It's understandable to assume that a physician's career path is set in stone. You'll spend all your time in a single medical facility or set up a clinic trying to build up your reputation. Most people are well aware that a career in medicine will be hectic, which is why many often resign themselves to stress when they pursue a physician's career versus considering the benefits of locum tenens.
While there's no denying a career in healthcare is typically stressful, in most cases, it's only due to physicians being unable to balance things out. The reason for the stress is the lack of overall control, something that many medical professionals feel is out of their hands.
However, you have a lot more control than you might think. Locum tenens is a career alternative, giving medical professionals the chance to tackle different assignments in various locations, filling in the role of a temporary medical professional. It might not seem like such a big deal compared to the traditional career, but there's a lot more to it. Here are some of the most significant benefits of locum tenens.
Of all the advantages brought by locum tenens, being given complete control over how you tackle your career is something that you won’t find in most industry ladders. As a physician, it’s understandable to expect a lack of overall control, but with the right locum tenens company, you can work together to strategize and figure out the best course of action.
For example, depending on your circumstances, you might be more willing to go to remote areas in exchange for much higher pay. A good agency can give you as many options as you desire, as well as offer flexible contracts regarding how much time you spend in the medical facility. As a result of this control, you gain something else that most physicians wish they had, including the following:
Your schedule as a medical professional will likely be hectic if you take the traditional route. While you might have a written plan, it will rarely play out consistently. You'll always have situations where you push for overtime and have to tackle all forms of administrative work to get the job done. Naturally, physicians end up getting used to such a lifestyle, but at the cost of other aspects of their life. They end up resigning themselves to a hectic schedule where there is little to no control.
On the other hand, locum tenens can help you normalize your schedule in surprising ways. For example, when they tell you that you have a specific schedule, they mean it. Locum tenens physicians are not expected to handle administrative work. The result is a job that actually feels like a job rather than a schedule that never sticks to what’s on the dotted line.
While you might have a more manageable schedule when it comes to locum tenens, keep in mind that the level of challenge might be more overwhelming. You're expected to do your job as a physician, and medical facilities don't hire such agents for no reason. It's a chance for you to earn more while at the same time proving yourself as a competent medical professional. Just because you have more control over the schedule doesn't make it any less challenging — it only makes things easier to balance out your lifestyle.
There are many benefits to locum tenens, even if it might not be the career choice for everyone. That being said, there are plenty of medical professionals out there that would benefit greatly from locum tenens with little to no risk.
