LocumLife - October 2008 - (Page 14)

Where do you stand? elsewhere and dabble in locum tenens services on the side. How did income break out by specialty? Due to small sample sizes, data was unavailable for most specialties, but some generalities may be made. MDs who considered locum tenens their primary source of income reported median earnings for family practice and internal medicine in the range of $100,000 to $149,999. A quarter of family physicians, who accepted twice as many matches as internists in the last 12 months, took home $150,000 to $249,999. Typically taking six contracts annually, OB/ GYNs maintained a median annual income of $150,000 to $199,999, with 43% earning between $250,000 and $349,999. Anesthesiologists, who averaged five opportunities a year, banked the most, with a median range of $200,000 to $249,999; 42% of these locum tenens specialists reported incomes of $300,000 or more. HOW SATISFIED ARE LOCUM TENENS PHYSICIANS? Ninety-eight percent of male and 100% of female MDs said they are “somewhat satisfied” to “very satisfied” with their lives as locum tenens physicians. As one respondent noted, “It is a very rewarding choice with maximum flexibility.” Another explained, “I can control the amount of time I want to practice in the different settings and can choose if I want many calls, no calls, or calls on specific days. And I can take my vacations without anyone objecting.” Yet another commented, “I have gained more experience doing locum tenens work.” Additional reported benefits of the lifestyle included the ability to travel and meet different people; work part-time and delay the need to use pension funds; and reduce or eliminate scheduling, financial, and administrative issues common to traditional practice. Although a higher percentage of current temporary MDs experienced zero problems and fewer housing, scheduling, and professional concerns than their former mobile colleagues, as with any traditional position, challenges can still crop up while on location. In our survey, the percentages of current professionals experiencing travel delays and contract cancellations were almost double that of counterparts who accepted opportunities in the past. These findings suggest the importance of allowing extra travel time with today’s added security measures and crowded flights, as well as keeping recruiters informed about updated CVs and records so they can more quickly find alternative engagements if clients cancel due to natural disasters, early credentialing of permanent replacements, or other reasons. Over seven in 10 MDs currently or previously providing locum tenens services said that they were satisfied with the manner in which their staffing companies resolved these and other issues for them. Men, however, were twice as likely as women to take matters into their own hands when dealing with challenges on the road: About 32% of male MDs were apt to address their concerns directly www.LocumLife.com ABOUT THE RESPONDENTS LocumLife collected data from 338 medical professionals; however, due to the small sample sizes of other disciplines, ﬁndings in this article represent responses from 276 MDs only (82% of all respondents). Salary-related questions were posed to current and former locum tenens practitioners only. 46% of all MDs responding currently provide locum tenens services, 21% have practiced as temporary providers in the past, and 33% are interested in this career alternative. The average age of these MDs is 52 years; 74% are male, 76% are married, and 66% are Caucasian. These professionals have been in practice for 21 years (men) and 16 years (women). Female (95%) temporary MDs who currently provide or have provided services are slightly more interested in future opportunities than their male counterparts (90%). More women MDs (76%) consider themselves full-time locum tenens providers, with male MDs more likely to still hold a permanent position. 67% of MDs who currently provide temporary services consider locum tenens as their primary source of income and earn $175,000, annually. 24% of MDs currently accepting contracts use locum tenens as a supplement to other income and earn an additional $52,300, annually, for a total average of $222,500. Current locum tenens MDs have provided locum tenens services for an average of 4.5 years, accept ﬁve opportunities annually, and spend just over 6 weeks on each contract. 69% of MDs currently accept matches in predominantly suburban settings (69%), though respondents could select multiple responses. MDs currently providing services are most likely to practice in solo practices (25%), a same-specialty group of three to 10 physicians (22%), or in a hospital (17%). 14 LocumLife OCTOBER 2008 http://www.LocumLife.com

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LocumLife - October 2008 Insights Editorial Contents From Nalto STAT! The Basics Med Ec-cerpts Last-Minute Luxury Where Do You Stand? Gastroentrerology Career Center Advertiser Index Opportunities Direct Destinations Passport - Cairo, Egypt Contest Rules Anyone's Guess La Vita Locum

LocumLife - October 2008

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