2024 Survey of Locum Tenens Physicians and Advanced Practitioners
Effect of Locum Tenens on Physician and APP Supply Until recently it could be argued that ability of physicians and APPs to work locum tenens had a generally positive effect on physician supply. Traditionally, locum tenens allowed older providers who had retired from permanent practice to continue to see patients. Though not always full-time-equivalents (FTEs), these providers remained in the workforce, whereas without the option of locum tenens they may have elected to stop seeing patients altogether. The 2024 survey suggests this may no longer be the case. The survey indicates that more physicians and APPs are starting locum tenens work earlier in their careers and fewer after they have retired (see chart):
Physicians and APPs Who First Worked Locum Tenens
AFTER RETIRING FROM PERMANENT PRACTICE
RIGHT AFTER TRAINING
2016
36%
2016
15%
2019
32%
2019
14%
2021
26%
2021
16%
2024
19%
2024
18%
MID-CAREER
2016
48%
2019
54%
2021
58%
2024
63%
In 2024, only 19% of physicians and APPs said they first started locum tenens work after retiring, compared to 81% who first started either right after training or in mid-career. These findings suggest that a growing number of younger and mid-career providers are finding the conditions of permanent practice to be difficult and are choosing locum tenens as an alternative.
© AMN Healthcare 2024
AMNHealthcare.com | 22
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease