Surgeons enter the medical field to have a meaningful impact on the lives of others. However, they often feel bogged down in tasks other than patient care and discover they need more freedom to practice surgery on their own terms. Locum tenens positions allow them to do so. What are the benefits of locum tenens for surgeons?
A medical professional might want to know how locum tenens works for surgeons. They have been told taking on these positions allows surgeons to choose assignments, so they only work when they want to. They choose the location and make excellent pay for sharing their services with those in need.
Good Candidates for Locum Tenens Work
A surgeon must determine whether they are a good candidate for locum tenens work. Surgeons can find assignments that meet their needs exactly, and the easiest way to do so is to work with a healthcare staffing agency. The agency considers the requirements set forth by the surgeon for assignments and finds healthcare facilities that can fulfill those requirements. Surgeons who can be flexible typically have the most success with locum tenens positions because healthcare staffing needs are constantly changing.
Practice Settings
Surgeons may be asked to work in a variety of practice settings. Some surgeons have experience in large urban hospitals that regularly handle trauma cases. They may not be the best fit in a small rural hospital where they could be asked to do endoscopies. The healthcare staffing agency considers this when finding surgeons’ assignments. They try to match the surgeon with similar practice settings, although a surgeon may wish to branch out and try new things. They should let the agency representative know this so they can find matching positions.
Working With a Staffing Agency
Surgeons find working with a staffing agency simplifies finding locum tenens jobs. The agency learns the surgeon’s background and priorities while gathering information about their licensing and clinical skill sets. It also asks about the surgeons’ schedule preferences and availability to find positions. Once a position has been found, the agency shares the details with the surgeon to see if they want to accept the assignment. Both parties must prioritize quality over quantity for the best relationship. This relationship must be built on trust, communication, and respect to be successful.
Choosing a Healthcare Staffing Agency
When comparing healthcare staffing agencies, surgeons should look for ones that prioritize this relationship rather than focusing on the bottom line. The agency should remain in contact with surgeons even when they aren’t actively seeking positions. They can alert the surgeon to changing requirements, continuing education opportunities, and more to advance their career and help expand their opportunities.
Preparing for a Locum Tenens Assignment
Surgeons must also do their part regarding locum tenens assignments. Credentialing takes time, so surgeons must approach a locum tenens agency before they need assignments. Plan to do so at least three months before searching for assignments. Six months is better, as it gives the agency time to ensure all steps are completed.
Have all documents ready to share with the agency. The agency shares these documents with the organization requesting talent, and each organization differs in terms of what it requires. Surgeons find their agency very helpful in ensuring all paperwork is available and submitted to the organization promptly.
Surgeons enjoy exploring different options and tackling new cases. They love helping others, and locum tenens work allows them to do so. Finding the right opportunities is easier when the surgeon works with a staffing agency. They can focus on patient care while the agency does the rest. Learn more today about the many benefits of locum tenens work.
