LocumLife - March 2009 - (Page 15) TB: An effect of the economy is that physicians and non-physician providers are broadening their nets. They are more willing to reassess their preferences and the kinds of opportunities they will accept. For example, professionals may agree to go to certain rural locales they would have declined in the past in order to increase their marketability and potential offers. HAS THE RECESSION AFFECTED SOME SPECIALTIES MORE THAN OTHERS? TB: We continue to see a lot of growth for primary care specialists. I think we will also see an increased need for surgeons and anesthesiologists. The one area showing a decline—and I think everyone will agree—is radiology. “The settings that are feeling the budget crunch at the moment are occupational workplace clinics and ambulatory surgical centers that do a majority of elective surgeries.” —Dana Sirstins AB: I agree that the demand for primary care physicians has increased; however, we are beginning to see the need for anesthesiologists trail off, probably because of fewer elective procedures being scheduled. DS: General surgery, though, remains an in-demand specialty. Besides increased need for internal medicine and family practice specialists, there appear to be greater numbers of calls for emergency medicine, hospitalists, and pulmonary and critical care specialists. HAS CONTRACT LENGTH CHANGED? CC: For us, per-diem opportunities are on the rise locally. I am seeing more requests for 1-day or 1-night shifts. This trend bodes well for those locum tenens physicians who wish to supplement their incomes while staying closer to home. AB: Traditionally, short-term contracts have been used more as working vacations, and we are not hearing a lot of those types of requests right now. Many professionals are looking for longer-term contracts and more are using locum tenens to find permanent positions than in the past. TB: Everything is relative to the demand at the time. But, we are seeing longer contracts overall, and that MARCH 2009 Interested? Circle #607 or go to www.locumlife.com/readerservice LocumLife 15 http://www.mdainc.com http://www.mdainc.com http://www.locumlife.com/readerservice
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