LocumLife - December 2008 - (Page 20)

period of years. Locations have ranged between New England, the Southeast, and Midwest. At present, Dr. Balbus is on staff at a Level III children’s hospital in a major Midwestern city. He credits locum tenens introducing him “The best locum tenens forseveral of his perto doctors I know are the manent jobs throughhad ones who are respectful out his career. “IMida position in the and who can adapt to Atlantic that was inithe standing routine.” tially a locum tenens contract, although my —Michael W. Balbus, MD, FAAP friend—not I—was the one who accepted it,” explains Dr. Balbus. “He later called and said what a great opportunity it was, and that I should consider coming on full-time there, too, which I did. Some time later, my staffing company representative informed me that a nursery at a Level III hospital in the Midwest was in need of help. Though I did not have much free time myself, I opened up a couple of weekends and covered some shifts for them. As it turned out, it was so enjoyable that it became my next permanent position. I also covered a few days for my current hospital before accepting a job there.” What is his role as a locum tenens neonatologist? “My first responsibility is to get oriented to the hospital, which involves obtaining an ID card, parking pass, phone numbers, and any necessary passwords,” notes Dr. Balbus. “The next task is to meet the people in the nursery on whom I will be relying; they show me the delivery room and point out where the scrubs and supplies are kept. Once I get past the orientation and introductions, the newborn care is very similar nursery to nursery. Every NICU has its strengths, and I have learned something in each one; but in general, the patient care is the same.” Facilities, he says, are seeking flexible physicians who can maintain the status quo—a fact he knows firsthand since he, too, has utilized locum tenens physicians to cover at his permanent practices. “The best locum tenens doctors I know are the ones who are respectful and who can adapt to the standing routine. You are going in to make people happy—not to effect policy change. Circle Career Card No. 610 Circle Career Card No. 605 20 LocumLife DECEMBER 2008 www.LocumLife.com http://www.vistastaff.com/physicians/blog http://www.vistastaff.com http://www.vistastaff.com http://www.LocumTenens.com/life http://www.LocumLife.com

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LocumLife - December 2008 Editorial Contents From Nalto Stat! The Basics Last-Minute Luxury Mixing Business &�Pleasure Med Ec-cerpts Neonatology Advertiser Index Opportunities Direct On Location Contest Rules Anyone's Guess La Vita Locum

LocumLife - December 2008

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