LocumLife - May 2008 - (Page 28)

DESTINATIONS On location in Chinle, Arizona Photo: Getty Images/Medioimages/Photodisc CANYON de CHELLY NATIONAL MONUMENT near Chinle, Arizona. The spirit of adventure When Peter Matel, MD, finished his family medicine residency in 2006, he was sure of what he wanted to do next. Lisa Daggett “ have been for Indian Health Service and Veterans Administration facilities, I have not needed any new licenses.” When choosing contracts, Dr. Matel takes several factors into account. “Besides the location, I also look at the kind of services I will be providing. For instance, I chose Chinle, Arizona, for my third opportunity because I could treat both inpatients and outpatients through the Navajo Area Indian Health Service. Plus, the area appealed to me. Even though Chinle itself is pretty remote, it is right in the middle of the four corners, so I knew I could explore parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.” A MOBILE TEAM When Dr. Matel first arrived for his 3-month stint in Chinle, he received orientation in the form of a checklist. “I was given a list of people to talk to, so I spent the first day meeting with people in the administration and accounting offices, and learning the policies and procedures from the chief I always knew locum tenens practice was for me. Growing up as a Navy brat, I came to love moving from place to place, continuously meeting new people. And I felt even more confident after hearing stories from a friend who raved about his locum tenens lifestyle. So as soon as my residency was over, I contacted my friend’s staffing company and eagerly awaited my first contract.” Dr. Matel did not have to wait long. Salt Lake City, Utah-based CompHealth quickly helped him complete his paperwork, and find an opportunity in the Southwest through the Indian Health Service. “That was 2 years ago. It was a wonderful experience, and I even wound up returning there at a later date. Since then, I have completed six other contracts in five Southwest and Pacific states. And for each of them, my original home state medical license has sufficed. Since all of my out-of-state contracts 28 LocumLife MAY 2008 of my department. Everyone was really friendly, and I was delighted to see that many of my colleagues were young locum tenens physicians and mobile nurses. I felt right at home.” Though his exact schedule varied from week to week, Dr. Matel provided services mostly Mondays through Fridays, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. “I saw patients at a small clinic, which had a 3-bed urgent care center, located within an approximately 100-bed hospital. I enjoyed working side by side with the other physicians, most of whom were internists, family practice physicians, and pediatricians. Best of all, I got to rotate back and forth between inpatient and outpatient care, and I only had to take call one night a week.” Dr. Matel enjoyed his patients, as well. “The patient population was Navajo, and I treated mostly adults, since pediatricians were available to see the children. Many patients came in with diabetes and alcoholism-related ailments, which seem to be prevalent in that population. Overall, the people were wonderful—and totally comfortable with my temporary status. In fact, they seemed grateful to receive services, and some even asked me to consider staying on long term.” ROAD TRIPS Although a permanent position at the facility was not in his future, Dr. Matel did make the most of his time in the area. “I have learned from past experiences that you can always find something fun to do in every location. In Chinle, I often met my new friends for dinner, and we also got together for hiking or horseback riding at Canyon de Chelly, which is an unforgettable place.” And as planned, Dr. Matel did venture farther from home. “I enjoy taking long car trips, and thanks to my staffing company, I had a vehicle at my disposal. One weekend, I took a 5-hour drive northeast to Ouray, Colorado, to take advantage of the natural hot mineral springs pool. And another day I headed to Flagstaff, about 3 hours southwest, to www.LocumLife.com http://www.LocumLife.com

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LocumLife - May 2008 Insights Editorial Contents From NALTO Stat! Survey Says Resources Last-Minute Luxury Following the Seasons Neurology Career Centers Advertiser Index Opportunities Direct Destinations On Location Contest Rules Anyone's Guess La Vita Locum

LocumLife - May 2008

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