LocumLife - November 2008 - (Page 13)

“For that contract, I was the only medical personnel on the ship, with 90 crew and 90 passengers on board. It turned out to be quite uneventful medically.” Why choose locum tenens? “This option gives you the chance to see new things,” explains Dr. Ross. “I never would have experienced Antarctica had I not taken up locum tenens.” He recommends trying this practice alternative if you have the time and inclination. “Keep in mind, however, that you need to be very flexible, both in what you are willing to do and when you are willing to go, particularly on ships. Itineraries change, times change, and needs change, so you have to go with the flow. One thing I would recommend is to talk to people who have previously filled that temporary position to get a realistic idea of expectations and what your experience is likely to be. I have found this very helpful.” As for the future, Dr. Ross likes to keep his options open. “At the moment, I do not have any contracts lined up, but I am always looking.” IN SEARCH OF VARIETY “I took up locum tenens because I like to travel and did not really want to settle down,” says William Yeaton, MD, a family practice physician who has been involved in full-time locum tenens for about 14 years. “This lifestyle allows me to avoid burnout by being able to take time off. Also, I enjoy photography, and locum tenens lets me combine that interest with my career.” After serving in the Air Force for 9½ years, Dr. Yeaton went into locum tenens practice, accepting opportunities from Salt Lake City, Utah-based CompHealth, as well as VISTA Staffing Solutions, Medstaff National Medical Staffing, Jackson and Coker, Locum Medical Group, New Zealand Locums, and several other agencies. His first contract was in the fall of 1994 on an island in the Northeast. Since then, his copious opportunities have run the gamut. “Many of my contracts are in traditional practice settings,” he notes, “but I also like to mix them up with nontraditional arrangements, such as occupational and correctional medicine contracts, engagements with the military and Indian Health Service, international opportunities in New Zealand, and acting as the ship’s physician for cruises.” Arranged independently, his cruise ship opportunities have taken him to places he may not have otherwise seen. “I typically choose smaller ships that are more expeditionoriented. I have worked on cruises to Alaska’s Inside Passage and the Bering Sea, Japan, the Baja Peninsula of Mexico, the coast of Europe, Panama Canal, and also the South Pacific. The ship that I provide services on most frequently is the Spirit of Oceanus through Cruise West. It is quite a small ship, with approximately 120 passengers when full and about 72 crew.” A cruise on the Bering Sea was particularly fascinating. “We stopped at villages in Siberia that had not been seen before by Westerners,” recalls Dr. Yeaton. “There was some NOVEMBER 2008 LocumLife 13 Circle Career Card No. 603 http://www.dystaffing.com

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

LocumLife - November 2008 Editorial Contents From Nalto Stat! Residency Corner Sailing the High Seas Last-Minute Luxury International Colleagues Explore the U.S. Advertiser Index Opportunities Direct City Beat Contest Rules Anyone's Guess La Vita Locum

LocumLife - November 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.