Is Locums Hospitalist work every desirable?

[glorifiedresident]

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I have a stable good hospitalist job, but just curious about Locums work. Is it something you can do a few times a month if you ever decide to quit full time work? Are you mainly stuck in the most undesirable places that can't staff for whatever reason? I doubt I would ever do it, but there's something about it that I do find kind of interesting (mainly the flexibility and ability to work whenever you feel like it)

 

[DrMetal]

I have a stable good hospitalist job, but just curious about Locums work. Is it something you can do a few times a month if you ever decide to quit full time work? Are you mainly stuck in the most undesirable places that can't staff for whatever reason? I doubt I would ever do it, but there's something about it that I do find kind of interesting (mainly the flexibility and ability to work whenever you feel like it)

they usually want you block of time (2 weeks, 4 weeks, etc). Doesnt make much sense to pay for your travel for only 2- or 3-day stretches. And yes, they're in undesirable places.

I used to do it, got tired of the travel. Found a per diem moonlighting gig near me, so I stopped the Locums.

If you're truly retired and only want to work 2-3 months out of the year, it's certainly doable.

 

[Meerkatology]

they usually want you block of time (2 weeks, 4 weeks, etc). Doesnt make much sense to pay for your travel for only 2- or 3-day stretches. And yes, they're in undesirable places.

I used to do it, got tired of the travel. Found a per diem moonlighting gig near me, so I stopped the Locums.

If you're truly retired and only want to work 2-3 months out of the year, it's certainly doable.

im looking to start locums, im ok with undesirable places but do they usually require u to do stuff like procedures/codes or vent management?
thats my primary concern as i have never needed to do them for my previous job of 10+ years. would be a liability issue for me + id have to get training in them somehow. codes i should be ok with due to keeping up ACLS , but i dont think managing icu patients alone is even in the scope of a hospitalist

 

[DrMetal]

im looking to start locums, im ok with undesirable places but do they usually require u to do stuff like procedures/codes or vent management?
thats my primary concern as i have never needed to do them for my previous job of 10+ years. would be a liability issue for me + id have to get training in them somehow. codes i should be ok with due to keeping up ACLS , but i dont think managing icu patients alone is even in the scope of a hospitalist

They can ask you to stand on your head if they want.

It varies greatly. Make sure you know what you're getting into and specify things that you don't want to do.

 

[Meerkatology]

They can ask you to stand on your head if they want.

so i should start learning breakdancing

 

[tantacles]

Yes!

I don't do other work, but I have a locums position that has no minimums because it's at a hospital that always needs locums folks. It's just huge.

The problem is that the locums agencies will never tell you what these jobs are. You have to figure it out. And I'm disincentivized from informing other physicians where I work because that would mean it would become saturated.

 

[Splenda88]

I have a stable good hospitalist job, but just curious about Locums work. Is it something you can do a few times a month if you ever decide to quit full time work? Are you mainly stuck in the most undesirable places that can't staff for whatever reason? I doubt I would ever do it, but there's something about it that I do find kind of interesting (mainly the flexibility and ability to work whenever you feel like it)

Since your job is stable and good, keep doing and pick up locum on the side.

Locums are not ubiquitous as they were 4 years ago when I came out of residency. Pay is no longer that good either. I got offer $210/hr 3 years ago at a place that is ~45 mins away from where I live. That same place is paying $2k/day now.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

They can ask you to stand on your head if they want.

It varies greatly. Make sure you know what you're getting into and specify things that you don't want to do.

And the problem is that “undesirable locations” usually equals tiny hospitals with garbage resources.

So they will try to get you to do anything and everything to save them a buck or two, including having you intubate, manage open ICU pts, etc.

 

[collegestud2013]

I have a stable good hospitalist job, but just curious about Locums work. Is it something you can do a few times a month if you ever decide to quit full time work? Are you mainly stuck in the most undesirable places that can't staff for whatever reason? I doubt I would ever do it, but there's something about it that I do find kind of interesting (mainly the flexibility and ability to work whenever you feel like it)

Not necessarily. Some hospitals in relatively desirable areas will still have a pool of hospitalists on staff on PRN basis to fill on coverage gaps (eg if somewhat is sick or on maternity leave, if census is high and they need extra coverage, if someone is leaving and they are in the middle of on-boarding someone new). Of course the shifts are not guaranteed.

Other places may allow you to have a contract that allows you to work some percentage of part time; for example 7-10 shifts per month, but you are guaranteed those shifts on a part-time basis.

The locums in undesirable areas usually involve you to work more as they tend to be at more critical-access type hospitals. Would except them to have to pay a lot more per hr or have a much lower pt census to make it worthwhile.

 

[tantacles]

Not necessarily. Some hospitals in relatively desirable areas will still have a pool of hospitalists on staff on PRN basis to fill on coverage gaps (eg if somewhat is sick or on maternity leave, if census is high and they need extra coverage, if someone is leaving and they are in the middle of on-boarding someone new). Of course the shifts are not guaranteed.

Other places may allow you to have a contract that allows you to work some percentage of part time; for example 7-10 shifts per month, but you are guaranteed those shifts on a part-time basis.

The locums in undesirable areas usually involve you to work more as they tend to be at more critical-access type hospitals. Would except them to have to pay a lot more per hr or have a much lower pt census to make it worthwhile.

Yup! This is mine. I work 4-5 shifts per month. That's it!