LocumLife - March 2009 - (Page 13) cosmetic surgeries, outpatient and ambulatory surgical centers had provided a growing market for locum tenens physicians. The economic downturn has drastically slowed the number of available opportunities in these settings. Contracts for ambulatory surgical centers used to be booked 6 months in advance and be longterm, whereas today, many times, we are only getting a month’s notice and the contracts are much shorter-term and/or per diem. The remaining mix has been stable. AB: Facilities of all sizes take advantage of locum tenens services to cover periods of greater patient volume or when core staff takes vacation or sick leave. Or maybe a multi-specialty group practice is considering bringing in a new specialist. Temporary contracts are an effective and cost-controlled method to test the market to determine whether the facility can support another full-time physician. WHAT ABOUT GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS? TB: We continually see an uptake in our government business, some of which can be attributed to what is going on with the military and the increasing numbers of veterans needing care. It is a strong and robust aspect of our business, but we have not seen a wholesale shift from private hospitals to government-run facilities. DS: In the last few months, there have been some budget “The hardest hit markets freezes, especially with the Veterans Health Adminisare in the western states tration. Also, there have been of California, Colorado, some credentialing changes that have increased the time Arizona, Washington, it takes to place medical professionals into government and Nevada.” contracts. We are now deal—Chris Cain ing with a 6-week delay. However, the need is there. The patients are there. And the physicians who want to fill opportunities are there. HAS THE NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS CHANGED? AB: Like in past years, the need changes based on seasons. A lot of physicians living in the North want to practice in warmer climates during the winter, and then head back in the summer. More opportunities Interested? Circle Career Card No. 612 or go to www.locumlife.com/readerservice www.LocumLife.com MARCH 2009 LocumLife 13 http://www.weatherbylocums.com http://www.weatherbylocums.com http://www.locumlife.com/readerservice http://www.LocumLife.com
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