The definition of locum tenens is one person taking the place of another. The term most often refers to physicians, but may also be extended to include other health care providers, such as registered nurses specializing in anesthesia. The key issue to remember in this situation is that both individuals cannot be present at the same time, that is when the physician in need of a substitute is present, Dr. A, the physician substitute, Dr. B, cannot be present, and vice versa. These factors define locum tenens jobs.
Physicians who are solo practitioners are the ones most frequently in need of a temporary replacement. When a doctor goes on vacation, or has any sort of reason for being out of the office for a foreseen period of time, he or she needs to engage a qualified physician to come in and take his or her place for seeing patients or being on-call.
Physicians who are in group practices typically cover for one another during times of absence. However, physicians in very large foundation or corporate groups may use a substitute physician, but the filling of the position would be handled administratively as a function of running a foundation and making sure all physician slots are filled.
Doctors seek this temporary type of employment for various reasons. They may be semi-retired or simply only interested in working part-time. They may have just completed their residency, and they have yet to settle on a permanent position. Locum physicians are sometimes women with young families, who are not quite ready to devote the time necessary to maintain a full-time practice of medicine.
With solo practices, physicians often hire colleagues who they have worked with previously. However, there are many substitute positions where the doctor in need does not have a likely candidate to fill the slot. Doctors who want to have ongoing work on a temporary basis may associate themselves with a employment agency that specializes in locum work. These agencies advertise online and in medical society journals.
Hiring a doctor to take the place of another is more complicated than hiring temporary clerical assistance to cover for a vacationing typist or receptionist. Doctors have to have the appropriate credentials, often not just as physicians but also as physicians specializing in a specific type of medicine. The need is very specific. You would not hire a orthopedist to take the place of an obstetrician.
Having a reliable agency that screens their doctors can be a very useful service. Doctors have a duty to ensure that their substitute is qualified to see patients. Hiring someone who is not qualified could result in malpractice, a big issue with all physicians in this increasingly litigious society.
Medical malpractice insurance coverage is a key issue for both physicians in a locum dynamic. Usually, the doctor in need of a substitute will contact his or her malpractice insurance provider and advise that he or she will need a substitute for a very specific period of time. In fact the exact dates of coverage need to be clearly stated on the declaration page issued for the substituting physician. The medical malpractice insurance company will verify the credentials of the locum before issuing the declaration page. Locum tenens jobs fill a specific need and help physicians provide continuing care in their absence.
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