1. Locums in Retirement Is Not the Same as Working

Can you really be retired if you work locum tenens? According to Dr. Erik Hofmeister, the answer is definitely yes. He explains that short-term locum assignments allow him to maintain financial flexibility without returning to the administrative burdens of his full-time role. These assignments typically last two to three weeks and offer the chance to travel with his wife, stay engaged in clinical practice, and enjoy a sense of purpose without the responsibilities of teaching, research, or committees.

Financially, even occasional locums can significantly strengthen retirement plans. In veterinary anesthesia, for example, a two-week assignment can bring in $10,000. Over five years, this additional income can meaningfully reduce the risk of outliving one’s savings. Dr. Hofmeister also notes the tax advantages of continuing as an independent contractor, including deductions for certification and health insurance.

He sees locum work not as a fallback but as an opportunity, one that offers continued professional connections and even international travel. For him, locum tenens assignments are a voluntary, enjoyable extension of a career built on helping others, not a sign that retirement planning fell short. Rather than a step backward, it’s a different way on his own terms.

(White Coat Investor, October 15)

2. How Can Providers Balance Medicine and Parenthood?

In a personal reflection spanning nearly 40 years in medicine, Dr. Francisco Torres shares the complex realities of balancing a demanding medical career with family life. He recalls moments of emotional tension, like missing his children’s sports games due to hospital rounds and witnessing his wife forgo career advancement to prioritize family. These choices, though deeply personal, reflect that navigating professional obligations without losing sight of personal commitments can be difficult for many in medicine.

Support networks played a vital role during his early career. With help from family in Puerto Rico, Dr. Torres and his wife were able to pursue residency while raising children. Even with this foundation, guilt over missed family moments remained a constant issue he had to deal with. He emphasizes that emotional presence matters as much as physical presence and acknowledges the sacrifices many physicians make, including the hours they work and the connections they miss.

Still, Dr. Torres sees the value passed on to his children through example. Their accomplishments were shaped by the perseverance modeled at home. He encourages fellow physicians to reflect not just on career success, but also on how they support colleagues with families and on how the profession can better honor both their roles as healers and parents.

(Kevin MD, October 18)

3. Rural Physicians Confront Misinformation and Workforce Gaps

Physicians in rural America are facing the dual challenge of widespread misinformation and deepening provider shortages. Dr. Banu Symington, one of only five full-time oncologists in Wyoming, shares how public hostility has grown, with patients resisting basic health guidance and even resorting to verbal attacks. Political polarization, conspiracy theories, and online misinformation are not only damaging trust but also impacting patient outcomes.

Recruiting and retaining physicians in rural areas remains difficult. Symington warns that when she retires, her community may struggle to replace her. Immigration policy changes have further reduced the pipeline of international medical graduates, a group that traditionally fills many rural roles, especially in oncology. Meanwhile, fewer US-trained doctors come from rural backgrounds, contributing to a shortage that limits access to care and compounds the effects of misinformation.

Some doctors, like Dr. Jennifer Bacani McKenney, emphasize the importance of community roots. While rural rotations are vital for exposing medical students to underserved areas, growing political tensions and racial bias have made some trainees hesitant. Physicians say that building trust through repeated, respectful conversations is now as critical as clinical expertise in rural practice.

(NPR, October 15)

4. Certifications That Can Expand Physician Career Paths

For physicians seeking new opportunities or additional income, new certifications offer focused training without requiring fellowship or time away from clinical practice. While not essential for licensure or board certification, these programs can help physicians qualify for consulting, leadership, or nonclinical roles. Dr. Sylvie Stacy outlines eight certifications that can help physicians diversify their careers while continuing patient care.

Options include the Certified Independent Medical Examiner for those interested in legal consulting, the Certified Physician Executive for leadership roles, and the Certified Medical Director for those pursuing administrative positions in long-term care. Others, like the Medical Review Officer and Certified Life Care Planner, offer pathways into occupational health and legal consulting. These certifications typically take a few months to complete and often fit around a full-time schedule.

For physicians interested in healthcare operations, quality, or technology, programs such as Health Care Quality and Management, Six Sigma, and the AMIA Health Informatics Certification can strengthen qualifications for data-driven or process-improvement roles. Selecting the right certification for you depends on your goals and whether the credential aligns with a specific role, offers new insights, or helps refine long-term career direction.

(Medscape, October 1)

5. AI Scribes Show Promise in Reducing Physician Burnout

Physicians spend more than half their workday documenting patient visits, a burden that contributes significantly to burnout. A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that using ambient AI scribes, which automatically generate structured medical notes in the background during appointments, reduced physician burnout rates after just one month. Across six US health systems, the percentage of providers reporting burnout dropped from 52% to 39%.

The technology, developed by Abridge, allows physicians to focus more on patient interactions by reducing the cognitive load of manual documentation. Leaders at Yale School of Medicine say ambient AI shifts attention back to patient care and away from computer screens. More than 1,000 physicians in the Yale New Haven Health System now use the tool regularly, with many reporting improved work-life balance and faster documentation times.

Researchers are also exploring how to integrate AI scribes into medical education without diminishing foundational skills. Trainees will compare their own notes to AI-generated versions to improve accuracy while reinforcing learning. Clinicians note that restoring meaningful patient communication may be one of the most important benefits, as documentation demands have long eroded the human connection in care.

(Yale School of Medicine, October 17)

6. Physician Burnout Signals Worsening Workforce Crisis

A recent survey found that more than half of frontline healthcare workers in the US are actively seeking new roles. Among the over 1,500 respondents, key reasons cited were burnout, inadequate compensation, and limited opportunities for career advancement. The Health Resources and Services Administration projects that by 2037, the US could face a shortfall of nearly 700,000 physicians, nurses, and licensed practical nurses, compounding access and care issues already affecting patients nationwide.

While many healthcare professionals intend to remain in the field, dissatisfaction with employers is high, as 42% feel underappreciated by supervisors, and 80% believe they’re taken for granted. Educational support emerged as a key retention factor, with 60% saying tuition assistance would make them more likely to stay. Experts stress that intent to change roles doesn’t always indicate workforce exits, but the widespread strain is evident. Studies link feeling undervalued to higher rates of burnout, and data show that burned-out physicians are twice as likely to reduce hours or leave their positions.

Experts warn that this growing turnover may lead to higher costs, reduced access, and lower quality of care. Burnout-related physician exits cost the US an estimated $4.6 billion annually. Health leaders call for systemic changes as essential steps to improve clinician well-being and stabilize the healthcare workforce.

(Newsweek, September 23)

7. Rural Health Program Falls Short of Preventing Hospital Closures, Experts Warn

The newly launched Rural Health Transformation Program promises $50 billion in funding over five years to strengthen care in rural communities, but experts caution that it won’t be enough to prevent closures. The funding follows steep Medicaid cuts in H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which slashed over $911 billion from the program. Rural areas are projected to lose $155 billion in Medicaid support over the next decade, leaving a significant funding gap.

Critics say the RHTP explicitly prohibits using funds to keep rural hospitals open, even as many are on the verge of financial collapse. States must submit detailed transformation plans to qualify for funding, but those funds will focus on long-term improvements rather than immediate stabilization. Because half of the annual funds will be divided equally among qualifying states regardless of need, the distribution could overlook states with larger rural hospital networks at risk.

Industry leaders say the intent to modernize rural health is commendable, but warn that the mismatch between policy goals and current needs could hasten hospital closures. The American Hospital Association has urged federal leaders to prioritize workforce and infrastructure investments, while stakeholders await more explicit guidance on how states can qualify. Applications are due in November, with funding decisions expected by the end of 2025.

(The Daily Yonder, October 6)

8. New Federal Law Aims to Ease Tax Compliance for Locum Tenens Providers

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in 2025, includes provisions intended to simplify tax compliance for independent contractors, including locum tenens physicians and APPs. The law introduces streamlined 1099 filing forms and schedules, aiming to reduce reporting errors and administrative burdens for clinicians juggling multiple contracts across states.

A key update includes a “good faith compliance” clause, which may waive penalties for first-time errors if providers act promptly to correct them. Locum professionals are encouraged to document their efforts and maintain detailed records as part of their annual filing routine. An IRS support hotline tailored to 1099 contractors is also in development to help clarify procedures and assist with penalty relief requests.

To take full advantage of these changes, locum providers should audit their current bookkeeping systems, engage a CPA familiar with multi-state and 1099 filings, and prepare for updates in IRS forms and schedules. While the protections don’t eliminate penalties, they create clearer guardrails for physicians who make good-faith efforts to stay compliant amid a complex tax environment.

(The Doctor’s CPA, September 22)