Locum tenens physicians are gaining favor in the healthcare world, as 94 percent of healthcare facility managers report using them within the last year.
The study, reported by the Healthcare Financial Management Association, says the number of facilities using locum tenens physicians increased from 91 percent in 2014 and 74 percent in 2012.
Locum tenens provide temporary relief for healthcare facilities in need of physicians. The need could be caused by anything from a doctor shortage in a rural area, to filling in for a physician who is on vacation. Many doctors choose to become locum tenens for the travel opportunities, extra income, and to experience new clinical environments, as locum tenens contracts are typically short term.
The need for locum tenens may continue to increase in the coming years. USA Today found 7 Cities Losing Their Doctors for reasons such as low incomes, high uninsured rates, and the relative age of the region’s population. The use of locum tenens could fill the healthcare gaps in these areas, which are struggling to find full-time physicians.
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