Locum tenens Anesthesia avoid Medicus!!

[Anesthesiadoc12]

Avoid Medicus!
They pay lower rates as the company sold to Private Equity several years ago.
They cancel weeks, bring other providers in at higher rates when they have exclusive contracts to meet bonus metrics.
Torture u about travel expenses
They try to pay u lower rates so they can make a higher margin.
They do not advocate for you.
All locum companies will pay you the least amount possible but Medicus is the worst!

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[aneftp]

Avoid Medicus!
They pay lower rates as the company sold to Private Equity several years ago.
They cancel weeks, bring other providers in at higher rates when they have exclusive contracts to meet bonus metrics.
Torture u about travel expenses
They try to pay u lower rates so they can make a higher margin.
They do not advocate for you.
All locum companies will pay you the least amount possible but Medicus is the worst!

Medicus was good to my buddy in Indiana and Wisconsin

Your luck will vary.

Medicus was not good to my other buddy in Indiana. Gave him much lower rate than I advised him. To ask.

I’m not gonna to defend or promote any locums company.

My question for you is the cancellation of contracts and weeks. If you contract is 30 days and they cancel before the 30 days (say day 31 out) Than stop whining. It’s part of the business

If they cancel within 30 days and it’s in your contract. Than they need to pay you

So what is your cancellation days in your contract?

 

[coffeebythelake]

Avoid Medicus!
They pay lower rates as the company sold to Private Equity several years ago.
They cancel weeks, bring other providers in at higher rates when they have exclusive contracts to meet bonus metrics.
Torture u about travel expenses
They try to pay u lower rates so they can make a higher margin.
They do not advocate for you.
All locum companies will pay you the least amount possible but Medicus is the worst!

I've worked with Medicus. They aren't the best and they aren't the worst. I felt overall they were reasonable but they do have different rates for the same assignments.

 

[cockblockandrun]

Got to review the fine details of any contract even if you have worked with them for years.
Some contracts will have 60 day opt outs.
Some will pay you significantly less than their other docs- so I am an advocate of asking other locum docs what their package is- locum agencoes exploit the fact that physicians typically are uncomfortable bringing this up with each other. But in locum world, it is all out the window-
I have been in situations where my rates were significantly higher and vice versa than others with the same agency.

 

[cockblockandrun]

I've worked with Medicus. They aren't the best and they aren't the worst. I felt overall they were reasonable but they do have different rates for the same assignments.

Depends on the recruiter- and I have and continue to work with Medicus.

 

[Burned_Out]

I am with Medicus now. My 1st assignment with them sucked and I was ambivalent about signing up again. Now, almost 2 years into my current contract I am very happy with my present locums assignment and recruiter. It’s true that rates will differ among Medicus providers at the same facility, but that is upon you to aggressively negotiate. Rates depend on many things like acute need at the facility, regional supply of anesthesiologists and desirability of location, how many weeks you are willing to offer, etc. I was given ample notice of 2 months when my current contract was due to be terminated last year but my recruiter found me another job site within the same health system. The recruiter doesn’t make $ if he can’t find you a job.

I think companies like AMN/Staffcare are worse based on my fiends experiences. Unreimbursed travel expenses, renegotiation of contracted rates just weeks before they were due to start their assignment, gaslighting about jobs after you contact them. I haven’t experienced that with Medicus.

 

[AppTrail]

Avoid Medicus!
They pay lower rates as the company sold to Private Equity several years ago.
They cancel weeks, bring other providers in at higher rates when they have exclusive contracts to meet bonus metrics.
Torture u about travel expenses
They try to pay u lower rates so they can make a higher margin.
They do not advocate for you.
All locum companies will pay you the least amount possible but Medicus is the worst!

lol guys this profile joined a few days ago, likely a locums competitor acting as a disgruntled doc.

 

[aneftp]

lol guys this profile joined a few days ago, likely a locums competitor acting as a disgruntled doc.

Nah. I just they are inexperienced locums doc whining. I’ve worked at places where I gotten $350/hr and the other docs got $425/hr. They offered more days than me. I’m fine with that. I’ve renegotiated terms after a rolling 6 month prn contract.

My gigs have been canceled outside of 30 days. I’m fine with that.

Treat every locums job like any 30 days contract. Terms can change. Take it or leave it. A few longer term locums are 60 days notice.

Considering the OP hasn’t responded about the details. I really don’t under what “they don’t advocate for you means”.

Don’t like the terms, leave. And don’t be afraid to leave. One of my buddies just bailed on locums contract. He was outside his 30 day window. They changed the terms on him. He had 3 weeks out of state upper Midwest. Too cold for me $450/hr 60 hr guarantee plus a weekend (really a 70-80 hr guarantee) to a 50 hour guarantee.

I told him to take an outpatient gig in town that needs help for the week (Presidents’ Day weekend) where all the private school kids go skiiing in vail or park city. He will still get at least 50 or even 60 hours but he sleeps in his own bed. $350/hr less money but at least he’s 15 min from home instead of a 3.5 hr flight away from home.

 

[IVdoc]

Which locums agencies are decent to work with in terms of pay, trustworthiness with their contracts, don't nickel & dime physicians? I don't know who to trust. Most of theses locums agencies on Gaswork don't list their hourly rates, only say "competitive pay" or e-mail CV for further information so that they can collect CVs. Recently the most I've seen offer is $350/hr for general docs from locums agencies. I tried contacting hospitals directly via the hospital recruiters but they just ignore my emails or say they use locums agencies. Seems like a lot of these locums jobs, unfortunately one can only get your foot in the door with these agencies that take 30-40% cut for doing very little but just name and CV drop the physician's info to the hospitals.

 

[Ashers]

There's a whole thread about it here. No one has posted in it for a little bit, but I think it's still relevant.

@IVdoc: Which locums agencies are decent to work with in terms of pay, trustworthiness with their contracts, don't nickel & dime physicians? I don't know who to trust. Most of theses locums agencies on Gaswork don't list their hourly rates, only say "competitive pay" or e-mail CV for further information so that they can collect CVs. Recently the most I've seen offer is $350/hr for general docs from locums agencies. I tried contacting hospitals directly via the hospital recruiters but they just ignore my emails or say they use locums agencies. Seems like a lot of these locums jobs, unfortunately one can only get your foot in the door with these agencies that take 30-40% cut for doing very little but just name and CV drop the physician's info to the hospitals.

edit: @IVdoc I'm dumb and forgot to use reply because I was focused on the link

 

[aneftp]

Which locums agencies are decent to work with in terms of pay, trustworthiness with their contracts, don't nickel & dime physicians? I don't know who to trust. Most of theses locums agencies on Gaswork don't list their hourly rates, only say "competitive pay" or e-mail CV for further information so that they can collect CVs. Recently the most I've seen offer is $350/hr for general docs from locums agencies. I tried contacting hospitals directly via the hospital recruiters but they just ignore my emails or say they use locums agencies. Seems like a lot of these locums jobs, unfortunately one can only get your foot in the door with these agencies that take 30-40% cut for doing very little but just name and CV drop the physician's info to the hospitals.

Everything is negotiable. Everything is renegotiatable.

I keep telling everyone it’s not just about the hourly pay. Yes hourly pay absolutely matters.

Daily guarantees matter. Overtime after daily gurantees matter

Long term vs prn 1099
Hourly call rates etc.

There are places that offer $300/hr but $425/hr on calls. Its cloak and daggers games. Hit them up for $425/hr on calls weeknights annd weekends and run up the tab. Barley be available for Daytime at $300/hr.

 

[Anew4215]

I'm with Medicus now. There's pros and cons, I'm with other people who've worked with Medicus too. It seems like the company has gone down hill over the years per my peers. I definitely know where the original poster is coming from. Medicus had a bit of a "better rep" amongst some of us, but now it's definitely rubbing me the wrong way too (I have had a good gig at my current assignment with them for the most part and they are responsive). The rates are seen as more reasonable, but they definitely try to play you around with the assignments, give people different rates, give problems with travel expenses, and operate more like a business. They can act really friendly and promise you different jobs (pre contract), and then not pull through. I'm looking at other companies now to find more work.

 

[etherengineer]

The rates are seen as more reasonable, but they definitely try to play you around with the assignments, give people different rates, give problems with travel expenses, and operate more like a business.

I think their recruiters are told to start very low in in rate negotiations. They're looking to pick up over a dozen FTEs ASAP in a place in Iowa and ultimately gave my friend $70 more per hour then their initial offer. Said something like "I just need approval from our VP to go that high." Just know you're dealing with the used car dealership types and you'll be fine.

 

[ProRealDoc]

I'm with Medicus now. There's pros and cons, I'm with other people who've worked with Medicus too. It seems like the company has gone down hill over the years per my peers. I definitely know where the original poster is coming from. Medicus had a bit of a "better rep" amongst some of us, but now it's definitely rubbing me the wrong way too (I have had a good gig at my current assignment with them for the most part and they are responsive). The rates are seen as more reasonable, but they definitely try to play you around with the assignments, give people different rates, give problems with travel expenses, and operate more like a business. They can act really friendly and promise you different jobs (pre contract), and then not pull through. I'm looking at other companies now to find more work.

Agree. They changed dates and schedules on me couple times and nitpick at a $20 gas bill.

 

[cockblockandrun]

Agree. They changed dates and schedules on me couple times and nitpick at a $20 gas bill.

Yup. Last few years they have started to nickel and dime you.

 

[cockblockandrun]

I'm with Medicus now. There's pros and cons, I'm with other people who've worked with Medicus too. It seems like the company has gone down hill over the years per my peers. I definitely know where the original poster is coming from. Medicus had a bit of a "better rep" amongst some of us, but now it's definitely rubbing me the wrong way too (I have had a good gig at my current assignment with them for the most part and they are responsive). The rates are seen as more reasonable, but they definitely try to play you around with the assignments, give people different rates, give problems with travel expenses, and operate more like a business. They can act really friendly and promise you different jobs (pre contract), and then not pull through. I'm looking at other companies now to find more work.

Going downhill is an understatement.

I have had numerous friends of mine almost in tears after being threatened by Medicus- being blacklisted, legal threats, etc.

Recently, they were putting in 60 day clauses in their contracts that were one way- the hospital could give you 60 day notice but if you gave a 60 day notice, they honored it if they found someone to replace you. I know one cardiac anesthesiologist who was "forced" to work in a hospital until end of his contract rather than honoring his 60 day notice- he didn't hate it there but found another locum job that was closer to his family and home. They got rid of it because I suspect they were about to get hit with numerous lawsuits from physicians.
So fine comb the contracts they send you- more often than not you might find some shady stuff in there that they try to sneak by you.

 

[aneftp]

Agree. They changed dates and schedules on me couple times and nitpick at a $20 gas bill.

Is it outside of 30 days? Notice

 

[coffeebythelake]

I agree about the Medicus nitpicking b.s. I'm actually messaging back and forth with someone from Medicus questioning why I am using Uber and Lyft.

I mean.. wtf u rather have me rent a car that cost $600 for the week plus reimburse hotel expenses which would be maybe another $800.. rather than paying $150 in Uber to sleep in my own bed. And so I can take some rest also for the 45-90 min car ride to and from work.

$1400 vs. $150.

****ing waste of my time with this nonsense. I don't know who this clown is but they must have the IQ of a peanut

 

[cockblockandrun]

I agree about the Medicus nitpicking b.s. I'm actually messaging back and forth with someone from Medicus questioning why I am using Uber and Lyft.

I mean.. wtf u rather have me rent a car that cost $600 for the week plus reimburse hotel expenses which would be maybe another $800.. rather than paying $150 in Uber to sleep in my own bed. And so I can take some rest also for the 45-90 min car ride to and from work.

$1400 vs. $150.

****ing waste of my time with this nonsense. I don't know who this clown is but they must have the IQ of a peanut

LOL.
I hear you. I had to go through this with them last year. For years, I would take an uber from home to the airport. Last year they started to question that- well instead of paying $100 for round trip on uber you want to pay $30 a day for me to park at the airport for 14 days?

The hilarious thing is when their 22 year old new college graduated sales and marketing degree recruiter starts telling me about the economics about medicine and locums. I want to slap them silly and tell them Ive been in medicine and healthcare longer than they have been alive lol.

 

[aneftp]

i would really like to know the complaints against locums companies. The actual details.

I have locums contract with 30 and 60 days out clauses.

I have a surgery center that is prn with a 2 week out clause

So it doesn’t matter if you have “long term” locums
Nothing is long term in locums. Read ur contact

Medicus promised my friend 6 months in Indiana. He was given 30 days notice in month 3. So 4 months total. 30 days is his contract

Does that make Medicus bad?

The using uber/lyft for a 45 -50’min drive is iffy. Read your contact. My contract since I’m within irs 50 min radius with locums is no car rental. What is ur transportation reimbursement for driving daily?

Uber Lyft is not a normal reimbursement for local travel if you can drive yourself. You get reimbursement via standard irs mileage rate.

I had doc years ago negotiated limo service for 45 min drive for each week he worked. But he negotiated that and they gave it to him. But it was done before he put the charges on

I have a $500 and $600 hotel bill per night coming up when the usual rate is $200. I cleared it up with the locums company and they got hospital approval.

 

[coffeebythelake]

i would really like to know the complaints against locums companies. The actual details.

I have locums contract with 30 and 60 days out clauses.

I have a surgery center that is prn with a 2 week out clause

So it doesn’t matter if you have “long term” locums
Nothing is long term in locums. Read ur contact

Medicus promised my friend 6 months in Indiana. He was given 30 days notice in month 3. So 4 months total. 30 days is his contract

Does that make Medicus bad?

The using uber/lyft for a 45 -50’min drive is iffy. Read your contact. My contract since I’m within irs 50 min radius with locums is no car rental. What is ur transportation reimbursement for driving daily?

Uber Lyft is not a normal reimbursement for local travel if you can drive yourself. You get reimbursement via standard irs mileage rate.

I had doc years ago negotiated limo service for 45 min drive for each week he worked. But he negotiated that and they gave it to him. But it was done before he put the charges on

I have a $500 and $600 hotel bill per night coming up when the usual rate is $200. I cleared it up with the locums company and they got hospital approval.

I don't have my own car. Sometimes I borrow my wife's but when she goes to work I can't use it. So it is either uber/lyft or rental

 

[aneftp]

I don't have my own car. Sometimes I borrow my wife's but when she goes to work I can't use it. So it is either uber/lyft or rental

You just have to coordinate the arrangements before they agree on reimbursement

That’s what I really do not understand, all these complaints about locums companies.

Outside of not getting paid on time, or having assignments cut short inside of the 30 days without getting paid. I really do not understand these complaints

If you do not have a car. Tell the locums company.

LOL.
I hear you. I had to go through this with them last year. For years, I would take an uber from home to the airport. Last year they started to question that- well instead of paying $100 for round trip on uber you want to pay $30 a day for me to park at the airport for 14 days?

The hilarious thing is when their 22 year old new college graduated sales and marketing degree recruiter starts telling me about the economics about medicine and locums. I want to slap them silly and tell them Ive been in medicine and healthcare longer than they have been alive lol.

My friends husband travels a lot for his consulting work (with big engineering firm)

The firm will pay for his airport parking (he literally lives 10 min from the airport) so uber is $15?

But won’t pay for uber. So he just valet parks at airport for days running up the tab. Usually his business trips are 2-3 days though.

It’s very strange some of these reimbursement policies.

Uber Lyft have been around for a decade and you would think companies would integrate into their travel reimbursement policies.

 

[narcotics999]

I agree about the Medicus nitpicking b.s. I'm actually messaging back and forth with someone from Medicus questioning why I am using Uber and Lyft.

I mean.. wtf u rather have me rent a car that cost $600 for the week plus reimburse hotel expenses which would be maybe another $800.. rather than paying $150 in Uber to sleep in my own bed. And so I can take some rest also for the 45-90 min car ride to and from work.

$1400 vs. $150.

****ing waste of my time with this nonsense. I don't know who this clown is but they must have the IQ of a peanut

My locum colleague gets a rental car + IRS mileage reimbursement! She lives 70 miles away and get 100$ per day.

 

[aneftp]

My locum colleague gets a rental car + IRS mileage reimbursement! She lives 70 miles away and get 100$ per day.

Is she prn 1099 locums? Or does 1 week at a time locums? Or full time 1099 locums.

Locums who provide more shifts per month get more stipends as well

 

[narcotics999]

Is she prn 1099 locums? Or does 1 week at a time locums? Or full time 1099 locums.

Locums who provide more shifts per month get more stipends as well

Full time locum, 1099. She basically keeps the car and changes to a new one every year.

 

[aneftp]

Full time locum, 1099. She basically keeps the car and changes to a new one every year.

Yeah. More perks when u give more availability

I get a car if I do more than one week a time.

Random prn 1099. I just drive my own car and get reimbursed irs mileage

 

[AppTrail]

Yeah. More perks when u give more availability

I get a car if I do more than one week a time.

Random prn 1099. I just drive my own car and get reimbursed irs mileage

As an aside- when you calculate mileage are you using from house to 1099 gig? Or from primary work place to 1099 gig?

 

[aneftp]

As an aside- when you calculate mileage are you using from house to 1099 gig? Or from primary work place to 1099 gig?

I use house to hotel (40-120 miles (80-240 miles round trip)) if I’m staying overnight

Plus hotel to hospital (that’s usually so minor) 1 mile I don’t even charge

 

[Coffee PRN]

Full time locum, 1099. She basically keeps the car and changes to a new one every year.

Most rental car places won’t rent to you for months at a time. Do you know who she goes through?

 

[aneftp]

Most rental car places won’t rent to you for months at a time. Do you know who she goes through?

Yeah. When I did a 6 month long term locums. I had to switch out cars every month with Avis. It was pretty painless to switch.

 

[aneftp]

I deal with all sorts of locums companies like Locum tenems comp health, alliance, flex/edgeford, to the big boys amc dy staff, envoy, anesthesia on call, hca health trust and Bridgecare and Northstar

To be honest. I’ve never had any issue with any of these places. This is through 20 plus years of doing 1099 work here and there. Obviously there are years I had a full time job so I didn’t do much. But the last 3 years I’ve been ramping up and still didn’t the any issues.

I feel people who complain (some of it is legit being bait and switch assignments). I do sniff out too good to be true deals like the West Virginia deal I was working on last spring. Just wasn’t feeling it even after talking to the hospital directly bypassing the locums company. So some locums places do over promise and under deliver.

I like to stay local as possible.

It will take a lot of money to get me to go out of state.

Vast majority of my assignments are from 10 min to 50 min from home. I like to be home these days in my own bed. But I do have privileges up to 2 plus hours away. May work on one assignment 4 hrs away because it’s my friends hospital place and I can crash at his house plus collect the tax free housing stipend.

There are just a lot of inexperienced people who are trying to navigate the locums game. Just read your contract. The important pages of most locums contracts are in the last two pages of what you sign. Read it closely. Amend as needed.

 

[aneftp]

Not to go completely off the path. But locums related

I work and do locums in Florida so do not pay state income taxes on locums cause we do not have any state income taxes.

But there are some shady dudes who live in Florida and do locums out of state like Georgia and Pennsylvania. Many think I’m a tax shady guy but I’m not compared to others.

These guys claim since locums check (locums company is based in those Texas and Florida) is being distributed from Texas or Florida company. Their 1099 income isn’t being reported to the state of Georgia Or Pennsylvania.

Comments?

 

[centdoc]

Not to go completely off the path. But locums related

I work and do locums in Florida so do not pay state income taxes on locums cause we do not have any state income taxes.

But there are some shady dudes who live in Florida and do locums out of state like Georgia and Pennsylvania. Many think I’m a tax shady guy but I’m not compared to others.

These guys claim since locums check (locums company is based in those Texas and Florida) is being distributed from Texas or Florida company. Their 1099 income isn’t being reported to the state of Georgia Or Pennsylvania.

Comments?

Depends….

If the locums check is sent to your s-corp, and your s-corp is based in a no income tax state, then you are fine. It’s no different than any two companies doing business between each other.

 

[aneftp]

Depends….

If the locums check is sent to your s-corp, and your s-corp is based in a no income tax state, then you are fine. It’s no different than any two companies doing business between each other.

If you are earning money in a state that has state income taxes. Legally you have to pay state income taxes regardless where you have your own base

It’s a very grey area about legally reporting income made out of state in states that have state income taxes

Crna for harass by Pennsylvania state for this. She finally gave up and paid $40k in back taxes owed. She lived watercolor/seaside/destin area in Florida panhandle but she worked 1099 in PA.

 

[cockblockandrun]

If you are earning money in a state that has state income taxes. Legally you have to pay state income taxes regardless where you have your own base

It’s a very grey area about legally reporting income made out of state in states that have state income taxes

Crna for harass by Pennsylvania state for this. She finally gave up and paid $40k in back taxes owed. She lived watercolor/seaside/destin area in Florida panhandle but she worked 1099 in PA.

Was she paid directly by a PA hospital or via a locum agency?

I have talked to accountants say if your s-corp is in a no income tax state then you are ok. Others have said no. So yes very grey area and it is annoying because it shouldnt be like this.