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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Is Medical Assistant A Good Career Path In 2021?

Is medical assistant a good career path in 2021? How many jobs are available in the medical assistant sector? What are the best paying jobs in the medical assistant? Let’s discuss the above queries in detail. Becoming a medical assistant doesn’t take long, and the job is excellent in several ways. First, if you are interested in working with medical patients, then the medical assistant sector can be the right career choice for you in the long run. Medical assistants are becoming an increasingly crucial part of the healthcare system as hospitals try to accommodate the needs of the increasing patient population. Besides, medical/dental instruments are also regarded as a great career path due to the rising demand for medical assistants. Medical Assistant & Job Responsibilities - What You Need To Know? Medical Assistants are healthcare experts who assist doctors in medical offices as well as clinics. This is one of the nation’s careers growing much faster than average for all occupations. Medical assistants work directly with doctors, but they can’t give any medical advice to patients. It is because their duties are very limited as they work to prepare the doctor and patient for the medical visit and collect information for the same. Now, what does a medical assistant do? Their duties and responsibilities vary according to the requirements. Some of their common tasks are like: Bookkeeping, handling bills, etc. Making arrangements for a hospital visit Coding and completing insurance forms Updating medical records Greeting patients and their families Scheduling appointments and answering phones. Doing electrocardiograms Drawing blood for lab tests Changing wound dressings Discussing the general information with patients Preparing laboratory samples with patients Updating medical histories for both doctors and patients Is Medical Assistant A Good Career Path In 2021? The answer to this question is an absolute Yes. Although there are no formal education requirements for becoming these assistants, you need to complete Medical Assistant Program training to become one. Meanwhile, some of the important skills required to become a medical assistant are technical skills, interpersonal skills, detail-oriented and analytical skills. Now, we are going to describe several reasons to consider medical assistant as your career path. i). Career is stable: Working in the healthcare industry seems like it is a non-stop job. There is a need for assistants, surgeons, doctors, nurses, and other individuals working 24*7, 365 days a year. Thus, the career is stable in this path, and the future is rewarding. ii). It can be a gateway to greater things: Another reason to consider medical assistant as your career path is that it can be a gateway to greater things in life. This sector has more potential to become a fulfilling career. iii). You can work anywhere: Another benefit of choosing a medical assistant as your career path is that you can work anywhere. The skills required to become a medical assistant are helpful in every hospital across the country, which is, in turn, beneficial for you. iv). Certification can increase marketability: You need to pass some Medical Program test to get this job role, and the test requires a broad understanding of healthcare implementation, and all the information will prove incredibly useful to you. v). You can enter the field immediately: The job of a medical assistant is accessible, which makes it easy for you to enter the field immediately. You can just complete a Medical Assisting Diploma for the post of medical assisting. vi). Jobs are increasing faster than average: Another benefit of this sector is that jobs are increasing faster than average. Therefore, there can be lots of opportunities for you in the long run. How Many Jobs Are Available In The Medical Assistant? According to the reports, there were around 720,900 jobs in 2020 alone. This number is increasing at present and is expected to increase in the future as well. In the United States, three are more than 4.5 lakhs people working in the medical assistant field. Now, we are going to discuss the best paying jobs in the medical assistant sector in 2021. 1. Medical Assistant Vaccine Coordination The Medical Assistant Vaccine Coordination is mainly responsible for administering vaccines to patients. In this position, you need to perform various patient care activities and related services. This pandemic has given rise to this post, and it is available in many states of the United States where you can apply now. 2. Research Medical Assistant Another best paying job in this industry is Research Medical Assistant. In this role, you need skills in speaking and writing to persons of diverse cultural, economic, social, and educational backgrounds. At the same time, you must possess the ability to question research participants about sensitive behavioral issues and also the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. 3. Medical Support Teaching Assistant Medical Support Teaching Assistant is also one of the great career paths in the healthcare industry. Here, you have to take the responsibility of a general Teaching Assistant for a year. To qualify for this post, you must be at least a Level 2 qualified Teaching Assistant and must possess prior experience helping diabetic children and have a good knowledge of the KS1 curriculum. 4. Clinical Assistant As a Clinical Assistant, you must be dedicated to providing accessible testing for all. It’s important for you to be self-motivated in order to face clients to help run COVID testing clinics. Here, you need to comply with safety policies, answer patients’ questions, run test results for COVID 19, register patients in a drive-up setting or on-site, and much more. 5. Back Office Medical Assistant Back Office Medical Assistant is another best paying job in the Medical Assistant industry. Your main role would be monitoring the inventory of medical supplies, ability to utilize computers, conducting birth control, providing information to patients regarding birth control, assisting doctors with examinations, setting up exam rooms, etc. At the same time, you must believe in work-life balance and how to maintain the same. The Final Thoughts Is medical assistant a good career path in 2021? I have tried my best to explain to you why being a medical assistant is a great career path for you and how you can benefit from the same. The above-listed information will help you to start your career in the healthcare industry. Besides, let me know your queries in the comment section below if you develop any while reading this blog. Read Also: Is Consumer Durables a Good Career Path Is Commercial Banks A Good Career Path Is Commercial Banks A Good Career Path Is Metal Fabrications A Good Career Path Is Energy A Good Career Path? - A Detailed Guide

The Secret To Finding A Career That You’ll Actually Love

If you’re still in the phase of life where you’re figuring out the best job for you, there’s probably a lot on your mind. It takes a lot of “soul searching” and research to decide on a career that you’ll love. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, loving your career can be important. So here are some tips on how to choose a career. Explore Your Interests As you’re thinking about what to do for a career, think about the kinds of things that pique your interest. For example, you might be really into dentistry and want to find out what a career would be like. Explore what kind of jobs are available in that field. Whether you decide to become a dentist or study a dental assistant program. Knowing that you’re interested in a specific industry can help you narrow down your options. Ponder On Your Passions When it comes to your passions, there could be clues in there. You could find that there are career choices that align with your passions and that could actually be ideal for your future. Perhaps you love a good debate, and you’re always found debating some topic or another. In this type of scenario, you could always consider getting into law or something similar. The kind that puts you in touch with the kind of experiences that you already enjoy having. It doesn’t hurt to be passionate about what you do to make money. Think About Your Skills Your passions and interests are clues to the type of career that could interest you. If you’re looking to narrow it down even more, you may want to think about your talents. If you know you have a knack for words, something that aligns with that skill could be an ideal fit. Maybe you’re a musical person? Getting into a career where your skills allow you to be naturally good. It is also something that makes your future career a lot easier. It helps to use your talent in your work because even if you have to study for a degree to succeed at it. Therefore, you’ll have an easier time at it than someone who may not have the natural skills that you do. Talk To Experienced Mentors As you try to decide what work would be best for you, talk to experienced mentors. They can help you know which way to go by providing a road map of what has worked best for them. This could be someone you know who has had a long career in the field you like. Or it could be a mentor from your school’s mentorship program. Either way, speaking to a person who has experience in a career you’re considering can be beneficial to you and your decision-making. Try Interning Before understanding how to choose a career, you can always dip your toes into different career options. Internships are one of them! While most people will do an internship as they are close to graduating from school, you could always try for an internship just to try out certain jobs. As long as you already have some natural skill or know-how in it. You may not receive a lot of pay, but at least you gain the insight to know whether or not it's the job that you want in your future. It doesn’t hurt to explore options before deciding on the ultimate career path for you. It’s a big decision, don’t be afraid of not taking it lightly. From internships to mentors, exploring your passions, skills, and interests, and making a decision on your career. However, it can be simplified by pondering the concepts mentioned above. Life is long, and so is a career, so take your time making a decision like this one. How Professional Career Counseling Can Help Deciding what you want to do with your life can be tough, even in the best of circumstances. Fortunately, there are experts who are ready to help you make sense of it all. If you’re wondering how to figure out what career is right for you, a career counselor can steer you in the right direction. Here’s why. Understanding Your Aptitude Career counselors know how to help people tap into their own wants and needs when it comes to understanding what kind of work will spark joy. They’ll ask questions designed to uncover the activities that energize and excite you most in life. Then, show you how those things connect with potential careers that could be incredibly fulfilling. It Will Be Personal To Your Needs Another good thing about career counseling is that it’s individualized. Career counselors won’t give you a general answer to a generalized problem. They’ll focus on your specific character, strengths and weaknesses, desires, and problems. From there, they can assist you in figuring out what careers would work best for someone with your qualities and abilities. Regardless of whether you need to pick a vocation interestingly or are pondering about an alternate one. This is when customized guidance can represent the critical moment in your prosperity. Direct Assistance (Whenever You Are Lost) Career advisors are additionally incredible for offering direct assistance. They also help you improve your resume, act in interviews, and even fruitful organizing aptitudes, all of which can be significant when hoping to get a new position or to find employment elsewhere. Plus, if you’re not even sure what kind of qualifications you need, or education, for that matter, career counseling can help with that, too. They will basically map out exactly what you need to do, from checking out different degree options to see what is best for you at the time to figuring out where the market is headed. It’s all in their master plan for you! Ultimately, career counseling exists because people need help making educated decisions about their careers. If this looks like it’s impossible to navigate your way without some sort of guidance (let’s face it, some of us really don’t have a clue), then a career counselor could be your key. Why try to figure it out on your own and get overwhelmed when there are professionals who can make that twisted path straight? Read Also: Building Your Conceptual Skills A Guide for Career Growth What Does A Career In Anesthesiology Look Like? Click To Know

How Personal Branding Online Can Help Your Job Search

Every day, you see brands, you wear brands, you use brands, and you eat and drink brands. Business branding is everywhere. You are also a brand. Personal branding is especially useful when you’re job hunting or promoting yourself for other reasons. It’s up to you to craft your personal brand so that it conveys what you want it to convey. What is a personal brand? Your personal brand is the combination of factors that create an impression of you in the minds of other people. It’s your values, strengths, personality, passions, and all the other characteristics that people see in you. You don’t need a logo, and your resume is only a part of your personal brand. You are a complete package. When you develop your personal brand, you shape it to help your best qualities stand out. You can shape it differently for different purposes to show employers and others who you are. How a personal brand can help you How many times have you had what you thought was a successful job interview, knowing that you were fully qualified for the job – and you didn’t get it? It used to be that a good resume and a suitable personality were all you needed to get the job you wanted. These days, employers look further. When they research applicants online, they may find LinkedIn profiles, Facebook profiles, articles that you wrote, questionable photos, snide remarks on Twitter that you posted, and so on. In fact, almost 80 percent of recruiters are required to look into your online reputation to see if there are any red flags. Your personal brand helps you set yourself apart from others. Chances are that your competitors have already built their personal brands, making it easier for hiring managers to make decisions about them. One of them may have been hired for your dream job. A well-developed personal brand can also help you with these endeavors: Getting job promotions Having recruiters notice you Receiving recognition in your field Developing industry connections Attracting clients Strengthening your desirable qualities Reaching your goals more easily How to develop a personal brand First, identify the elements of your personal brand. You are a brand product, and you need to know how to describe it. You need to know what skills, strengths, talents, and experience you offer, what accomplishments show what you can do for others, and what are your core values and passions are. You need to be able to explain your goals and decide what you want to people to recognize you for. The answers to those questions form the unique package that is you. Once you’ve identified these traits, you need to package and publish them. There’s a bunch of different ways to go about this. LinkedIn is a key part of your personal brand. Prospective employers and clients will look for you and expect to see you there. Spend time writing a profile that shows off your personal brand. Review and update it regularly. Take part in LinkedIn discussions. Quality contributions will make people notice you and view your LinkedIn profile. Create profiles and take part in other social media platforms as well. Keep personal posts private so that professional connections see only posts that contribute to your personal brand. Applicants who have a personal website are more likely to be hired than those who don’t have one. Use your website to draw attention to your accomplishments, and keep it updated. If you write well, consider having a blog. A blog with industry-relevant articles can go a long way to building your credibility and attracting job offers. How to use your personal brand Now it’s time to create a resume that highlights the characteristics that form your personal brand. Use it to help employers understand your unique qualities that are relevant to their needs. Today’s resumes are more than lists of past jobs and responsibilities. Start your resume with a personal statement that describes your brand and what you offer of value to employers. Have a bulleted list near the top of the first page with accomplishments that illustrate your proficiency. Hand in hand with resume writing is researching target employers. Read their job ads carefully, and shape each resume to underscore the aspects of your personal brand that can best meet their challenges. Research jobs not only on large aggregate sites but also on local job boards. If you live in New York, for example, search the ads for jobs in your field at New York Jobs. You can also post your resume online. Choose a version that will appeal to the majority of employers you’re targeting. Let recruiters and your personal contacts know that you’re looking for a new position. When they understand your personal brand, they’re better able to recognize potential job matches. Networking groups may also help you find the right connection. Continue to take part online, monitor your social media presence, and write in your blog if you have one. Hiring managers and recruiters could be searching for you online at any time. Continue to connect with more people online. Past colleagues and supervisors, college alumni, people in your networking groups, and other people in your field can be valuable connections. Help them when you can, and they’ll want to help you. Read also: How is Social Media Playing A Role In Career Building?

Locum Story: Long-Term Strategic Partners in Healthcare

Locum Tenens: How Common Is It?

The Future of Locum Tenens