Dallas, Texas – March 10, 2022 – The National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations^® (NALTO^®) recently introduced new and re-elected members to its Board of Directors at its 2022 Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jarin Dana of Fusion Healthcare Staffing was elected President-Elect, and Liz Hale of MPLT Healthcare was elected Vice President of the organization.

The National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations^® (NALTO^®) recently announced two new officers to its Board of Directors.

Jarin Dana, CFO of Fusion Healthcare Staffing, has been elected Vice President of NALTO^®.

“NALTO^® is the most collaborative industry association I have ever seen. I’m honored to be a part of it and serve in this new capacity. I look forward to the challenge of taking on key industry issues over the years to come,” says Dana.

August 9, 2021 – This week the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations^® (NALTO^®) leads the healthcare staffing industry in the fifth annual National Locum Tenens Week celebration.

“NALTO^® salutes the many locum tenens providers who make a positive impact on the world every day. They fill gaps in coverage at facilities, from small rural clinics to large urban hospitals; provide compassionate care; and save lives. And for the last 18 months, they have selflessly stepped up to serve on the front lines of the COVID crisis wherever they are needed most,” says Matt Young, NALTO^® President.

Accounting for Locum Tenens Providers in the Vaccination Process

You may proudly recall that at 6pm on March 28, 2020, thousands of New Yorkers stepped out on their balconies, leaned out their windows, and cheered as healthcare’s first responders walked out of their shifts at medical facilities across the city. At that time, there were over 70,000 healthcare professionals that volunteered to combat the pandemic, with many more on the way. Among them were over 8,000 doctors.

Dallas, Texas – August 10, 2020: The National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations^® (NALTO^®) is leading healthcare staffing agencies in honoring locum tenens providers as part of this week’s fourth annual National Locum Tenens Week celebration.  

“National Locum Tenens Week is the time when we reflect on and honor the incredible work locum tenens clinicians do every day,” says NALTO® President Matt Erickson.

The National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations^® (NALTO^®) recently introduced newly elected President, Matt Erickson of LocumTenens.com, at its annual convention in Tampa, Florida.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the impact Matt has on engagement through educational endeavors during his tenure as President,” said former NALTO® President John S. Daniel.

Locum tenens practitioners are in higher demand than ever. With a nationwide physician shortage, an aging population, and increased access to healthcare through the Affordable Care Act, healthcare organizations across the country are turning to locums staffing solutions. If you find yourself working with a locum tenens recruiter, we’ve got some top tips for helping that relationship to be effective for everyone involved.

1. Be Upfront

Whether you are fresh out of your residency or a seasoned professional, you are likely to have some understanding of what you are looking for in a placement and where your strengths and weaknesses are. Being upfront with your recruiter about your ideal placement, your experiences, and your utilization will help them find the best placements to suit your needs.

A critical part of a physician's career is deciding on what setting they desire to practice in. There are many different factors involved in this decision, such as patient volume, location, specialty, compensation, CME opportunities and countless more, which can differ for every physician depending on what their personal and career goals are.    While this is an important decision for all physicians, it is an especially critical juncture for newly trained physicians, residents or fellows. When it comes to physicians’ lifestyles, between seeing patients and administrative duties it can be difficult to establish long term pursuits to obtain their ideal practice setting.

Additionally, once a setting is identified, finding a proper position can be a very difficult proposition.  Since there are so many factors involved, such as interviewing, travel, or relocation, it can be a burden to search for the ideal position and setting.  When a physician has not decided upon the different aspects of their ideal setting, they may consider Locum Tenens as an option.  Locum Tenens gives physicians an opportunity to not only learn about but personally experience various practice settings, allowing them the best possible chance to identify one that they love.

Physicians of all ages, experience levels, and practice areas can benefit from Locum Tenens work. Now, more doctors and other medical professionals are making the switch and enjoying the numerous advantages of going Locum. Working in the medical field no longer means sacrificing work-life balance to get the career you want.

In fact, 78 percent of residents and fellows, 63 percent of solo practice physicians, 64 percent of salaried physicians, and 68 percent of retired physicians said they would consider Locum Tenens opportunities. Furthermore, up to 90 percent of healthcare organizations used Locum Tenens physicians within the last year, making it a highly demanded occupation. The reason for the interest in Locum Tenens work is due to the many benefits, including:

Many healthcare organizations are now offering rewards and loyalty programs in an effort to retain patients. Though these programs are still in development, they have shown promise.

Approximately 10 percent of patient appointments result in no-shows. This can be a frustrating experience for healthcare organizations that depend upon health insurance reimbursements and private payers. As a result, facilities have created cancellation policies, which allow providers to charge patients who fail to show up for appointments without reasonable notice. While this has certainly deterred a large number of patients from skipping their scheduled visits, healthcare facilities are looking to do more to retain patients.

Ensuring patient satisfaction is a critical aspect of healthcare, but it is also time consuming. Automated solutions are helping physicians effectively communicate with patients.

Patient satisfaction is essential to the success of any healthcare practice. In a world where physicians experience extreme time constraints, ensuring the satisfaction of each patient can seem like an impossible task. Fortunately, healthcare companies are now creating solutions that allow practices to effectively communicate with patients without the stress of a time crunch.

If you have never experienced Locum Tenens work, it may be hard for you to separate fact from fiction. Don’t let the myths about Locum Tenens keep you from enjoying its many advantages.

Locum Tenens work is a rewarding experience that provides many benefits to both medical professionals and healthcare organizations. Sometimes, however, the myths surrounding Locum Tenens dissuades physicians from participating in the work. Below you will find out the truth behind many Locum Tenens-related myths.

The VA has proposed a new rule that would allow NPs to see patients without the oversight of a physician. If the rule is put into effect, it could increase veterans’ access to healthcare.

There is little doubt that the Department of Veterans Affairs is struggling to keep up with the healthcare demands of former military members. In fact, some veterans wait over 100 days to see a physician at a VA facility. Despite some failed attempts at ameliorating the system, the VA has now proposed a new rule that could increase veterans’ access to healthcare across the country.

Telemedicine connects patients with providers regardless of location. Using a variety of devices, healthcare providers can assess, diagnose, and treat patients across the nation.

The use of telemedicine is expected to grow up to 30 percent in less than a decade. Despite its seemingly impersonal nature, the popularity of telemedicine (otherwise known as telehealth) continues to increase. It offers numerous benefits, making it an exciting new approach in the future of medicine.

Across the nation, the limited supply of physicians cannot keep up with the demand. Nowhere is this shortage more apparent than in rural areas. Fortunately, Locum Tenens can help.

The current physician shortage has negatively impacted patients’ access to quality healthcare. By 2025, it is estimated that there will be a need for up to 90,400 new doctors. Despite this growing need, the demand for physicians continues to outweigh the supply. Unfortunately, the impact of this shortage has hit rural areas the hardest.

President Obama signed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, or MACRA, into law in April, 2015. MACRA replaces the SGR (sustained growth rate) formula that regulates payments to healthcare professionals that treat patients covered by Medicare. The law reforms the reimbursement process for healthcare providers and addresses several other issues as well.

The MACRA reimbursement framework includes technical assistance for providers, data sharing, and a federal advisory group, among other measures. The system ensures quality care by basing payments on the value and effectiveness of care. Healthcare providers that meet the highest standards are rewarded for their efforts on behalf of patients.

If pundits are to be believed, there will be an overwhelming need for qualified healthcare workers in the coming years.  With many doctors and nurses approaching the age of retirement, fewer students entering healthcare professions, and a growing number of insured individuals seeking medical services, there will soon be a shortage of professionals to care for those in need.

What does this mean for current healthcare professionals and those just entering the medical field? For one, it could mean a lot more job openings as well as alternative job types. To fill this growing need, many healthcare providers and facilities are opening up locum jobs to fill any gaps in coverage.

Just like doctors, physician assistants can assess and treat patients. While PAs frequently work in collaboration with physicians, they bring many unique advantages to a practice.

In 2015, there were nearly 110,000 physician assistants employed across the country. This profession is growing in popularity, and it is estimated that the market will increase by 30% in less than a decade. These individuals can work across a range of practice areas, from family medicine and dermatology to surgery and other hospital settings. Just like doctors, PAs can use their broad spectrum of knowledge alongside a general practitioner, or they can choose to specialize in a particular area, such as women’s health, primary care, cardiology or orthopedics.

As a locum tenens worker, you'll find you have new responsibilities when it comes to taxation. Your status as an independent contractor, coupled with the fact that you may work in several different states over the course of a year, adds to the complexities you will face come tax time. You may be required to file in several states, and you will almost certainly face expenses that other medical employees never have to deal with.

Of course, these annual headaches are greatly outweighed by the many benefits to locum tenens work. You are likely to earn more money and gain more control over your schedule.  Additionally, you can also enjoy a variety of write-offs designed to reduce your tax burden since you're virtually acting as your own employer, to an extent.