"After completing my residency in 1975 and serving 2 years in the United States Air Force, I accepted a permanent position in a multi-specialty practice near my hometown. I was so satisfied with both the location and the work that I stayed there for 25 years. And 4 years ago when I was ready for a change, I took a position as a hospitalist just 35 miles away."

Although Dr. Bley had no interest in moving permanently, he and his wife, Beverly, were very fond of the Northeast. "My wife is from New England, and we always had a wonderful time visiting her family. We loved the area so much, in fact, that we finally decided to buy a second home there."

Unfortunately, Dr. Bley's schedule did not afford him much time to visit the area. "It takes 2 days to drive from one house to the other, and I rarely had enough time off to make the trip. I knew that locum tenens contracts would grant me the flexibility I needed, but I was a bit apprehensive about giving up my steady job and the guaranteed salary that went along with it."

CAREFUL PLANNING

Making the most of opportunities

Since Dr. Bley and his wife were determined to make the most of their new home, they met with their financial advisor to devise a plan. "After more than 30 years of practice, I was ready to scale back my hours. But I needed some income and I still enjoyed seeing patients, so we developed a plan that would allow me to move toward retirement gradually. The first year, I would provide services for 8 to 10 months, then 6 months the second year, 4 months the next year, and so on until I was ready to retire completely."

With a financial strategy in place, Dr. Bley set his new plan in motion. "Ideally, I was hoping to find opportunities near my vacation home during the late spring, summer, and fall, and spend the winter near my original home farther south. I obtained a license for the new state and contacted a couple of staffing agencies."

PERSONAL CONNECTIONS

Dr. Bley was quickly offered opportunities from two different staffing companies. Ultimately, he accepted his first contract through Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Weatherby Locums. "Both opportunities sounded promising, but two of the doctors from the Weatherby Locums contract contacted me personally, which made a big difference. Though I was excited to provide services at a new location, I wanted to make sure we all had similar expectations."

Once he spoke with his future colleagues, Dr. Bley felt confident stepping into the four-doctor/one-physician assistant practice, which was located about 200 miles from his vacation home. "The 16-week contract started in July, allowing me to commute to the new house all summer. Plus, I was happy to help out my fellow family physicians. The most senior doctor had retired and I was there to fill his position until the permanent replacement arrived in the late fall."

As it turned out, Dr. Bley was able to assist the group even more than he had originally anticipated. "Sadly, the wife of one of the other doctors suffered a tragic accident the day I arrived. The whole community was devastated. I helped fill the unexpected vacancy and was pleased I could help keep the practice functioning smoothly during that difficult time."

The other doctors and patients seemed to feel the same way. "All of my colleagues expressed how grateful they were to have the extra help. And the patients—who range from newborns to the elderly—were not at all hesitant to see someone new. They were just happy not to have to wait too long for an appointment. Some even asked me to stay permanently, which I consider a tremendous compliment."