Anesthesiologists are in critical demand across the country. This high demand opens up a range of career options for anesthesiologists, allowing you to choose opportunities that best align with your career and life goals. If you’re seeking flexibility, better compensation, and a dash of adventure, locum tenens anesthesiologist jobs may be the best fit for you.
Locum tenens is the practice of utilizing temporary healthcare assignments to fill provider vacancies and supplement staffing during periods of high demand. Here’s what you need to know about locum anesthesia jobs.
How locum tenens anesthesiologists take charge of their careers
Anesthesiologists say there are several benefits to working locum tenens, including the flexibility that allows them to achieve a better work-life balance in anesthesia. Dr. Glenn Bolton, who turned to locum tenens work to ease into retirement and support the lifestyle he wanted for this stage in his career:
Through locums work, Dr. Bolton can live in Denver and work in Arizona during the colder months. “It has allowed me to enjoy the warm weather in Tucson and to golf more,” he says. He’s also spending more time with family, “just because of the scheduling flexibility.”
Locums work has also given Dr. Janae Davis the freedom to spend more time with her family. She has a daughter in graduate school, and she anticipates being able to “get a job for a couple of months where my daughter is and spend time with her. That’s exciting.”
Dr. Noel Lumpkin has been a traveling anesthesiologist for over a decade, and she credits locum tenens for healing her burnout and saving her career. “I was waking up every morning and dreading going to work,” she explains. “I was ready to quit medicine entirely before I started doing locum tenens. It has helped me avoid burnout, and it has helped me remain excited about what I do. I love my work, but I hated my job, and now I love both.”
Another benefit of locum tenens is the ability to expand your clinical skills by working in different facilities and settings. You can also build your professional network by working closely with anesthesiologists and other clinicians in other healthcare systems. For Dr. Bolton, simply breaking out of his daily routine helped to reinvigorate his career.
How much do locum anesthesiologists make?
Finding greater work-life balance and reducing burnout does not mean giving up anything on the compensation side. “I feel fairly compensated now,” Dr. Bolton says.
With demand for anesthesiologists continuing to grow, pay for locums anesthesiologists is very competitive.
Locum physicians are independent contractors. As such, they receive a Form 1099 to report non-employment income for tax purposes. Independent contractors must pay their own taxes but can deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses. Similarly, locum physicians are responsible for providing their own health and life insurance, as well as funding their own retirement plans.
Locum tenens pay explained: How pay works for locum tenens physicians
How travel and housing are arranged
Some locum tenens anesthesiologists seek jobs close to home, while others prefer to travel to new places. Either way, the locum tenens agencies will arrange and and pay for travel, logistics such as airfare, rental cars, and mileage. Similarly, the locums agency will arrange housing and cover costs, including rent, deposits, and utilities. Some locums anesthesiologists prefer to receive a stipend and secure their own housing, but locums agencies are experienced in attending to all the details.
“Global Medical Staffing does a good job in terms of organizing hotel housing. They are always on top of everything, so you really have peace of mind in that regard,” says Dr. Zec Slobodan, who has been working with Global Medical Staffing for several years.
The accommodation is typically a standard hotel room for very short assignments. When the assignment is a few weeks long, the housing may be a larger room and a kitchenette or a full suite. Locum anesthesiologists will be placed in a leased apartment for lengthier assignments.
Using a locum agency vs doing it yourself
Anesthesiologists interested in locum tenens work naturally want to maximize their earnings and opportunities, and may think that going it alone will help them achieve that. However, the reality is that it costs physicians nothing to work with agencies—and, in fact, agencies provide invaluable service and support.
Agencies take the administrative weight of working locums off your shoulders. They leverage established relationships with health systems nationwide to access a broader range of opportunities. Then, they help negotiate compensation, shift hours, call, and per diem rates to obtain the best terms possible.
After you’ve found the perfect assignment, an agency will manage and streamline licensing, credentialing, and privileging processes. On top of all that, agencies typically provide malpractice insurance—an expense you’ll have to take on if you choose to work on your own.
For anesthesiologist Dr. Paul Langevin, working with CompHealth alleviates worry and stress.
It's essential to do your research before choosing a locums agency. First, ensure any agency you work with is a member of the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO), which requires its members to adhere to high industry standards. Second, don’t hesitate to ask the agency for references—other anesthesiologists whom you can speak with to assess their experience with the agency. You can also ask around within your professional network for word-of-mouth recommendations.
Third, be sure to speak with multiple recruiters. A short conversation can be very revealing about the recruiter’s communication style, attention to detail, and interest in your needs and preferences.
Ensure the right agency fit: 7 factors to look for in a locums agency
Tips for new locum anesthesiologists
The idea of jumping into locums can be intimidating, but taking a few simple steps can make the process easier.
Expand your options with the IMLC. Suppose you want to travel beyond your home state. In that case, you may want to explore the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), which allows physicians to obtain medical licenses in multiple participating states.
Plan in advance. Begin looking for assignments several months in advance. Finding just the right assignment can take time, and then you’ll need to complete the licensing and credentialing process.
Ask all your questions. When you’re offered an assignment, your primary questions will likely be about compensation and the shift. However, be sure to ask about anything else that matters to you. What setting will you be working in, and what support will you have? What recreation opportunities are available in the location? How long is the drive from the airport?
Do your homework about the facility. “My advice would be to know the place, do your homework, and learn how they function. Are you going to work cases by yourself or are you going to work with a CRNA?” says Dr. Slobodan. “Pay close attention, especially in the first couple of weeks, to medical direction or supervision.”
Anesthesiologists turn to locum tenens work for various reasons: to supplement their income, to achieve greater flexibility and reduce burnout, and to ease into retirement. Whatever your motivation, locums anesthesiology is a great option for achieving your career and lifestyle goals.