Monday 22 August 2011

Locum Tenens vs. Permanent Practice


Locum Tenens Vs Permanent
Still not sure if working as a locum tenens is right for you?  Do you find yourself wondering if it’s best to jump into permanent practice straight after graduation?  Let’s weigh the pros and cons of each of these options.  Hopefully, this will put into prospective the path that best meets your needs!

Locum Tenens

Pros:
·         Affords you time to explore different types of practices before deciding how you want to     pursue your career.
·         Lodging is often provided with contracts.
·         You aren’t committed to working under one contract forever!
·         Excellent salary - in some specialties, locum tenens providers can earn more income than they     could in traditional private practice.
·         Provides an opportunity to travel and see new parts of the world.
·         Ability to focus on patient care instead of expending time and energy on administrative work.
·         According to the latest research, there are close to 3 opportunities currently available for each     locum tenens provider on average.  Since the demand is greater than the supply, the choices     available are numerous.
·         Offers the opportunity to get paid, improve skills, pad the CV with experience, and network     with other health care specialists.
·         Freedom to negotiate your own expenses.

Cons:
·         Contracts may not include total benefits.
·         Working as a locum tenens may affect taxes differently than in a permanent position. 
·         No stability in contract work.  This may not be the most secure means to an end, if you plan on     settling down.

Permanent Position

Pros:
·         Secure/stable with long contracts.
·         Opportunity to develop real roots in a community.
·         Able to make a permanent residence and have a family in the community of your choice.
·         Benefits and retirement included!
·         Simpler tax management.
Cons
·         Limits your ability to travel.
·         Salary may be less than or not as flexible as that of a locum tenens.
·         Must deal with office politics, overhead expenses and administrative hassles.
·         Will need to provide living and travel expenses for locums.
 Hope this was a helpful prospective.

We remain, as always,

Monday 15 August 2011

Retired Tenens


Retired Tenens
So you’ve just retired from active practice, and now you’re wondering if a contract as a locum tenens is right for you.  Let’s shed some light on that.  We would never try to convince you NOT to retire; retirement is a very enticing opportunity and more than a little hard to pass up.  Running a professional office can be busy, strict and very challenging on more than one level, but working as a semi-retired professional can have its advantages.  Continue working part time as a locum tenens, and enjoy a relaxing retirement with a limited schedule that fits around your leisure time.  No more of the hustle and bustle of running a practice.  As a locum tenens, you can make your own schedule, decide where you work, and decide what days you want to work.  Does what you love do with all the perks, yet do it in a stress free environment.  What more can you ask from the working world?  It’s la dolce vita.

We remain, as always,




Thursday 4 August 2011

Commitment Issues: Contract Duration for a Locum Tenens

Contract Locums
We’re not saying you have commitment issues. We’re just trying to address a very common question among locum tenens, especially those considering entering the field: How long is a locum tenens’ contract?  The most important thing to remember before considering work as a locum tenens, is you have freedom Signing up as a locum tenens does not force you to work somewhere you do not want.  You have the choice to go where you want and the opportunity to find a contract that begins when you are ready.  With this freedom comes an inherent comfort in the duration of your contract. 
Contracts are typically very flexible.  Contracts may be either part time or full time work.  Contracts are filled by recent graduates, semi-retired professionals and all others in between.  Some contracts may call for a minor, part time commitment of just a few days a week; other contracts require a full time commitment and are on a fixed schedule.  You may well choose to work weekends or only week days.  Some contracts are designed to cover from a few days to a week, while the senior physician takes a well deserved vacation.  Other contracts may demand several months or a year (or more) minimum.  Some contracts may offer that a locum tenens may buy into their practice when the initial contract is completed.  The possibilities are limitless and no two contracts are ever the same!  Find the opportunity that fits perfectly in your life.  Remember that scheduling a locum tenens is determined by the needs of the facility. 

We remain, as always,

Tuesday 2 August 2011

Comfortable Lifestyle for Locums


Moonlight positions
A few extra bucks in the bank can lend itself to a much more comfortable lifestyle.  It’s nice to be able to refurnish the living room every couple of years, or steal a weekend away at some vineyard in the countryside whenever you feel like it A great way to make more-than-a-little extra cash is to moonlight as a locum tenens health care provider.  Of course, moonlighting requires a time commitment which will depend heavily on your schedule.  But if you have the time, chances are there is a contract out there for you.  It can’t hurt to look into it, right?  My little (but expensive) vice: long weekends in New York City, complete with shopping, one or two Broadway shows and a stroll down Museum Mile.  Sadly, these weekends are anything but cheap!  If you’re interested in taking on a temporary contract to be able to do, see or buy anything you’ve ever wanted, I might suggest looking into a moonlighting position through the LOCUMS4YOU website.  Moonlighting positions in your specialty are out there.  You can find the perfect position with hardly any effort at all!

We remain, as always,