Radiology Locum Tenens

[Stoop Kid]

Hi all,

M4 here recently decided Radiology is the best fit for me at the last minute. After spending hours looking through this forum, I noticed that locum tenens for radiology was not really discussed.

1. Anybody here have experience with locums? Anybody that you know? Have you considered it?
2. Who would you recommend locums for radiology to? I was thinking I'm ideal since im single, early 20s, and love the midwest/rural areas but idk. Also, I would like to do that to get my feet wet before committing to PP if I go that route.
3. How is the pay? Similar to PP or academics? Seems better than other specialties: Which locum tenens physician specialty is highest paid?: The per diem rates for locum tenens physicians paid by healthcare facilities and physician practices to locum tenens agencies vary, but surgical and diagnostic specialists tend to earn more than primary care physicians. The range of daily rates for locum tenens physicians by specialty are listed.
4. Finally, why do we need locums in the first place? With Teleradiology, wouldnt that defeat the need for on site radiologists? Or am I just ignorant lol?

Thanks all.

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[Tiger100]

I have practice Radiology for long long years and still I am not sure Locum tenens is for me or not. It is great that you have reached that conclusion at this point.

 

[Stoop Kid]

I wouldn't say its a conclusion. I'm still a medical student. Definitely interested though. What held you back?

 

[meister]

Yes, no offense, but you don’t have a full understanding of what radiologists do (most people don’t). On site radiologists do everything from reading studies and interacting with clinicians to doing procedures like lumbar punctures, paracentesis, image guided biopsies and drainages to simple fluoro diagnostic studies. We do much more than just read pictures, though for a diagnostic rad that’s the main job and what pays the bills.

 

[Stoop Kid]

Yes, no offense, but you don’t have a full understanding of what radiologists do (most people don’t). On site radiologists do everything from reading studies and interacting with clinicians to doing procedures like lumbar punctures, paracentesis, image guided biopsies and drainages to simple fluoro diagnostic studies. We do much more than just read pictures, though for a diagnostic rad that’s the main job and what pays the bills.

No offense taken. Thanks for answering that question. The hospital that I rotated with had the IR guys doing all those procedures while DR just worked on the list. I didnt see any procedures so I guess thats why I didn't understand the need.

 

[Dave1980]

Locum tenens are not desirable positions.

You are working with a system you don't know with people you don't know in an undesirable location. If it was a good gig they wouldn't need to fill it with locums people. Usually the money is good but not great and they don't offer benefits.

 

[Stoop Kid]

Locum tenens are not desirable positions.

You are working with a system you don't know with people you don't know in an undesirable location. If it was a good gig they wouldn't need to fill it with locums people. Usually the money is good but not great and they don't offer benefits.

True that it doesn't offer benefits. Didn't think of that. If one were to do locums, would you recommend coming out of training or later on in their career. I would think just coming out of training to get your feet wet and test out if you want to work in the different settings a locum can potentially provide.

 

[redoitall]

The only reason one would consider such a position is if you can't find a job elsewhere and need to eat, or if you really want to stay in a specific area with no other openings (although telerad might be a better option). But currently, given the market for rads, locums just don't make sense either professionally or personally.
You are an MS4. You have time. I would worry about matching in a program/place you like. The rest will come.

 

[Smallfishtinypond]

Agreed with all the responses.

Here are facts from our practice, things that actually happened:
1. We use locums: Small practice will invariably need help to relieve full time partners for vacation.
2. Good locums are very very hard to find. All our current locums are repeater from personal referrals, who also have full time practice at other nearby academics.
3. Locums from locums companies are like old boxes of chocolates, you don't know what stale one you are gonna get. The good ones who work for locum companies are probably out there. I will let you know if/once we find one. We tolerate some more than the others. We have axed locums in the middle of their assignments. I have personally cancelled my plans for a long weekend since I did not feel comfortable for the locums working the week with me to cover the weekends alone.

Here are my personal opinions:
As a medical student, thinking about radiology and jump to locums at this stage of your career is premature. Imagine an aspiring art major student planning of drawing d!ck pix on drunk frats once you graduate. It will ruin your career soon. There is a red flag if I read your resume with a locum as your main job straight out of the gate. Again, these are my opinions. Feel free to disagree. Don't sell yourself short. There are many other options to build your resume while fulfill life in different locales. The fact that you are willing or even prefer to work in places many young rads consider toxic already put you very far ahead of the game. Good luck.

 

[Stoop Kid]

Agreed with all the responses.

Here are facts from our practice, things that actually happened:
1. We use locums: Small practice will invariably needs help to relieve full time partners for vacation.
2. Good locums are very very hard to find. All our current locums are repeater from personal referrals, who also have full time practice at other nearby academics.
3. Locums from locums companies are like old boxes of chocolates, you don't know what stale one you are gonna get. The good ones who work for locum companies are probably out there. I will let you know if/once we find one. We tolerate some more than the others. We have axed locums in the middle of their assignments. I have personally cancelled my plans for a long weekend since I did not feel comfortable for the locums working the week with me to cover the weekends alone.

Here are my personal opinions:
As a medical student, thinking about radiology and jump to locums at this stage of your career is premature. Imagine an aspiring art major student planning of drawing d!ck pix on drunk frats once you graduate. It will ruin your career soon. There is a red flag if I read your resume with a locum as your main job straight out of the gate. Again, these are my opinions. Feel free to disagree. Don't sell yourself short. There are many other options to build your resume while fulfill life in different locales. The fact that you are willing or even prefer to work in places many young rads consider toxic already put you very far ahead of the game. Good luck.

Man, thanks so much for all this and giving me real world examples of locums. And yea I think you're right, since I've decided on radiology, I've been jumping the gun on my future. Still good information going forward. I'll try to refrain from being that d!ck pick painter.