LocumLife - September 2008 - (Page 28)

DESTINATIONS On location in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania A year in Wilkes-Barre Photo: Paul Loubser, MD After 15 years of academic anesthesiology practice at a large medical center in the Southwest, I was ready for a change, but I was unsure of what to do next. Paul Loubser, MD I felt too old for a traditional partnership in an anesthesiology group. By chance, I happened to view a video about locum tenens anesthesiology. After watching the tape, I felt that this practice alternative might help me decide the next step in my career. Completely unaware of what locum tenens was about, I called Whitaker Medical in Houston, Texas, and a representative matched me to a contract in the northern part of my home state. That is when my locum tenens adventure began. Once I completed that contract, I was hooked. Practicing medicine was so simple and rewarding: I performed a service that was sorely needed; the staff seemed warm and friendly; interpersonal physician politics were non-existent; and every location offered some new and interesting facet of anesthesia and life that I had never seen before. Plus, if coverage ran late, I was actually reimbursed for the extra time. Now, 7 years later, I have taken almost 20 different contracts through Whitaker and six other companies: Medical Doctor Associates, CompHealth, VISTA Staffing Solutions, Barton and Associates, CMA Staffing, and Vitruvian. Here, I reflect on a practice style that is the antithesis of “being in a rut.” WHERE IS WILKES-BARRE? One of my most memorable contracts was in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. I was contacted by VISTA Staffing Solutions, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, to provide coverage as a cardiac anesthesiologist for a hospital in northeast Pennsylvania. Though 28 LocumLife SEPTEMBER 2008 I had no idea where Wilkes-Barre was and had never heard of the medical facility, my curiosity VIEW OF WILKES-BARRE, was piqued. And after from the Susquehanna River. studying websites of the hospital and the city, I was ready for the challenge. The initial contract was for 6 weeks, engaging that before I realized it, a with the possibility of extending while 6-week opportunity soon turned into the hospital was actively recruiting. I a full year. prepared for this opportunity by first developing various travel approaches ITS HISTORY to Scranton from my home state. Soon Wilkes-Barre was named after two after, the chief of anesthesia at the British politicians who were supporters medical center called me to describe of colonial America. My colleagues took the responsibilities of the position. pride in telling me all about the rich history of their city and showed me books depicting past events. In 1959, the Knox Mine caved in when the Susquehanna River broke through the rock, pouring more than 10 billion gallons of water into the shaft and killing 12 men. This disaster was one of the key factors that marked the end of the coal mining industry in Pennsylvania. In 1972, tropical storm Agnes caused major flooding downtown. As water reached Part of a larger area healthcare the cemetery, cadavers were seen floatnetwork, the hospital offered a chaling around the city. What a sight that lenging cardiac surgery program, and must have been! the anesthesia department, which The medical facility also has an consisted of about four anesthesioloamazing history. The founder’s husgists and 10 CRNAs, was housed in band was a simple bookkeeper; but a new building. Nurse anesthetists he had astute business skills and after received on-the-job training in car24 years, amassed a small fortune. diac anesthesia, while I mentored After he died, his wife continued this two anesthesiologists who were eager business tradition. In the early 1900s, to develop their perioperative TEE she was one of a few people in rural (Transesophageal Echocardiography) Pennsylvania who had a small autoskills. Although my patients ranged mobile. Occasionally, she would in age, I saw quite a few blue-collar use her car to ferry sick people to workers, many of whom were sufferPhiladelphia. She eventually got tired ing from emphysema secondary to of the long journey and decided to silicoanthracosis. The work was so build her own hospital in nearby The hospital offered a challenging cardiac surgery program. www.LocumLife.com http://www.LocumLife.com

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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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