Healthcare Career Blog, Physician Blogs

Locum Tenens Opportunities for a Difficult Economy

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 07.27.2009

Locum tenens positions are a valuable opportunity at any stage in a medical career, but in today’s trying economy, with healthcare reform under consideration, locum tenens jobs are looking even more appealing.

Locum tenens jobs offer new physicians the opportunity to “try on” various locations and types of positions before deciding on their long term plans. Locum tenens positions are available all over the country and in various clinical settings, so physicians can find placement in hospitals, small offices, or larger practices to see which provides the best fit before jumping head-first into a long-term commitment. Locum tenens opportunities are particularly valuable in today’s economy when the financial risk of starting a practice or joining a small office may be too great for new physicians to take on.

Young physicians struggling to pay off medical school debt will find that benefits such as competitive salaries and free housing make locum tenens positions a great way to earn extra money during difficult financial times. Physicians who are looking for a change but who have families and may not have the luxury of moving around can find locum tenens jobs near their home as a way to get out of a struggling practice. Physicians can also pick up a few locum tenens shifts each week as a way to supplement their income when trying to save money for bigger life changes – a new house or baby or a new practice or office building.

Retired physicians or those nearing retirement may find that the recent economy has caused their retirement funds to dwindle. Taking on a few locum tenens shifts can be a way to supplement and stretch those retirement funds while waiting for the market to stabilize.

Similarly, other physicians who have taken time away from their career – to start a family, for example – may find a part time locum tenens position a nice way to make some extra money or to ease back into the medical profession.

Locum tenens jobs offer strong career and financial opportunities at any time, but in today’s particularly difficult financial climate, more and more physicians are seeking out the benefits of locum tenens.  To see if locum tenens may be right for you, visit www.candidatedirect.com.