Local locum tenens may seem contradictory, but locums work doesn’t have to include travel to far-flung places.
“People have a lot of myths about being a locum physician like you’re going to be living a nomadic lifestyle. They think you’re going from one hotel to another and living out of a suitcase, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way,” said hospitalist Dr. Neha Janakiriman.
Why choose local locum tenens
Many physicians and advanced practitioners opt to work locum tenens close to home, which gives them all the flexibility and earning potential of locums without lengthy travel. Here are some of the primary motivations for keeping it local.
Work/life balance
Staying local can help providers stay engaged with their families or pursue hobbies and other interests. “I’m doing all the things I’ve always wanted to do,” said OB/GYN Dr. Peter Kim, who retired from full-time, permanent employment and instead works locums near home. The move enabled him to homeschool one of his children and coach another child’s baseball team.
Flexibility
Dr. Jankiriman said hospitalist schedules can be rigid and that rigidity was particularly difficult for a mother of a young child. Working local locum tenens gave her the freedom to set a schedule that fit her life. “I’m not bound to a seven-on, seven-off schedule,” she said. “I can do 10 or 14 days in a row and take the rest of the time off to spend with my little one.” Dr. Jankiriman has been able to visit 10 countries in the past two years due to her schedule flexibility.
Greater income
Working locum tenens raises the limit on your earning potential. “You cannot work more than one full-time employment,” noted Dr. Janakiriman. “Being a locum, the most I’ve worked is 24 shifts a month. That can help you pay your student loans faster.”
Hospitalist Dr. Gary Trewick reduced his student loan burden by 85% within three years by working locum tenens close to home. “Initially, my plan was just to pay down my loans and then maybe settle into a full-time position — but there are many more benefits to [locums], so I may never sign a regular W-2 contract again,” he said.
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Serving the local community
Dr. Michael Cormican, a trauma surgeon and surgical critical care intensivist, began working locum tenens in his community in addition to his regular full-time employment. “The money is nice,” he said, but his real motivation was making an impact in his community. “It just seems like the right thing to do,” he said. “If I’m not doing anything to give back, it just seems sort of selfish.”
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What staying local looks like
Local locum tenens can take several forms, varying in travel distance and assignment length. Generally, a travel distance of up to 200 miles is considered local.
Dr. Janakiraman said her longest driving distance from home has been 30 minutes, while Dr. Cormican stays even closer to home — in some cases, just two miles. “Where I live is centrally located for two or three of the hospitals I go to,” he said.
Assignments that are an easy commute from home don’t involve hotel stays. However, accommodations are available if your drive time is longer.
Dr. Kim tries to take assignments that don’t keep him away from his family for too long. “Usually, the longest I’m away is about a week. Other times, I’ve found that there’s plenty of work locally and within short distances.”
Similarly, assignment lengths can vary from a few shifts to a few months. Dr. Cormican fills in shifts here and there in local hospitals, while Dr. Trewick’s longest assignment has been six months.
The benefits of staying local
The most obvious benefit of working as a local locum tenens is avoiding lengthy air travel. However, several other perks can also make it worthwhile.
Reduced licensing burden
Providers who travel far and wide may need to obtain multiple state licenses. Working local locums eliminates the need to apply for new licenses, making it easier and faster to get to work.
Community involvement
Staying local lets you get involved with your children’s schools or other community organizations. Also, working in local facilities helps you build strong relationships within the local healthcare ecosystem.
Spontaneity
Full-time employees often need to schedule time off months in advance, making spontaneous plans impossible. Local, short-term locums work enables spur-of-the-moment activities and vacations. Dr. Kim, for example, was able to take a trip to London with his son without “having to really plan things out six months in advance like I used to have to do.”
How to find local locum tenens jobs
The availability of local locums work depends entirely on your community. Recruiters say that large East and West Coast cities may have fewer local opportunities because these cities have a high density of providers. Small towns may also offer fewer opportunities. Mid-sized cities seem to be the sweet spot for local work.
That said, you can take steps to improve the likelihood of finding local assignments no matter where you live.
Work with multiple agencies
It’s all about supply and demand, said Dr. Trewick. “I made sure I had multiple recruiters working on my behalf at all times to maximize the number of days I could work in a month.”
On the other hand, it pays to be selective about who you partner with. Research locum tenens agencies and choose two or three to move forward with. This will ensure you only receive assignments that match your requirements instead of a flood of so-so opportunities.
Expand your distance requirements
You may need to cast a wider net to find enough local work. If you’re willing to drive up to five hours for an assignment, you’ll have more opportunities while avoiding air travel. Plus, you’ll still be close enough to travel home when you have a few days between shifts.
Be flexible
Being flexible about your availability, assignment preferences, and maximum driving distance will enable you to pick up more work. A little patience can help, too. “Things are so fluid,” said Dr. Cormican. “There’s a lot of flexibility in it. If there’s nothing open today, that doesn’t mean there’s not going to be anything open tomorrow.”