Why You Will Love the Locum Life – 140

Interview with Dr. Andrew Wilner

On this week’s episode of the PNC podcast, Dr. Andrew Wilner explains why he believes you will love the locum life.

Andrew Wilner is an internist, neurologist and epileptologist. He is also the author of The Locum Life and a locum tenens expert. This Latin term basically refers to a person serving as a fill-in, such as a substitute teacher. In the medical world, a locum tenens doctors fill a temporary role, replacing physicians on a short-term basis.

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Will You Love the Locum Life?

For many, the career of a locum tenens doctor has the benefits of more freedom and more control over where and when you work. The locum life allows you to:

• Fight physician burnout by making your own schedule;
• Stay in a clinical practice on your own terms;
• Travel and work in various hospitals, in sometimes exotic locations, if desired; and
• Customize the kinds of jobs you accept.

Locums is the way to balance my outside interest, my personal life, with maintaining my identity and role and income as a physician.

However, not every one will love the locum life. Before you embark on this  form of practice, you should consider:

• You are responsible for arranging new contracts, which requires intentional planning months in advance;
• Sometimes, despite your planning, contracts fall through at the last minute;
• Constant travel may mean leaving your family behind for extended periods of time; and
• Credentialing is a tedious but necessary process.

The Three Kinds of Locums

Andrew categorizes doctors into three types of locum tenens situations, based on the stage of their career.

New Graduates

Some doctors choose to work as locums fresh out of residency. They may still be unsure of where they want to begin their careers in terms of geography and culture. Locum tenens work is a great way to get test out different practice settings.

They may have a spouse still in training. So, they wish to explore one or two temproraty positions until the spouse completes their training so they can relocate together.

Mid-career

Doctors who decide to work as locums mid-career are often planning a career change. Perhaps they want to switch to a nonclinical career. Locums allows them to maintain an income as they work on their new venture. Sometimes mid-career doctors take a locum job during their vacation time to earn extra income.

Retirement

Lastly, some doctors become locums when they aren’t quite ready for retirement. Rather than cut back the hours they work at their current job, they may want to retire “in glory,” take a break, and then take temporary positions they can schedule as they wish. This way they continue working on their own terms, and often find that the love the locum life.

Summary

Although locum tenens work is not for everyone, it is always greatly appreciated by those using your services. Locums are often filling a desperate need. So the overworked doctors and underserved patients will always be thankful for your help. That's another reason physicins come to love the locum life.

During our conversation, Andrew also prvides ticps on how to successfully schedule your jobs, and his perspective on how the Coronavirus pandemic has affected locums around the country.

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