Locum Story: Long-Term Strategic Partners in Healthcare

14 June 2024

This job of Locum Tenens was initiated as a makeshift policy to meet temporary doctor and staffing shortages.

Slowly, career opportunities emerged as one of the medical professional’s top career choices. In this article, we bring into the discussion table the demand for locums and the expectations of new job seekers in the next few years.

Locum Tenens: How Common Is It?

Locum tenens is, without doubt, a fast-growing segment in the healthcare industry. However, many of the largest facilities and practices in the USA have leveraged the efficacy of locum job placement. They incorporate these positions into their staffing models.

Although the concept of the modern locum tenens dates back to the early 1970s, since there is no turning back, the sector is managing a dream run of growth.

About 7% of physicians in the US have associated themselves with the locum tenens position within the last year.

Moreover, almost 85% of facilities are integrating temporary service providers. In the last decade, the number of locum tenens doctors has sharply increased. The rate of increase is massive( 90%). Hence, you can understand how common it is the concept of employment in the US medical sector.

The Future of Locum Tenens

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the move towards gig work and contracting has grossly affected the entire healthcare industry. Moreover, spending on locum tenens increased drastically by 28% in the year 2021.

Almost 60% of healthcare funds go towards inducting self-employed practitioners. The Association of American Medical Colleges conjectures that the shortfall of healthcare professionals will approach 140,000 by 2033.

The situation brings with it waves of concerns for the vulnerable aging population and also the medical workforce. The locum tenens positions address the shortfall, as well as providing patients with healthcare requirements.

Why Are Locum Tenens Jobs in Demand?

Recent data exposes some of the most concerning and surprising trends among physicians. They include those who are looking for contract-based positions.

Furthermore, the reports also bring to the forefront the reasons behind healthcare professionals’ preference towards short-term placements.

According to a survey, 60% of the respondents opine that they are looking for new positions. Moreover, nearly 25% of physicians under the age group of 40 opine that they are avoiding long-term or permanent positions due to burnout.

Moreover, after the pandemic, the healthcare sector faced an enduring staffing shortage. Consequently, stakeholders feel pressure from within.

Under such serious circumstances, the locum tenens has emerged as a viable alternative for physicians and other healthcare professionals who want to be engaged in the workforce but on their terms.

Work-life balance

Locum tenens offers a degree of flexibility not found in full-time healthcare positions. Temporary placements allow physicians to experience a range of environments and demographics while setting schedules that work for them.

Everyone knows that the present world of professionalism is grappling with issues like work-life balance and increasing stress. Organizational management, especially in the medical field, is looking to work on coping with immense pressure. Locus tenens provides an advantage. Professionals who aim to attain work-life balance are looking for locums job placement.

Better pay

Competitive pay is another driver of locum tenens growth. Moreover, the temporary healthcare positions may culminate in the form of 50% more payment compared to the comparable full-time placements.

As a result, it allows the healthcare profession to earn more money while working with flexibility. Temporary employees are responsible for health insurance and retirement planning, which can erode some of those profits.

These are a few reasons attributed to the increasing popularity of locum tenens positions in the healthcare industry. With a more equitable work-life balance, better pay, and, most importantly, less stress, it brings multiple benefits. Hence, it becomes easy to say why so many doctors are entering the locum tenens position.

A Hassle-Free Career

One key benefit of the locum tenens job is a hassle-free career. When professionals have this job, there are zero teaching and administrative responsibilities. Furthermore, there are zero coding and billing hassles or, say, staff management issues.

Experts say that the care providers who embrace this approach reap the benefits. Here, the professionals get much better flexibility from the hospitals. As a result, the job becomes much more stressful and hassle-free.

Freedom To Travel

The locum tenens are best known for their freedom of travel. This recruitment approach allows doctors to engage in multiple healthcare bodies, and that too in different places.

If you can visit multiple places and seek new career opportunities, you have flexibility and freedom. This is, without question, one of the prime benefits that healthcare professionals get.

Pre Retirement planning

One of the benefits linked to locum tenens is pre-retirement planning. Some doctors have retired from their full-time jobs but still want to engage in practice.

This approach to service best suits these professionals. These professionals are looking to finish their medical careers with locum work.

Many seasoned medical professionals have retired from full-time engagements. They suggest that they have made the right decision by engaging in part-time jobs at different care units. They say that the flexibility of the work structure provides them with the edge.

Read More: Healthcare Jobs That Will Be Most in Demand 2020–2025

Managing the Debts

Another core benefit of locum tenens is working with new doctors. The respectable earnings from the job help one manage debt while studying in medical school.

Even the National Association of Tenens Organization(NALTO) says that an individual can get two ways to manage their student loans.

They think that the students are using different ways to pay back their along with the flexibility that they are getting from the hospitals. Working in the locum tenens allows them to provide coverage for weekends or months. The opportunities are quite enticing.

Change Will Keep Coming—Are You Ready For It?

Locum Tenens has grown into a nationwide, multibillion-dollar industry used by nearly 90% of America’s healthcare facilities. In every state, thousands of providers accept temporary placements every year, ensuring that people in underserved communities get the medical care they need.

Though locum tenens has a short history compared to that of other industries, it offers a reliable, sustainable staffing solution in areas lacking access to healthcare.

With locum tenens, we can build a healthier, safer society. If you’re considering a career change, accepting a temporary position may be just the push you need.

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Ankita Tripathy

Ankita Tripathy loves to write about food and the Hallyu Wave in particular. During her free time, she enjoys looking at the sky or reading books while sipping a cup of hot coffee. Her favourite niches are food, music, lifestyle, travel, and Korean Pop music and drama.

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How to Conduct an Interview – What Should I Know Before My First One?

You’ve been asked to conduct a job interview for the first time—exciting, right? Worrying about how to conduct an interview? Whether you’re a manager, HR professional, or part of a hiring committee, interviewing someone can feel a bit nerve-wracking if you’ve never done it before. But guess what? You don’t need to be an expert to do it well. With some preparation and the right approach, you can conduct a smooth, professional, and even enjoyable interview. Let’s walk through how to make it a success from start to finish. Step 1: Know What You Want You can’t exactly hire the right person when you’re not sure who that is. Don’t be too vague or unclear about what you’re looking for. If your expectations for the employee are constantly changing, they will never have a fair chance of meeting those expectations. So, when you begin interviewing with the right skills, you should know what skill you are looking for. Most importantly, do not look for one candidate with all the skills. They will all have their strengths and weaknesses. It is you who must filter and understand what is needed with the role. Here are some of the skills that you should investigate when preparing to conduct an interview. Technical Skills: What knowledge or skills does the candidate need to perform the job? This might include things like a coding language, specific design experience, knowledge of certain software tools, etc. Soft Skills: Are any exceptional communication, collaboration, or problem-solving abilities needed for this role? Consider the conceptual skills that will make someone stay and fit within your team and company culture. Company Values: Every company has its own culture. Do you want someone who aligns with your organization’s values? This could be creativity, innovation, teamwork, adaptability. By keeping these in mind, you can design questions around them during the interview. Step 2: Create Your List of Interview Questions Now that you know what you are looking for, it is time to develop a list of questions. You will want to ask questions that evaluate technical as well as soft skills. Please don’t make one of these common interviewing mistakes by asking dull and generic questions – you’ll get equally dull and generic answers! Plus, fail to make the most out of the interview, trying to understand your candidate’s potential. Here’s how to word your questions Leaning into the Role Start with some icebreakers—easy open-ended questions like. “What made you consider applying for this job?” or “Tell me a little about yourself.”). This helps people get comfortable and sets the stage for them to tell their stories. Behavioral Questions A must in gauging soft skills. “Can you describe a time when you worked under pressure?” Or “Tell me about a challenging project you managed and how you handled it” are great questions to see how candidates react in scenarios they’re likely to encounter. Role-Specific Questions When preparing to conduct an interview, always ask questions directly applicable to the job. For example, if you’re hiring for a marketing position, ask something like, “What’s been your most successful campaign, and why?” Use this time to understand their practical knowledge. Cultural Fit Questions These are often overlooked but critical for long-term success. Especially if you plan to keep the candidate for a long-term job role. You can ask, “How do you like to collaborate with others?” Or “What kind of work environment helps you thrive?” You’re looking for answers that align with YOUR company’s culture! Step 3: Create a Comfortable Environment The interview is not only for you to assess the candidate, but also for the candidate to see if they would like to work with you. It doesn’t matter how much you are offering as a CTC. If candidates sense a hostile environment, they might not be comfortable returning! Feeling comfortable will help bring out their true self and you don't want to make someone uncomfortable, do you? This is one of the reasons why we need to make some of the Not too casual, just friendly – this will lead to much better conversations. After all, you wouldn’t want to lose a promising candidate because of a bad experience. Start with small talk: A simple “How was your commute?” or “Have you ever been to this part of town before?” can help make things more casual from the get-go. Explain the structure: Take a second to let candidates know what will happen. Are they expected to walk you through their resume? Will there be time for them to ask questions at the end? Giving them an idea of the agenda will help everyone feel more at ease. Active listening: It’s important to show that you’re listening by nodding, smiling, and making eye contact. This will also help your candidate feel more at ease, and hopefully, they will give more honest and open answers. Step 4: Listen and Observe This one seems simple enough, but it’s big! A lot of first-time interviewers get so caught up in what they’re going to ask next that they don’t really hear the candidate’s reply. A successful interview is partly about asking the right questions and partly about hearing the answer (and non-answer) to the question you asked. Here are a few additional tips on how to conduct an interview! Take notes: Don’t be afraid to jot down key points as the candidate speaks. It helps you remember important details and can guide your follow-up questions. Look for red flags: Pay attention to inconsistencies or vague responses. For example, if a candidate can’t provide clear examples of their experience, that could be a red flag. Step 5: Allow time for questions This is something that many interviewers (and especially first-time interviewers) tend to miss. The kinds of questions that candidates come prepared with can tell you much about what’s on the forefront of their minds. Especially where they’re at with their understanding of the role. Here are some of the unique interview questions that potential candidates might ask you. Good signs: A candidate who asks thoughtful questions about things like company mission, team dynamics, or opportunities for personal growth is generally someone who is thinking long-term and has a genuine interest here. Red flags: I would be cautious if a candidate starts off too much about perks, vacation and salary. Maybe their priorities are not on align with the role or company values. Step 6: Wrap Up the Interview Positively When the interview is almost over, you have a chance to give candidates any last-minute information that might be important to their decision-making process. Plus, it’s just polite and keeps your employer's brand intact. Explain the next steps: Let the candidate know what will happen next. Will they hear back in a week? Is there a second round of interviews? Giving them a timeline helps manage expectations. Thank them: It’s always a good idea to thank the candidate for their time and interest in the position. A little courtesy goes a long way. How to Talk About “Futureproofing” in Interviews One thing hiring guides don’t usually teach you about is futureproofing! In an age where entire industries are in flux, you need someone who can change along with it. Remember, you’re not hiring for the role today—you’re hiring for where your company will be a year from now. So, how do you know if someone has what it takes to grow and adapt? Here are some future-proofing questions you can ask: “How do you keep up with new trends and changes happening in your industry?” "What about a time you needed to learn new skills or adapt to a big change at work? What steps did you take?" "What do you think is an area you will need to develop professionally in over the next few years?" Are you happy with your evaluation processes and tools in place that can evaluate a candidate’s psychological inclination to engage in learning activities? If not, please adopt aptitude testing as a form of your interview. Step 7: Evaluating and Comparing Candidates After the interview, assess candidates while everything is still clear. Skills and experience: How well-matched were their skills and experience with your must-haves and nice-to-haves? Were there any areas in which they surpassed your expectations? Personality and culture fit: This is perhaps the most critical factor. Ask yourself if you think they would be a good fit for your team. Did they have values like those of you or your company when it came to work? Scoring system: I’ve heard of some interviewers who use a 1–5 scale (rating candidates on experience, skill set, communication and others in their interviews. Plus, this helps them make an objective decision, especially if you conduct multiple interviews. Take a Deep Breathe! Conducting a job interview for the first time doesn’t need to be nerve-wracking. Preparation, active listening, and creating a comfortable environment are the keys to success. Remember, an interview is a two-way street: you’re assessing the candidate, but they’re also evaluating whether they want to work with you. Don’t forget the growing importance of future-proofing. Asking questions that talk about the candidate’s adaptability and desire to grow can help ensure you’re hiring someone who’s ready not just for today’s challenges, but for tomorrow’s as well. You’ve got this! Follow these steps of how to conduct an interview, stay calm, and trust the process. Your first interview will be a success. Read Also: The Art of Answering Hard Interview Questions Top Interview Skills You Need to Ace The Job Interview

5 Biggest Challenges in The Nursing Field Aspirants Should Know

The healthcare profession is brimming with obstacles and challenges, and the recent pandemic has further added to them. Medical professionals work gruelingly long hours to ensure patient well-being and safety. However, most of these obstacles and challenges are typically seen in a particular sub-division of the healthcare field: the nursing field. Undoubtedly, the nursing profession is not for individuals who are faint of heart. Moreover, to succeed as a nurse and perform your duties with utmost efficiency, you must have the drive, passion, and knack for helping people in need. Some challenges plaguing the nursing field include difficulty acquiring further education, understaffing issues, and overtime work. Likewise, workplace stress and hazard are also growing concerns for medical workers. Whatever issues the nursing field faces, nurses remain a vital part of the world’s healthcare workforce. They put other’s needs first and dedicate their entire lives to helping their patients. For instance, the Covid-19 pandemic also made us realize how essential nurses are. However, before you start a career in the nursing field, knowing about all the challenges you'll face while working is vital. So, let’s determine some of the biggest challenges in the nursing field that aspirants should know. 1. Difficulty continuing education The healthcare industry requires individuals to remain up-to-date with the latest medical practices, techniques, and procedures. However, as nurses serve as the first point of physical contact for patients, these medical professionals also need to polish their soft skills. Therefore, expanding your knowledge base and honing soft skills are critical components of becoming a successful nurse in today’s competitive healthcare setting. And to do such a thing, they must invest time and money in continuing education and obtaining advanced nursing academic credentials. Unfortunately, acquiring further education while working as a nurse is no cakewalk. As these healthcare professionals work for long, grueling hours, sometimes 24-hour shifts, taking out time for studies can be challenging. However, if you’re a nurse striving to climb the ladder to success and seeking career advancement, eLearning can benefit you. You can enroll in masters of nursing online programs and study with ease while managing your workload. An online nursing degree will provide you with the flexibility and convenience of learning from home or even work. 2. Overtime issues Due to high employee turnover and understaffing, aspirants need to be aware of overtime before diving into the nursing profession. Many nurses state that healthcare facilities utilize overtime to counter the after-effects of understaffing. Unfortunately, this usually leads to overworked nurses, resulting in medical errors, treatment inaccuracies, inaccurate diagnoses, driving away aspiring candidates from the nursing field altogether. That said, medical facility owners and healthcare leaders must focus on overstaffing issues and try to solve them with a different approach. A viable way to do this is by hiring more competent nursing staff. In addition, they must encourage aspiring medical students to give nursing a go over other health-related careers. After all, nurses are frontline warriors, working at the heart and soul of every healthcare organization worldwide. 3. Understaffing issues Short staffing is amongst the most common issues in the nursing field. An AMN Healthcare survey shows that about seventy-two percent of healthcare leaders say that they are understaffed in the nursing department. Not to mention, this issue is growing with every passing day, especially since the pandemic struck. Furthermore, the BLS states that there will be a demand for one billion nurses around 2022 due to the rise in diseases and viruses, and most importantly, Covid-19. Staffing issues usually affect patient health and safety and drastically lower the quality of care at healthcare facilities. Moreover, it can also result in increased injury rates, fatigue, and work pressure. 4. Workplace stress Healthcare professionals such as nurses and doctors face work-related stress and burnout, primarily stemming from the unpredictable nature of their work. It mainly affects nurses dealing with high-volume urban departments, senior care, acute psychiatric services, and more. Not to mention, excessive workload and fatigue are ever-present in every healthcare workplace. And nurses bear their fair share of burnout issues, as discussed above. That said, such a thing shouldn’t put off aspiring candidates. ANA, OSHA, and other government organizations work tirelessly to control workplace stress through education, guidelines, and regulations. After all, nursing staff shouldn’t have to deal with burnout, whether it is because of their workload or job nature. 5. Workplace hazards Every workplace in every field has its fair share of hazards. However, the nursing profession, in particular, faces more than usual. Some potential hazards include exposure to pathogens, injuries, contracting viruses, and other germs. Not to mention, these healthcare professionals are at constant risk of hazards from patients carrying the deadliest viruses. The Covid-19 pandemic serves as an unfortunate reminder of how working in the healthcare sector can prove fatal. Many nurses and frontline warriors lost their lives battling the virus and serving the ailing. However, it explains why nursing is one of the most prestigious professions of our era. Nurses devote endless hours and put their lives at stake to ensure the well-being of their community and people. Conclusion Recognizing the obstacles and the challenges that the nursing field contains is the first step. However, the second, and probably the most important, is overcoming these challenges to ensure you advance in your nursing career. After all, nurses are crucial to every healthcare facility out there. There is no better way to help humankind than to take up the nursing profession. That said, you might find it challenging to overcome these obstacles initially. But if you remain persistent and focus on your end goal, you’ll reap countless rewards. Read Also: American Healthcare and its Woes How To Prevent Burnout As A Travel Nurse With These Simple Self-care Strategies

Best Paying Jobs In Electric Utilities Central

Are you looking for the best paying jobs in electric utilities central? I might be able to help you in that case. The electric utility industry is a vast field for many of us looking for employment. There are more than 3300 electric utility centers in the US alone. Two hundred centers offer electricity to many users in the states. Job opportunities in this sector are in high demand with promised professional growth. In addition, many job titles in this sector include travel opportunities across the country, offer compensation based on educational qualification, and excellent job security. If you are looking for employment in this sector, you will find plenty of opportunities in the electric utility center. In this article, I have discussed some best job opportunities in this sector. Read More: “No Career Interests Me” – What To Do? What Are Electric Utilities Central? Electric utility Centrals are electric corporations responsible for generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity to individual users or to a whole country. Also, the electric utilities are public utilities. Although a very labor-intensive industry, the electric utility industry offers rewards to people seeking jobs in this industry. How Does Electric Utility Sector Work? The chain of electric utility central is a complicated one. The whole process revolves around electricity generation at power plants and transmitting them via electricity grids. The grid involves electricity substations, power lines, and transformers. The whole chain links the producers and the consumers in a systematic manner and keeps the service optimized and maintained. How Much Can A Person Earn At Electric Utility Central? According to several benefits available in the electric utility central, job seekers can expect a good pay scale. On average, a working professional would earn around $77k in this industry. However, there are better positions according to qualifications and experience, and those positions will help you earn as much as $145k in the electric utility central. Best Paying Jobs In Electric Utilities Central: 10 Jobs To Consider Here are the ten jobs available in the electric utility central that pay well. 1. Gas Controller Job Description: Indeed there are other jobs in the sector. But this is one of the high-paying ones. As a gas controller, you will have to work with oil and gas companies and make sure that the customers’ needs are met. Some other responsibilities of gas controllers include maintaining pipelines, fixing identified problems, do conduct checks, doing emergency readings, etc. Qualification You need a minimum experience of 2 to 4 years of oil industry techniques. Passionate and energetic enthusiasm.Efficient communication skills. Be better at solving problems.Salary (per annum)$78k to 130K. 2. Power Plant Engineer Job Description: Power plant engineer is one of the best paying jobs in electric utilities central. As a power plant engineer, you have to monitor and manage the day-by-day preparation of the energy plant. They have to conduct tests to check if any maintenance is necessary. Qualification You need a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Mechanical skills.Thinking critically. Communication skills.Salary (Per annum)$100500 to $143500. 3. Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer Job Description: While looking for the highest paying jobs in the electric utility center, you cannot overlook the post of Nuclear criticality safety engineer. Their occupational task includes dealing with radioactive materials. They monitor to prevent any problematic events from happening in the plants. Qualification Spotting possible dangers. Coming up with new storage and transportation techniques. Working with review boards to send reports and ideas.Salary (Per annum)$89000 to $124000. 4. Nuclear Licensing Engineer Job Description: Nuclear licensing engineers offer technical assistance to nuclear power plants. They ensure the technical efficiency and smooth operations of nuclear power plants. You will also need to work with the nuclear regulatory commission and plan new systems. Qualification Efficient knowledge of technology. Knowledge of mathematics and physics. Critical thinking, Analytical skills.Salary (Per annum)$77k to $150k. 5. Pipeline Controller Job Description: Another best paying job in the utility central is pipeline controller. Pipeline controllers need to check for leaks in the pipeline and ensure the constant flow of liquid in the pipes. They are also good at optimizing power usage. QualificationTechnical problem-solving. Efficient communication skills. Technical certification is necessary. Salary (Per annum)$70K to $116K. 6. Substation Engineer Job Description: Substation engineers are working professionals who maintain efficient operation of energy. They also need to design substations of high or medium voltages to generate, distribute and transmit energy. Qualification Degree in electrical engineering. Technical problem-solving. Organizational skills. Good communication skills.Salary (Per annum)$89k to $129k. 7. Power System Dispatcher Job Description: Another good job role in the electric utility central is power system dispatcher. Their responsibility is to transmit electricity to the customers via transmitting lines. They also have to communicate with engineers and provide customers with information about clearances. Qualification You need a bachelor’s degree. Good communication skills. Good organizational skill and technical skills.Salary (Per annum)$50k to 120k. 8. Utility Manager Job Description: One of the best paying and hassle-free jobs in the electric utility center is utility manager. Your job role is to look after facilities like - treatment facilities and electrical plants. Qualification You need a bachelor’s degree.Skills of thinking critically. Good communication skills.Salary (Per annum)$64k to 90k. 9. Radiation Engineer Job Description: Another well-paying job in the electric utility sector is the job of radiation engineer. The main work here is to examine and understand the impact of radiation based on the diversity of what surrounds them. They also make powerful devices to utilize radioactivity without any harm. Qualification Masters degree Knowledge of physics. You should be technologically advanced.Salary (Per annum)$89k to $119K. 10. Power System Dispatcher Job Description: Among many jobs in the electric utilities, central Power system dispatcher is a good option that pays well. You have to be efficient at managing the distribution of electricity among suppliers and customers. Qualification You need to monitor generators and ensure efficiency. Determining the daily requirement of electricity. You need good communication skills. Critical thinking and decision-making are other necessary skills.Salary (Per annum)$47,500 to $11,500. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Although I have answered all of your queries, you may still have some questions. In that case, you can take help from the following questions and answers. 1. What Is The Best Utility Company To Work For? Some good utility companies you can work for our.1. ConocoPhillips.2. Baker Hughes. 3. ExxonMobil.4. Duke Energy. 5. PPL. 2. What Are Some Careers In The Field Of Energy? There are many career opportunities in the field of energy. Here are some options worth checking out.1. Welder.2. Transmission system operator.3. Electrician.4. Wind turbine technician.5. Solar panel installer. 3. Does The Energy Industry Pay Well? The energy industry requires many hard-working professionals who are skilled in their work. Indeed the work is hard, but the salary in this industry is also good. You can have 34% more median income in this sector compared to the other industries in this sector. Final Words! This article contains a list of the best paying jobs in electric utilities central. If that is your query, the list provided in this article should help you. I have listed all the qualifications needed for different jobs and their salary. I hope you got your answer from reading this article. In case there are any more queries, you can reach out to us in the comment. Read Also: Are Second Career Programs Worth It?Are Commercial Banks A Good Career Path?How To Move Your Career In Social Media Marketing Up A Gear?

Locum Story: Long-Term Strategic Partners in Healthcare

Locum Tenens: How Common Is It?

The Future of Locum Tenens