7. Self promotion – Twenty years
ago, physicians would have considered it unethical to market and promote
their practices. Today, the internet has changed all that and
physicians must use every angle they can to get the word out to
prospective patients. Locum tenens physicians don’t have to worry about
promoting themselves or their practices because when their assignment
is complete, they move on to the next one. Most locums do recognize
however that they need to provide excellent patient care and be easy to
work with so that they are either invited back when a vacancy opens up
or can land a plum assignment in a new locale.
8. Long hours – Physicians with
office or hospital practices rarely work an eight hour day. When you
have administrative responsibilities in addition to medical
responsibilities, the day is long. If you have a family or want to spend
your free time somewhere other than work, the long hours can take their
toll. That’s not to say that locums don’t work long hours when needed.
They do! But locums tend to be able to set their schedules and work when
they want to, and if they want time off, they just schedule their
assignments around it.
