to standard awards at other airlines.

Worst among U.S. carriers: US Airways Group Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc., which didn’t have seats available in about three out of every four requests. Still, both carriers showed large improvement over the past year, more than doubling their availability rates.

The IdeaWorks survey also pointed to the toughest city to get into and out of using frequent-flier miles: San Francisco. The city is a popular vacation spot year-round, so demand remains high.

Some have a rekindled desire to practice. Others need to supplement a depleted nest egg. Regardless of the reasons, our recruiters are seeing an uptick in older candidates. Indeed, a recent survey of locum tenens physicians found that most (68%) had over two decades of practice experience—suggesting that doctors may view locum tenens more favorably in mid- or late-career.

Securing a locum tenens position is beneficial to retired physicians for a number of reasons:

• As a solo contractor you don’t have the stress of running a practice. There are no worries about staff salaries, rent or attracting new patients.
• Locum tenens jobs allow you to practice medicine without the administrative hassles and bureaucracy associated with a full-time position.  
• You have greater flexibility in choosing your work hours and location. You can spend winters in warm climates and summers in cooler regions if that’s your preference.
• Malpractice costs are covered.  Locum Leaders pays for occurrence malpractice insurance, which is ‘forever’ coverage so there are no worries about tail.

As inviting as this may sound, there are some challenges to consider. Depending on how long you’ve been retired, you might be a need to catch up on Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits or re-educate yourself on new technologies.  You may also have to update state licenses and secure recent work references, standard requirements for re-entering the job market.

Still, it’s clear that many retiring doctors are intrigued by locum tenens as an alternative to hanging up the stethoscope for good.  If you’re interested in learning more, talk to one of our recruiters today.

• Sign up for webinars: A plethora of webinars offer CME credit and can be found simply by conducting an Internet search or checking in with the medical society of your choice. For example, the Society of Hospital Medicine offers regular webinars on practical topics like care transitions and readmission rates.  Most times, these courses are available on demand, so they’re perfect for a busy schedule.
• Watch a video: Websites such as The Doctor’s Channel offer quick videos by specialty for CME credit. They’re ready when you are, and best of all, it’s free to register.
• Grab your smartphone: Locum Leaders offers free access to CME via QuantiaMD. All the information is readied for your smartphone and is easy to access on-the-go. Registration is free as are the QuantiaMD apps for iPhone and Blackberry.
• Put on your reading glasses: Just for reading well-known journals like the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) or the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and answering a few questions, you can receive CME credit. JAMA lets you read ‘off-line’ and take a post-quiz online. Grab a copy when you head out the door, and sneak in some extra reading during lunch or travel.
• Attend an event…and bring the kids: A majority of medical societies offer attendees CME credits for attending sessions at their conferences. To make the most of your time, book an extra day or two and bring the family! Many organizations hold their meetings in desirable locations and even offer discounts on local attractions or sponsor free events for your family. The Society of Hospital Medicine and the American College of Physicians offer helpful tourist information on their annual meeting websites. 

Remember, when keeping track of the CME credits you receive using these methods, it pays to stay organized. Be sure to obtain paperwork certifying you received the credit, and file it away for that year. With some planning and Internet access, CME credits are at your fingertips!

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.

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.

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.