LocumLife - September 2008 - (Page 21)

and as a locum tenens provider, you will usually be placed into the regular call rotation at the facility.” Starting quickly, he says, is the nature of “This type of locum tenens. “The most typical arrangeoverview reduces ment I have encounstress and tered is t hat upon increases your arrival, I am given an hour of orientation confidence level.” and then begin caring —Gregory Bijak, MD for patients.” He adds, “Given the amount of information you need to assimilate the first day, staff may not have time to discuss cases with you in detail. If you want more information, ask colleagues questions.” Dr. Bijak acknowledges that every orientation should include a few must-haves. “At a minimum, the program should provide a tour of the facility, staff introductions, an overview of pharmacy and recovery room policies, and the required paperwork,” he comments. “Plus, it is pivotal to know what to do when you need extra help. This information not only adds to patient safety, it adds to yours as well.” What does he feel are the benefits of orientation? “This type of overview reduces stress and increases your confidence level upon arriving at a facility,” states Dr. Bijak. “Procedures and nuances may be a little difficult to pick up on your first day, so be sure to pay close attention. Remember that each facility operates in its own way, so it is important to be flexible but also know what lines you are not willing to cross.” Enjoying travel in his spare time, Dr. Bijak is currently looking at contracts within VA facilities, the military, and the Indian Health Service. “I am very interested in pursuing government opportunities,” he states. “They offer a variety of different settings and practice styles that I have not experienced yet.” A HEALTHY EXPERIENCE “I enjoy rural medicine, but the hours became too much for me,” recalls Patricia McGuire, MD, a family practice specialist with 8 years of experience. “As a result, I developed Graves’ disease, which is a stress-induced thyroid disorder. After treatment, my energy level was never the same, so I decided to begin locum tenens to better manage my time. Now, although I provide coverage anywhere from 12 to 60 hours at a stretch, I can actually sleep and recover afterward.” Since her decision to adopt the locum tenens lifestyle, Dr. McGuire has fulfilled temporary engagements at about 20 different rural facilities in the Midwest, as well as a yearlong stint in New Zealand. This past February, she finished a 4-month contract at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica, arranged through Centennial, Coloradobased Raytheon Polar Services. » SEPTEMBER 2008 LocumLife 21 http://www.sermo.com http://www.sermo.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of LocumLife - September 2008

LocumLife - September 2008 Editorial Contents From Nalto Stat! Dynamics The Net Last-Minute Luxury Unplugged Going Wireless on the Road Getting Oriented Advertiser Index Opportunities Direct Destinations On Location Contest Rules Anyone's Guess La Vita Locum

LocumLife - September 2008

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