Locums Life Lessons

Your Guide to Surviving and Thriving as a Locums Doc

Dr. Stephanie Freeman

• Publisher: Purposely Created Publishing Group
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781644841785
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Health Care Delivery

Burnout among physicians is at an all-time high. Long hours, extended time away from family, decreasing reimbursements, and lack of professional support have many physicians looking at career alternatives. In Locums Life Lessons: Words of Wisdom from a Lifelong Locums Doc, Dr. Stephanie E. Freeman reveals how working as a locums physician is a viable option to traditional physician employment.

Locums Life Lessons is a collection of essays that highlights the decades-long experiences of a vet in the locums field. By combining both the art and the science of doing locums, this informative, tell-all guide provides concrete strategies for working as a locums doctor as well as encouragement for dealing with the emotional issues associated with this position. With topics ranging from myths and misconceptions to ways to elevate your locums game, this vital book will help you not only survive but thrive in the world of locums.

 

CHAPTER 1

Thinking About Quitting Medicine? Don’t!

 

HOW DOING LOCUMS CAN SAVE YOUR MEDICAL CAREER

Burnout among physicians is at an all-time high. More and more physicians are disillusioned with the practice of medicine. The long hours, extended time away from family, decreasing reimbursements, and lack of professional support have many physicians looking at career alternatives. This trend of physicians leaving the practice of clinical medicine or the practice of medicine all together is alarming. This only serves to worsen the shortage of practicing physicians that already exists.

We physicians are faced with a dilemma. How do we continue to practice medicine but do it in a way that is more humane than our current practice or employment structure? How do we continue to care for our patients and care for our families and ourselves at the same time? What can we do that will prevent us from throwing in the towel and quitting medicine all together?

LOCUMS

Working as a locums physician is the answer to these issues. By providing freedom, flexibility, and increased pay, working as a locums physician is a viable option to traditional physician employment and the traditional physician practice model.

Working as a locums physician gives you scheduling flexibility. You are free to work when you want, and you can refuse to work when you don’t want to. This type of freedom is very liberating because one of the biggest causes of physician burnout is a loss of control. Physicians get burned out when they feel as if they have no control over their work schedule. Well, working as a locum is a cure for this because you can work as much or as little as you want.

Furthermore, because you are an independent contractor when you are working as a locums physician, the hourly pay is typically higher than the hourly pay in an employed position. This higher pay may mean that you do not have to work as much to make the same amount of money. As a result, locums can give you the freedom and flexibility to pursue other interests both medical and non-medical and still maintain your standard of living.

Finally, working as a locums physician with the increased scheduling flexibility, increased pay, and increased freedom gives you the opportunity to create the lifestyle you desire and achieve optimal work-life balance. It enables you to spend more time with family and friends. It enables you to take more time to care for yourself. It enables you to pursue other interests and hobbies that you may not have had time for.

So, there is no need for you to quit medicine. The key is to learn how to practice medicine on your own terms. Locums is just the way to do that.

 

CHAPTER 2

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

 

In order to have the career and life you want, it is imperative that you overcome any limiting beliefs that may have hindered your progress. A limiting belief is any belief “which constrains us in some way.” We often have limiting beliefs as it pertains to our jobs, careers, personal life, money, etc. Limiting beliefs are insidious because they are so ingrained in our thinking that we don’t even recognize them. We believe and behave as though they are true.

One of the major limiting beliefs that physicians have deals with what we believe constitutes success. Many of us believe that career success can only be achieved by practicing medicine in the traditional way. Therefore, we are reluctant to pursue non-traditional ways of practicing medicine. In order to be successful as a locums physician, you must overcome these limiting beliefs. In order to overcome limiting beliefs, you must identify them. While in the process of identifying your limiting beliefs, be specific. What do you specifically believe about a subject? How has that belief impacted your life?

After you realize that you have limiting beliefs, you must redefine them. For example, if you believe that the only rewarding medical career you can have is if you work in an academic institution, you may miss out on other rewarding job opportunities. Likewise, if you believe the key to financial success is having a steady job as an employed physician, you may miss out on other lucrative financial opportunities.

CHAPTER 3

Seven Things to Consider Before Working as a Locums

Working as a locums physician has many benefi ts inclu...