LocumLife - June 2008 - (Page 5)

INSIGHTS Survey says Presenting industry research Over three-quarters of hospitals use locum tenens services Annual survey reports that primary care doctors are in greatest demand. Joseph Caldwell medical group managers who use locum tenens physicians and CRNAs in their staffing mix. Additionally, the report details responses from locum tenens practitioners, as well as offers a breakdown of the types of locum tenens staffing commitments our company generated in the previous calendar year. DEMAND FOR LOCUM TENENS GROWS Our 2008 Review, which surveyed 730 hospital and medical group managers from September through December 2007, indicates that locum tenens physicians are still requested for provisional coverage of permanent staff. In particular, over three-quarters of those polled said their facilities had used locum tenens physicians within the last 12 months, while 54% said their facilities are currently seeking temporary services. Which specialties were most in demand by our clients in 2007? Primary care physicians—family practitioners, general internists, and pediatricians— topped the list of the most wanted, I t is said that nothing in this world is constant except change, and that is certainly true when it comes to how physicians practice medicine. Physician practice models have evolved dramatically in recent years with the emergence of inpatient specialists, such as hospitalists and laborists; teleradiology; the increased employment of physicians; and the rise of concierge/boutique practices. Count locum tenens as another key step in the evolution of medical practice. Twenty years ago, only a handful of physicians practiced on a temporary basis and they were a relatively rare breed. Today, locum tenens physicians are providing care across the country in a wide range of medical settings, including hospitals, medical groups, clinics, and government-supported facilities. Each year, Staff Care tracks developments of locums tenens staffing in our Review of Temporary Physician and CRNA Staffing Trends. The Review includes a survey of hospital and followed by anesthesiologists/CRNAs, behavioral health professionals, radiologists, and surgeons. Furthermore, the number of requests we received to fill temporary “physician days” increased by more than 20% over 2006, a strong indicator that locum tenens physicians are in growing demand. QUALITY OF CARE Over the years, locum tenens has continued to gain recognition as a valuable staffing resource, and our results reflect these standings. Of the hospital and medical group managers who assessed the general skill level of locum tenens physicians, 76% rated their clinical expertise as either good (58%) or excellent (18%), while 22% regarded their skill level as adequate. Only 2% of those surveyed ranked the skill level of locum tenens physicians as “unsatisfactory.” While cost (87%) and familiarity with department or practice (50%) were considered main drawbacks for those managers surveyed, findings suggested that there are substantial benefits for utilizing independent contractors as well. Some of the advantages cited for implementing contingent staffing services included allowing for continual treatment of patients (80%), preventing revenue loss (53%), preventing existing staff burnout (34%), and providing immediate availability (34%). The same survey also posed questions to nearly 800 physicians and CRNAs about their locum tenens JUNE 2008 The percentage of “physician days” requested in 2007 by medical specialty: Primary Care Anesthesia (Anesthesiologists/CRNAs) Behavioral Health Radiology Surgery 41.5% 20.0% 17.6% 11.6% 7.7% www.LocumLife.com LocumLife 5 http://www.LocumLife.com

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LocumLife - June 2008 Editorial Contents From Nalto Survey Says Last Minute Luxury Residency Corner Antarctica Bound 2008 Locum Tenens of the Year Awards Career Center Opportunities Direct Advertisers' Index Recruiters of the Year Showcase Contest Rules Destinations La Vita Locum

LocumLife - June 2008

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