Sherri Carlton Bowles  |  Executive Vice President
(877) 456-2867 x4229  |  scarlton@deltalocums.com

Did you know… Locum tenens is a great way to get introduced to a new opportunity or practice setting?  Consider it as a working interview if you are looking for a permanent change.  It allows you the opportunity to actually see what it’s like to work in that practice/facility.  See how well you adapt to their ways of doing things.  See how well the staff gets along and interacts.  Find out if you fit in with their culture/environment. 

Can you imagine yourself working there long term?  Spend time touring the community.  Is it a good fit for you and your family?  Does the community provide activities that meet your interests?

Consider locums opportunities not just as an opportunity to supplement your income, but as an opportunity to find the best practice that suits your needs on a long term basis.

Justin Roark  |  Recruiting Consultant
(877) 456-2867 x4269  

Through my experience in physician recruiting, I have quickly learned the headaches associated with physicians being employed by large groups and hospital systems.   I especially identify the difficulties experienced by physicians practicing hospitalist and emergency medicine. 

The growing trend is that the permanent or employed physicians are carrying the burden of the facility not being fully staffed.  The physicians who are in permanent contracts are seeing higher patients volumes and working more shifts than preferred due to the insufficient staffing; however, are not receiving higher compensation.   In these situations I truly feel the light at the end of the tunnel comes from the locum tenens alternative. 

Working as a locums physician is beneficial in that the physicians can make their own schedule, receive holiday rates, over time, and have no contractual obligations to the facility directly when they are understaffed.  There is no longer the pressure from the group or hospital to see more patients or work those extra shifts because they are understaffed.  Locums allows for a third party to be in place that alleviates politics and allows for better communication between parties involved.   Financially, the physicians are coming out ahead and ensuring quality of practice and life. 

I would encourage all hospitalist and emergency medicine physicians to incorporate locums into their career.  With the instability in emergency medicine and constant transition in staffing contacts with hospitals, locum tenens is a great tool to ensure continual work and may improve a physician’s quality of practice and life.  Getting started and registered through Delta Locums is not difficult and can be utilized throughout your career.   Now is the time to ask yourself about your personal job stability, income and quality of practice.  If it is not where you believe it should be than get a head start with locums and customize it to your lifestyle.

Richard Montgomery  |  Senior Marketing Consultant
(877) 456-2867 x4242  |  rmontgomery@deltalocums.com

We have a lot of physicians who work for the military and, during their vacation time, work locum assignments to help supplement their income.  Here is a piece of an article from The New England Journal of Medicine that explains how the military programs work.

How Military Programs Work

There are two primary routes to pursuing medical education and training through the military: the reserves and the Armed Forces Health Professionals Scholarship Program (HPSP). Medical students and physicians in residency must formally apply to enter either the HPSP or the reserves. The HPSP provides up to $175,000 for four years of medical training at an accredited medical school, plus a monthly stipend of about $1,100. A separate Financial Assistance Program provides an additional payment of about $22,000, plus the monthly stipend for physicians in certain specialties, including family practice, orthopedic surgery, internal medicine, and general surgery. Whether students attend the USUHS or a “mainstream” medical school, the curriculum has to include components that ensure physicians are prepared to practice in nontraditional settings such as war zones.

In the reserves, physicians or residents receive a salary or education-loan paybacks or both, and resident compensation is often slightly higher than in the civilian sector. In some programs, up to $50,000 in loan repayment is available. Nearly 65 percent of the Army’s medical forces are in the reserve component, where commitments and opportunities for service range from full-time positions to very part-time gigs — two days a month and two weeks during the summer.

For medical students or medical school applicants, requirements for HPSP are much the same as they are for nonmilitary scholarship programs — a solid GPA and good scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), along with recommendations from faculty and others. In addition, students or physicians entering military training programs or service must pass a required physical fitness exam and undergo security clearance. For some specialties, physicians may be required to be board-certified rather than simply board-eligible. Though paperwork-intensive, the application process usually takes no more than three months from start to finish.

[ Read the full article at NEJM.com ]

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

We all know the stresses of starting a new job;  going into an unfamiliar environment, meeting new people, and learning to adapt to new system.  Our locums physicians do this about every other month.  I have provide a link to an article in LocumLife that provides some tips on how to adapt and be successful during these transitions.  Of particular interest is the suggestion to make facility aware that you would like a tour and an introduction to the staff.   Locums physicians, how do you handle these transitions?  Administrators, what are your suggestions?  Leave your comments below.

Omar Argueta, Recruiting Representative
(877) 456-2867 x4252  |  oargueta@deltalocums.com

The #1 question potential locum providers ask me is “ How busy can doing locums keep me?”

There are no guarantees’ in this industry, but I have found that the physicians I can constantly keep working are the ones that can be flexible.  I have provided a  link to an article in LocumLife  that provides some tips on how to get the most out of your Locum experience. It specifically points out the key points of making yourself marketable.

[Read the full story on LocumLife.com]