Health care is evolving faster than ever, and so is the industry’s professional landscape. Keeping up with the latest trends is essential for finding opportunities that reward talented medical practitioners. Keep an eye on the biggest locum tenens trends in 2022 with this guide.
What Is the Course of Locum Tenens Opportunities?
The biggest locum tenens trends in 2022 are the vast number of doctors, physician’s assistants, and nurse practitioners who are “holding the place” for another provider. Today, 50,000 physicians work temporary assignments each year, and this practice is changing the lives of patients who count on them. If fact, more than 90% of health care facilities in all 50 states and countries like New Zealand and Australia hire locum tenens.
America’s communities are facing a critical shortage of health care workers, resulting in a growing patient-to-provider gap. That’s why 25% more health care facility managers hired locum tenens physicians in 2021 than just five years ago. These providers fill in where they’re needed to relieve burnout, maintain patient satisfaction, and offset personnel shortages in underserved areas so facilities stay fully staffed.
Who Are the Locum Tenens Currently Trending?
The practice of one doctor filling in for another is a long-standing tradition. Whether the medical professional is ill, traveling, or away from their practice, this time-honored courtesy is now a viable option for a full-time career. Locum tenens can be almost any medical professional, regardless of specialty.
Most locum tenens are physicians. However, 16% of providers are physician assistants and nurse practitioners. It can also be a fulfilling path after retirement. 58% of physicians over 55 reportthat they’ll continue to serve as locum tenens after leaving full-time practice. Even newly licensed doctors find this career path rewarding, with 16% of locum tenens starting this right after training, and 90% are satisfied with their career choice.
Biggest Locum Tenens Trends By Specialty
Locum tenens opportunities are trending for 2022, and many specialties are in high demand. For example, a cardiologist can earn up to $200 an hour working a traditional Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. position, while a pediatric surgeon can secure a job making $3,500 a day over a three-day weekend while on-call. A critical care locum tenens can also find a terrific assignment, like a week-long position that starts at $225 hourly.
Locum Tenens Trends in the IMLCC
The purpose of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLCC) is to provide physicians with an expedited pathway to licensure in multiple states. Founders created this voluntary program in 2017 for medical professionals with exemplary practice histories.
The IMLCC currently serves 35 member states, the District of Columbia, and Guam. More than 12,000 physicians have used the program to secure over 32,000 licenses through March 2021. The organization also reported a considerable increase in the number of completed applications in 2022. That figure rose to 4,510 — a tremendous leap from just 654 hopefuls in 2018.
Some of the biggest locum tenens trends in 2022 are happening around the country. Become a part of this essential and growing health care industry. Find out more by contacting expert placement counselors today.
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