Thirty-seven percent of physicians and advanced practice providers that work on a locum tenens basis do it as a side job on top of an additional permanant role as a clinician, according to an April report from AMN Healthcare.
The "Survey of Locum Tenens Physicians and Advanced Practitioners" for 2024 surveyed 589 physicians and APPs nationwide who have worked on a locum tenens basis within the last 18 months about their experiences and perspectives working as locum tenens providers.
Here are five findings providing insight into healthcare's locum tenens workforce:
1. Eighty-six percent of respondents said that a better schedule was an important consideration in their decision to work locum tenens. Addressing feelings of burnout was the second most common reason, cited by 80% of survey respondents.
2. Ninety-six percent of respondents said that freedom and flexibility is the most rewarding or moderately rewarding aspect of working as a locum tenens provider.
3. Among respondents, 75% said that decreasing compensation was an important factor in their choice to work on a locum tenens basis.
4. Nearly half of those surveyed (47%) said that working locum tenens was more satisfying than working in a permanent position.
5. Forty-five percent of respondents said that they would stop working locum tenens and return to permanent practice if they were offered a position with a favorable schedule, adequate compensation and other factors.