What Makes an Ideal Locums Candidate?

Career or Side Work

Locum tenens is a common entry point for physicians who have chosen to become self-employed and have turned their back on traditional employment.

As I conclude my nearly 30-year career as a rural family doctor, I am grateful that my financial independence allows me the choice to work rather than the necessity to work. The freedom that comes with this is empowering, and it's a goal I aim to inspire all members of our SimpliMD community to achieve.

In late June, I will conclude my 10-year tenure as a long-term independent contractor and transition to short-term independent contracting in the fall. I expect to work approximately 12-16 weeks per year, but we'll see how it unfolds.

I know that for many of you, working as locums has become your career. Given the professional autonomy associated with being a contractor, I am not surprised by that.

On a side note, I frequently speak with individuals who work locums and opt for a sole proprietorship as their business structure for their 1099 income. While this choice is straightforward and offers Schedule C tax deductions, for high net worth individuals like you, a professional corporation is a more beneficial business structure. Check out my blog post in this subject here. And review the graphic below.

If you are physician who is doing locums, or any form of side work, I encourage you to reach out to me now and for $99 micro-business consultation and I will review your unique situation and help you determine if a micro-corporation would be a better fit for you. Additionally, I will assist you in connecting with my legal network, who can help you establish it.

Now, let's explore how you can best prepare yourself for locum work, as shared by a locum agency at Hayes Locums. I work closely with them and also collaborate with a few other agencies to source jobs. If you don’t have an agent representing you, I invite you to reach out to Louis with Hayes and tell Tod with SimpliMD sent you.

What Makes the Ideal Locums Candidate?

January 10, 2024 Hayes Locums

Locums agencies are always seeking skilled providers who are ready to take on rewarding locum tenens work.

Whether you are new to locum tenens or a seasoned veteran, there are certain qualifications and characteristics that make up an ideal candidate for locum tenens work. 

Here are four attributes of an ideal locum tenens candidate:

Certifications & Qualifications

At Hayes Locums, we are dedicated to providing quality candidates who will provide quality care to their patients. Board- certified candidates are highly desired by many hospitals, and for most locum tenens jobs, it is required that you be at-least board eligible.

Board-certified candidates bring a higher level of expertise to their role, which not only makes them a more attractive candidate––it also means that they will be able to bring that expertise to hospitals that are in need of those skills and training.

If your specialty has an advanced medical certification associated with it, such as ATLS, ACLS, BLS or PALS, having an active certification can make you a more desirable candidate, and can often be required by the facility. It’s also a good idea to keep copies of your certifications, and keep track of their expiration dates.

Availability & Flexibility

While we work to fill a wide variety of hospital schedules, candidates who are flexible in terms of availability often have more success being placed. More flexibility on your part means we can find the widest variety of roles that you might be best suited for. 

Required availability varies by specialty and each specific facilities’ needs––some look to fill full-time vacancies, others look for weekend coverage, and still others may just be looking for someone to take call coverage to give their full-time doctors a break––but physicians with relatively flexible schedules have a higher chance of finding the best possible fit.

That commitment to flexibility goes both ways––our consultants are specialists in finding the right match between facility and provider, that suits both of their scheduling needs and preferences.

Licensure

Possession of IMLC (Interstate Medical Licensure Compact) is a highly desirable asset for locums physicians, as it enables them to easily practice across state lines. Some positions require that physicians hold an active state medical license, or at least hold an active IMLC. 

While our licensing team can work with physicians who aren’t part of the IMLC to obtain their state licenses, the process often takes much longer. Joining the IMLC can make you a more highly desirable candidate, and broadens your scope of potential opportunities for locum tenens work. 

Adaptability

Locum tenens work requires you to be adaptable and resourceful, because you’re working in a new environment, which may have different technology, resources, and medical teams.

Locum tenens candidates who are comfortable practicing in a variety of environments can be a potential match for many different locum jobs. Some assignments may require them to be able to thrive in busy practice environments, and to efficiently manage the demands of a fast-paced healthcare setting. Other assignments may depend upon the physician to practice in a solo environment, relying on a smaller support team than they are used to. Almost all locum tenens jobs will require that they adapt to a different protocol or way of doing things, so adaptability is key.