Physician FAQs
Why Locum Tenens?
There are many reasons for working as a locum
tenens physician. The most common are:
- Higher Compensation
- Independence- The freedom to choose where
and when you work, as well as for whom.
- Flexible Schedule- Many locum tenens
physicians enjoy the flexibility of working
as little or as much as they choose. It
is now your choice.
- Locum to Perm- Locum tenens is an excellent
method of searching for that new position.
Both parties have the opportunity to evaluate
the other.
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Ready to Make
the Connection?
The first step to making the connection into
locum tenens is to register with National
Physician Staffing. You will need
to complete our application online or complete
the hard copy and return it to us. In addition
to the application, you will need to complete
a clinical skills checklist. You will need
to return these items together with clear
copies of your supporting documentation.
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How Does Locum
Tenens Work?
Once you register with National Physician
Staffing, you will be eligible to
accept jobs with us. Your information will
reside in our secure database. When a request
for coverage is received from a client, we
search our database for providers who hold
a license where the client is located. Many
of our clients exclusively utilize our agency
for staffing; however, some may use two or
three different physician staffing agencies,
so it is important that we quickly present
our best providers with our best opportunities.
In order to do this, we first call those physicians
we already know to be available and acceptable
to our client. We then contact other physicians
that best suit the available locum tenens
job.
When you respond by telephone, an account
manager will discuss the opportunity in complete
detail. If there is something we do not know,
we will get the answer for you! At the end
of the conversation, if you are interested
in the locum tenens job, we will ask
your permission to present your CV to our
client!* If you agree you have made
a commitment to us, then you will be expected
to hold your time for this assignment for
a minimum of 48 hours. Acceptance usually
takes from 1-48 hours to obtain depending
on the client. We can give you a good idea
how long it will take to get an answer back
before we present you.
Upon acceptance, we will send you an agreement
to sign and obtain a signed confirmation from
the client. During the period between acceptance
and the first day of your new assignment,
we assist with obtaining hospital privileges
and make your transportation and lodging arrangements.
We will also provide you with your timesheet
and written Final Assignment Details.
During your assignment, you will interact
on a frequent basis with your account manager
who acts as your advocate on this assignment.
Your account manager will be responsible for
finding your next locum tenens job well in
advance of the end of your current assignment.
* Traditionally, upon receiving
the same CV from different physician staffing
agencies, clients will accept a candidate
from the agency who presented that candidate
first. Some agencies will present candidates
to clients without the candidate’s
permission and without ever speaking to
the individual about the assignment. The
result being, if you want to work at that
particular assignment you will have no other
choice but to work through the other agency.
You will be surprised how often this happens.
If you do wish to register with another
agency, please “get it in writing”
that they cannot present your credentials
to their client without first obtaining
your permission.
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How Long Are
Your Assignments?
Assignments can vary from one day to several
months, even up to several years. The average
length of an assignment for our locum tenens
physicians is 30-60 days. We also offer many
one and two-week assignment to physicians
that currently have full-time jobs and are
looking to make extra money.
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Can I Take Time
Off From An Assignment?
If you are in a long-term assignment and
plan to take vacation or CME time off during
the assignment, please give us as much notice
as possible so that we will have ample time
to find replacement coverage for you during
your absence and allow us to inform the person
responsible for scheduling.
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What sets National
Physician Staffing apart from other agencies?
Two words set us apart, RELATIONSHIPS
and INTEGRITY. National Physician
Staffing truly believes in building
relationships. We do not look at our providers
as a commodity but rather as a family –
we live life with you if you allow us to.
Integrity is the fabric of our existence;
at National Physician Staffing,
if we say we have an opportunity for you,
we do! The money we say we will pay you will
be paid in a timely fashion. If we say we
are going to do something for you, we do it!
We do not break our word and expect others
to do likewise.
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Will I Have Enough
Work?
The physician staffing market is stronger
than ever. Most physicians who work locum
tenens jobs on a full-time basis carry multiple
state licenses. This will increase the opportunities
for locum tenens placement. Feel free to contact
one of our account managers at any time for
licensure recommendations.
Although we cannot obtain a license on your
behalf, we can help expedite a license and
help you through some of the red tape. Please
update us whenever you acquire a new license.
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As a Locums Tenens
Provider What Costs Will I Be Responsible For?
As a locum tenens physician, you will be
working as an independent contractor. Independent
contractors are responsible for paying their
own taxes (Federal, State and Local), Worker’s
Compensation, malpractice, health, disability,
life and dental insurance, as well as any
professional dues, CME expenses and state
licensing fees.
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Who Pays For
My Expenses At An Assignment?
Most clients provide transportation, lodging
and meal per diem for any day worked.
If the assignment is too far away from where
you live to drive, then you will receive roundtrip
airfare and a rental car for your use during
the assignment. If it’s practical for
you to drive, you will be reimbursed roundtrip
mileage up to the standard IRS rate in effect
at the time.
Lodging can be a hotel room, a suite hotel
or a fully-furnished apartment. Our agreements
with our clients state that lodging must be
acceptable to the provider. Some physicians
choose to arrive and stay in their personal
RVs. In most cases, clients will reimburse
an amount equal to their standard lodging
package.
At most assignments, physicians also receive
a meal per diem of $30.00 per day worked.
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What About
Health Insurance?
Being a healthcare provider, you understand
the importance of health insurance. Initially,
coverage may be obtained through your spouse's
employer or by utilizing Cobra health benefits
from your former employer, which can be purchased
for up to 18 months following employment.
There is a lot of talk these days about the
skyrocketing cost of health insurance, but
there are many good plans available at a reasonable
cost. Contact an insurance broker in your
area for a quote. Disability insurance, while
not health insurance, is a form of protection
you may wish to consider as an independent
contactor.
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What About
Professional Liability Insurance?
As an independent contractor, you may be
interested in obtaining your own liability
insurance. We recommend that your policy limits
be at least $1 million per occurrence/$3 million
per aggregate. In Indiana and Virginia the
required limits are higher.
National Physician Staffing
has the ability to insure physicians for most
locum tenens job opportunities. For more information
contact National Physician Staffing.
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