Picture it: Several days of fun and sun as you fulfill a “wintertime” assignment in Florida. Add to this complimentary housing
and an escape from practice politics and administrative duties. Sound too good to be true? It does not have to be.
Like scores of dedicated physicians, you may have toyed with the idea of locum tenens practice. Perhaps you have thought,
There must be a catch, and set your ambition to hit the highway indefinitely on the back burner. Then, again, if you are in the middle to late
stages of your career, you may think that companies are only looking for candidates in their 20s and 30s. Prepare to have
these and other myths shattered. Read on to determine what you really can expect on the road.
Myth #1: If I leave my permanent job to become a mobile provider, it will be difficult to return to a regular, full-time position.
While it is possible that some potential employers who are unfamiliar with locum tenens practice initially may question your
competency or motivation for taking assignments, the majority of locum tenens physicians have found that this lifestyle has
enhanced their CVs. It offers the opportunity to gain additional experience, learn new procedures, and discover different
techniques, making you a well-rounded physician. The fact that you can adapt quickly and competently to new situations adds
to your marketability and can present an even more attractive image to potential employers. Myth #2: My obligation to a staffing company would extend beyond the length of an assignment.
You would only be responsible for the shifts to which you agreed during your contract period—which might range from one day
or weekend to multiple weeks and months. As an independent contractor, you can pick and choose contracts from multiple staffing
agencies, broadening your scope of available geographical destinations and clinical settings. Or, if you are like many other
professionals, you could opt to stay with the same firm because of strong recruiter relationships or the desire for continuity.
Myth #3: Free, private housing is a fallacy. I would be accountable for part of the expense.
Companies give you the option of choosing private housing or a stipend, should you wish to find your own accommodations within
a community or perhaps even travel in an RV. Staffing firms absorb the cost of furnishings and utilities, as well. Of course,
charges for certain items—like cable television
or entertainment fees, telephone bills, and pet deposits—are considered extras and you would be responsible for paying these
expenses. You also may be required to pay the difference in price to upgrade to larger accommodations or more deluxe furnishings
if these points were not negotiated in your contract.
Myth #4: I would have to use equipment that I am unfamiliar with... whether I am qualified to operate it or not.
Rest assured that your placement agency representative would not ask you to provide a level of care or to perform specific
responsibilities that would jeopardize patient safety or your licensure. Should a hospital representative need a physician
to be proficient with certain technology, this criterion would be discussed before your contract was signed. Besides documenting
your abilities for your company, and meeting recertification and licensure requirements in each new state, you have the opportunity
to address any organization-specific needs before applying for privileges during interviews with agency and contract facility
recruiters.
Myth #5: If I were placed in dirty or unsafe housing, I would have to stay there.
Should you have a legitimate gripe, the majority of company representatives would endeavor to move you to another location.
Many agencies have created housing departments to ensure you are satisfied with accommodations. Representatives not only have
long-standing relationships with the complexes, hotels, and realty companies that they routinely use, but also are in touch
with local police departments and Chambers of Commerce to confirm that lodging is in a safe, desirable area. When firms are
dealing with contract facilities for the first time, coordinators will often ask hospital or practice management to recommend
close, reputable housing.
