2024 Survey of Locum Tenens Physicians and Advanced Practitioners
Escaping the Burdens of Employment
Close to three quarters of physicians and APPs surveyed (71%) said that “dissatisfaction with being an employee” was a most important or moderately important factor influencing their decision to work locum tenens. Several decades ago, the majority of physicians worked in small private practice groups which they and their partners owned, essentially running their own businesses in the classic style typified by television’s Marcus Welby. Today, the private practice model is rapidly going extinct. Seventy-four percent of physicians now are employed, either by hospitals, large medical groups (which often are investor owned), insurance companies or other corporate entities, according to data from Avalere compiled in a study conducted on behalf of the Physician Advocacy Institute (74% of physicians are hospital or corporate employees. Kelly Gooch. Becker’s Hospital Review. April 19, 2022) . Facing financial and other challenges, many physicians in recent years sold their small practices to hospitals or other entities, or left private groups for employment with larger organizations. Avalere researchers found the trend accelerated drastically after COVID, with more than 100,000 physicians becoming employees since January 2019. However, some of these physicians found that employment comes with its own challenges and is not a panacea for the pressures many physicians face. Employment with larger entities can raise the level of bureaucracy with which physicians have to contend. In addition, employed physicians may feel they have gained a measure of practice stability and security at the cost of their clinical autonomy. According to Medscape's Employed Physicians Report 2023, 56% of employed physicians said that what they like least about their jobs is less autonomy. (The physician autonomy problem. Riz Hatton. Becker’s ASC Review. January 32, 2024) . With the challenging aspects that both the private practice model and the employed model present, the survey suggests that some physicians and APPs are turning to locum tenens as an alternative. When working locum tenens, providers are less tied to the corporate culture and management dictates of the facilities in which they work, and, as free agents, are more able to exercise their clinical judgement as they see fit. If they are not in accord with the standards of care prevalent at a particular temporary assignment, they are free to leave and pursue different assignments elsewhere.
A Path to Flexibility
Physicians and APPs were asked by the survey to consider various aspects of locum tenens work and rate how rewarding they are. Virtually all respondents (97%) rated “freedom/flexibility” as a most rewarding or moderately rewarding aspect of locum tenens work. Healthcare workers of all types today are less amenable to inflexible work schedules that do not allow latitude for personal interests, family obligations or personal well-being. As was referenced above, schedule flexibility has become the key negotiating point for physicians and APPs considering permanent practice opportunities, often exceeding compensation on their list of job priorities. By working locum tenens, physicians and APPs control where and when they work.
© AMN Healthcare 2024
AMNHealthcare.com | 18
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease