Whitney Muir |  Director of Risk Management
(877) 456-2867 x4228  |  wmuir@deltalocums.com

By early next year some locum tenens physicians will soon be flying on a new (but familiar) airline when going on assignment with Delta Locum Tenens.  According to recent travel industry news:

United Airlines and Continental Airlines have agreed to a merger creating the world’s leading airline.  The two will continue to operate independently through the end of 2010 when the merger is scheduled to be finalized.  The new airline is said to combine the best of both airlines, Continental’s award winning customer service and United’s #1 on time performance.  Service will continue to be maintained in all communities currently routed for the airlines.  The merger will create the industry’s leading frequent flyer program, offering vast opportunities for customers to earn and redeem miles, including on Star Alliance partners.  For more information on the merger, visit http://www.unitedcontinentalmerger.com/.  

Mike Zagami, senior recruiting consultant for Delta Locum Tenens, has been named to Locum Life magazine’s ‘Recruiters of the Year’ showcase for the third straight year.  

Recruiters honored by the showcase must be nominated by a locum tenens physician.  Only twenty one recruiters across the country were named to this year’s list.   

“I have worked with multiple recruiters through multiple recruitment agencies, and by far the easiest person to deal with – most efficient, honest, and hardworking – is Mike Zagami,” says the locum tenens physician who nominated Zagami. 

Each year Locum Life magazine’s June issue features the ‘Locum Tenens of the Year’ and ‘Recruiters of the Year’ showcases.  Locum Life magazine is the first and only publication dedicated to locum tenens physicians (www.locumlife.com).

Sarah Finley  |  Privileging Team Lead
(877) 456-2867 x 4226 | sfinley@deltalocums.com

Any physician who has obtained hospital privileges knows this process is typically far from simple. Though at times it can be stressful, the credentialing process is necessary for hospitals to ensure quality patient care will be provided. Every hospital has a unique set of requirements that must be met prior to privileges being issued. Despite the differences in each process, there are things you (the physician) can do to simplify the credentialing process.  

1. Keep your CV up to date
2. Be sure to list all hospital and clinical affiliations throughout your career on your CV and application
3. Provide references that will be responsive to any professional reference requests
4. Provide current contact information on past employment and current references listed on your application (this includes phone, fax, and email addresses when possible)
5. Be thorough in completing your application(s)
6. Keep a copy of all certificates, CME’s, diplomas, licenses, immunization records, etc. easily accessible
7. Keep a current TB test on file (TB tests are only good for one year)
8. Be responsive to questions or concerns that may arise throughout the credentialing process

The credentialing process may never be simple, but following these steps will make it less stressful and potentially even faster than expected.

(877) 456-2867 x4228  |  wmuir@deltalocums.com

When and How Healthcare Reform Will Affect You

What are your thoughts on the new Healthcare reform bill?  Whatever your take on the bill, it’s here whether you like it or not.  Lost in an ocean of overwhelming data and opinions?  Read below to find out the time frames for change in regards to the new bill; and how the bill will affect you and your family.

Below is a peak at what to expect within the first year; click here to see the full article from CNN: 

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/23/health.care.timeline/index.html

Within the first year
• Young adults will be able stay on their parents' insurance until their 26th birthday.
• Seniors will get a $250 rebate to help fill the "doughnut hole" in Medicare prescription drug coverage, which falls between the $2,700 initial limit and when catastrophic coverage kicks in at $6,154.
• Insurers will be barred from imposing exclusions on children with pre-existing conditions. Pools will cover those with pre-existing health conditions until health care coverage exchanges are operational.
• Insurers will not be able to rescind policies to avoid paying medical bills when a person becomes ill.
• Lifetime limits on benefits and restrictive annual limits will be prohibited.
• New plans must provide coverage for preventive services without co-pays. All plans must comply by 2018.
• A temporary reinsurance program will help offset costs of coverage for companies that provide early retiree health benefits for those ages 55 to 64.
• New plans will be required to implement an appeals process for coverage determinations and claims.
• Adoption tax credit and assistance exclusion will increase by $1,000. The bill makes the credit refundable and extends it through 2011.
• A 10 percent tax will be imposed on amounts paid for indoor tanning services on or after July 1.
• Businesses with fewer than 50 employees will get tax credits covering 35 percent of their health care premiums, increasing to 50 percent by 2014.

Becky Froehle | Senior Recruiting Consultant
(877) 456-2867 x4210 | bfroehle@deltalocums.com

Recently there has been a lot of talk and even more studies leading to the idea that simply cutting calories will increase your life expectancy—possibly by decades. It doesn’t matter whether you are cutting out carbohydrates, fat, or spending an extra 20 minutes on the treadmill. At the end of the day it is simply about consuming 20-25% less in caloric intake to increase your life expectancy. Along with this theory researchers believe going to the gym and pushing our bodies to the brink is not as beneficial as we once believed. Studies reveal that when one does attend a high burn cardio or strength session, typically more calories are consumed throughout the day as your body is famished. Another downside to this current tradition is that our bodies are so tired after these types of workouts that we typically stay stagnate the rest of the day.

The current theory states that we as a society should be focused on staying active consistently throughout the day ie. take the stairs, park further away, chase your children and consume 20-25% percent less calories in order to achieve the highest life expectancy possible. That being said, I’ll meet you on the stairs!

Mike Beckman  |  Director of Recruiting
(877) 456-2867 x4232  |  mbeckman@deltalocums.com

What would you do if your car suddenly accelerated out of control?  Most drivers have no idea what they would do in this situation.
 
What you should do if you car suddenly accelerates out of control:

• Put your car into neutral
• Next, press the brake pedal hard
• Pull over and shut car off

You should never:

• Pump the brakes
• Shut the car off or take the key out of the ignition while driving--you can lose your power steering and braking

In the event that you are injured in an accident, Delta Locum Tenens supplies Emergency Room physicians across the country to help treat your injuries.

Justin Roark  |  Senior Recruiting Consultant
(877) 456-2867 x4269  |  jroark@deltalocums.com

With this year’s residents and fellows approaching completion of training, I find it pertinent to bring up the advantages in completing Locum Tenens assignments in search of the right permanent opportunity or in an effort to identify one’s ideal work environment.  There will soon be many opportunities and contracts in front of you so it’s important to make the right decisions the first time around.  Discussed below are several points of interest in which some thought should be invested.

Physicians may start practicing various locum tenens assignment during their third year of residency, if approved by their director.  There are many benefits to practicing locums, but the obvious first benefit would be that of supplementing one’s income.  Working a few locum assignments can provide clarity as to what patient load and size of facility that you are really comfortable with.  As a hospitalist or emergency medicine physician there is a substantial difference in working solo coverage at a level four facility as opposed to triple coverage at a level one trauma center.   Working a few assignments at different level facilities will give you firsthand experience on which is better suited for your comfort level and skill set.

Every Locum Tenens contract contains the ability to allow a provider to go from a locum to permanent position.  From my experience this happens quite frequently and is extremely beneficial in that the physician has a chance know the staff, what job and financial expectations are realistic, and how they not only like the facility but also the community.  There is a demand for health care providers right now and sorting through the realities of contacts, production bonuses and professional duties can be deceiving and difficult.  The last thing you would want to do is move you and your family to a new location, purchase a home and settle in to find that the expectations set out in the interview where not viable.  All of these items are eliminated when you have already practiced there as a locum and have true insight into the need and responsibilities of the position. 

Another often unseen benefit to practicing locum tenens assignment is the fact that you are able to network with other physicians and obtain references from larger health systems.  Networking is a strong tool that comes in handy when interviewing in the same region or trying to get into fellowship programs.  Let’s face it, the medical community is often well connected and you never know who you will encounter on your assignment that may be on an admissions board.  Also, if a physician accepts a locum’s assignment within a large health care system, they can obtain a good reference and that might aide in obtaining a position at a different more desirable location within that system. 

In summation Locum Tenens is a phrase that many of you have heard now throughout training or from colleagues.   Now is the time to consider how you can use Locum Tenens to your benefit and success.  Since the assignments can be from weekend to fulltime, how could you and your family benefit?  The answer could be financial, but it also can be used as a tool to open many other doors to new location, practices, and programs.  Think outside of the box and set yourself up for success!

Ashleigh Kent  |  Recruiting Consultant
(877) 456-2867 x4279  |  akent@deltalocums.com

Physicians entering into the locums world for the first time tend to have many questions and reservations. Rightly so, making any major change in career and lifestyle would warrant some concerns. One of the highlights of my job is showing the major advantages of being independently contracted and  being free to travel to different locations throughout the country.

The latest example of these advantages occurred with a new neurologist that applied to our company. She was looking for an opportunity to work half-time but still afford the same lifestyle. I told her this was definitely possible and the assignment that would allow the lifestyle she wanted would be in Nebraska.  Never visiting the state, or even the region, she was very reluctant. I explained that a huge benefit to locums was that she could try the facility for a short period of time. If she was unhappy for any reason, we could simply book her somewhere else the next time.

Upon submitting her and conducting a phone interview, we realized her mentor from residency that she lost touch with was the administrator at the facility! Six months later, she still loves traveling across the country for 2 weeks out of the month. She spends half the month with esteemed colleagues and has half the month to devote to family.

Rob Goin | Director of Marketing
(877) 456-2867 x4201  |  rgoin@deltalocums.com

Hospital medicine tops the list of assignments again this quarter, with a 63% increase versus one year ago.  Few primary care physicians make rounds today, so they’re turning inpatient care over to hospitalists. In addition, 28,000 or nearly a quarter of all internists have left primary care to become hospitalists due to Medicare/Medicaid cuts.  Approximately 60% of all U.S. hospitals and all managed care organizations directly employ or use hospitalists through a locum tenens agency.  Both the physician and facility benefit financially from a hospitalist program.  In the last year, providers experienced a 6% increase in hourly rates.  In addition, hospitalists working 26 weeks a year on a seven on/seven off schedule will generate $25,000-$35,000 more than in the same dynamic for a permanent position.  The trend will continue in 2010, as estimated demand will call for an additional 10,000 hospitalists nationwide.

This article appeared in the Market Trends section of the Q4 2009 Physician Recruiting Standard.  You can download The Standard at www.TDCpeople.com/Standard.