By Megan Murdock Krischke, contributor Oct 02, 2018
Physicians
and advanced practitioners approaching retirement may feel torn between a love
for their work and wanting a slower pace, with more control over their schedule
and some time for themselves. Some may consider phased retirement leading to a
part-time practice, switching to concierge medicine, or quitting their paying
practice altogether and just volunteering.
But if
you are looking for a rewarding position with greater flexibility, and the
chance to be semi-retired, locum tenens is an option that shouldn’t be
overlooked.
Pursuing
locum tenens before retirement can allow you to determine how many days a
month, or how many months a year, you are going to work.
FIND locum tenens jobs that fit your lifestyle
with Staff Care.
How does locum tenens work?
Locum tenens positions are temporary assignments that
may be covering for a facility’s seasonal fluctuation in the patient population;
for physicians who are sick, traveling or on leave; or for a vacant permanent
position while the facility conducts a search. Locum tenens agencies work with
candidates to find appropriate positions and coordinate the details of each
assignment.
Why physicians near
retirement choose locums
Physicians
can choose part-time locum tenens jobs close to home, involving just a few
shifts a month, or full-time assignments in another part of the country.
Travel
assignments can allow you to scratch that retirement itch to go see the
country, while not draining your retirement savings. You can enjoy short
excursions on your days off and extended vacations between assignments.
Gabriel
DiCarlo, senior recruitment consultant for Staff
Care, says
that many of the physicians he works with will tack on several days before or
after their assignments to explore the area.
Some will travel with their spouse and pets to assignments, with a few
using their own motor homes.
Locum
assignments can provide the opportunity to visit adult children and
grandchildren who have moved away, to experience the best each region has to
offer—like a quintessential autumn in New England—or to check a certain
activity or achievement off your bucket list. Just ask your recruiter to look for positions in
the areas that appeal to you.
When you
take a locum tenens assignment, you have little to worry about besides showing
up. Positions can range in length from
one day to six months or more, with your locum tenens agency taking care of
travel and housing—including the costs. Additionally, Staff Care has an internal
licensing team that will help coordinate and pay for state
licensure, when necessary, and they provide an internal privileging team.
Even
though locum tenens physicians work as independent contractors and are
responsible for their own tax payments, Staff Care does cover medical malpractice
insurance. The salaries for
locum tenens are also comparable to permanent positions, but many semi-retired
physicians keep working for different reasons.
“I work
primarily with surgeons,” remarked DiCarlo. “What I see is that they didn’t go
into the work for the money, but because they have a real passion. It is hard
to quit that cold turkey—they have to use their hands, they have to be doing
surgery.”
Locum
tenens jobs for retired physicians can be in a number of settings including physician
practices; hospitals, including VA and Indian Health facilities; clinics; and
urgent care. Since the work is temporary, physicians are freed up from running
a practice or becoming involved in workplace politics. Instead, they can truly focus
on patient care.
What about housing and travel
expenses?
When locum
assignments last less than a month, physicians are typically placed in an
extended stay hotel, said DiCarlo. For longer assignments, placements tend to
be in AirBnBs, condos and other corporate housing. All major travel and lodging
is paid for up front, and smaller expenses such as tolls or baggage fees can be
reimbursed.
For
physicians based in a major metropolitan area, there is a strong possibility
that they would never have to travel overnight to take an assignment if they
don’t want to.
How to succeed as a locum
physician
Have you
been in the same practice for a number of years, or are used to doing things a
certain way? Get ready for some changes as a locum tenens.
“To be a
successful locum tenens physician, you have to be willing to be adaptable. With every new assignment, you are entering a
largely unknown environment and working with unknown co-workers,” noted
DiCarlo. “That can create some stress, but a willingness to be open and
flexible and a desire to serve patients will go a long way. Typically, your co-workers
will be very grateful you are there.”
DiCarlo
also pointed out that the more open a physician is to different types of
assignments the easier it is to keep that person working. As an independent contractor,
however, you have the ability to decide which assignments you will or won’t
take.
In short,
locum tenens might be a perfect semi-retirement plan that offers more
flexibility and control of your schedule, travel and scheduling options, and a
recruitment team to handle the details of your job placements and logistics.
RELATED:
10 ‘Must
Dos’ Before Closing Your Medical Practice
5
Ways Part-time Physician Jobs Could Work for You
STAFF CARE places physicians in part-time and full-time locum tenens assignments across
the U.S. CONTACT a recruiter to
learn how you can get started.
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