The Growing Use of Locums Tenens Dentists

BACKGROUND: Physicians, Nurses, and Now Dentists Embrace the Temporary Staffing Model

Locum tenens, or the practice of one clinical professional “taking the place of” another, has been accepted in medicine for many years. As far back as the 1800s or earlier physicians would call upon colleagues to “mind the store” for them while they were away on travels or for other reasons. The practice continued into the modern era, though on a limited, ad hoc basis. This began to change in the 1970s when the federal government, concerned about physician shortages in rural areas, offered grants to private companies to help staff these areas. The physician locum tenens staffing industry was born, and hospitals, medical groups and other facilities now invest billions of dollars each year on locum tenens physician staffing. One reason for the rapid growth of the industry is that the physician shortage has grown more widespread, with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projecting in a June 2021 study a deficit of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034 ( The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand. Association of American Medical Colleges. June 2021 ). Hospitals, FQHCs, medical groups and other facilities that cannot find permanent physicians in a timely manner are using locum tenens physicians to maintain services and revenue during the interim. According to Staff Care’s 2020 Review of Temporary Physician Staffing Trends , 85% of hospitals and medical groups use locum tenens physicians, usually to hold a place until permanent physicians can be recruited, to address turnover, or to fill-in while physicians are on vacation, sick or otherwise absent.

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