locum tenens faqs

frequently asked questions for physicians

How much money will I make doing locum tenens?
It depends on your medical specialty and the job requirements. You are engaged for each assignment as an independent contractor on a hourly or daily basis. Some contracts provide for overtime and on-call time and are paid at time and a half after a 40-hour workweek. Interim Physicians covers your medical malpractice insurance plus transportation and lodging expenses. Here are some examples of average pay scales by specialty:

Please contact a Interim Physicians recruiter for current pay scales in your specialty.

Is there work available in every state?
Yes, there are thousands of locum tenens contracts available on any given day. For personalized attention, call us and you'll receive professional assistance in finding the right job.

What if I have Texas medical license but want to work in Florida?
Unless it is federal facility you can not work in another state without an active state medical license. We can assist you in obtaining medical licenses in other states.

What will it cost me?
There are no "out of pocket" travel expenses while on assignment through Interim Physicians, other than your meals and entertainment. We provide your malpractice insurance as well as arranging and paying for standard airfare, housing and rental car costs.

How often do I get paid?
You are paid every week via direct deposit. If you prefer, your check can be mailed to you.

What are Interim Physicians’s malpractice coverage limits?
Interim Physicians provides medical malpractice insurance with industry-standard coverage limits of $1 million per occurrence and $3 million in aggregate.

Am I an employee of Interim Physicians?
No. Locum physicians are independent contractors and are issued a 1099 form at the end of the year for tax purposes.

frequent asked questions from healthcare facilities

Why do healthcare facilities use locum tenens?
It's a fact – understaffed departments result in lost revenue.

Hospitals, groups and clinics, from rural solo practices to large metro healthcare systems need help in staffing for a variety of reasons, such as when a physician is on vacation or a sabbatical, or filling in for a permanent vacancy. To supplement regular staff during peak seasons, it is more cost effective to supplement the permanent staff with locum tenens physicians rather than staffing at the maximum levels at all times.

Why do physicians choose locum tenens?
Physicians choose locum tenens for several reasons. For first year physicians, the option to experience a variety of different practice styles and geographic locations before making a permanent commitment is a compelling choice. physicians in mid-career transition use locum tenens to try out different areas and bridge the gap on income while searching for the right position. Seasoned physicians enjoy the option of scaling back but not retiring from medicine full time or of being closer to their extended families with a reduced schedule.

How cost-effective is locum tenens?
It is a very effective strategy. For example, diagnostic imaging is a clinical necessity in every hospital. It is also a strong financial performer. According to a recent study, for many hospitals, it is not uncommon for imaging services to account for 15 percent or more of total system revenue. And according to RSNA News, the average general radiologist bills over $5,500 per day and an interventional radiologist bills about $6,000 per day.

Or how about Anesthesia? According to a recent study from the American Society of Anesthesiologists, a physician vacancy in anesthesia costs a hospital an average an average of $300,000 per month in revenue (excluding cardiac cases). So what is having all of your shifts covered worth to you beyond providing appropriate customer service levels and maintaining the morale of your staff?

Who covers the medical malpractice insurance?
Interim Physicians does, with an A+ rated malpractice insurance with Lloyd's of London and National Fire and Marine, a Berkshire Hathaway company. This policy provides for the physician's protection with $1,000,000/$3,000,000 limits. This means that there is coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 per doctor per year.

Who does the credentialing and licensing?
Ultimately, the facility (hospital, clinic, etc.) is responsible for proper credentialing. But it's vital that a full-service staffing company has a good understanding and working knowledge of the credentialing process and state licensing rules and regulations. Our staff acts as a liaison between the physician and the appropriate licensing agencies, assuring that all required credentials and licenses are processed and returned in a timely manner, which allows for quicker assignment placement for the physician.